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חֵלֶק

𐤇𐤋𐤒

chêleq

H2506 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חלק to divide, distribute, apportion, be smooth

Definition

A portion, share, or part designated or received, whether material or abstract. The term most commonly refers to an allotted portion of land, inheritance, or resources among a group, but can also denote a figurative share (such as one's fate or role), and occasionally implies a portion received by lot, distribution, or apportionment. In a different semantic extension, it can refer to a portion of speech (flattery) via a root association with smoothness.

Semantic Range

portion, share, part, allotted part (especially of land), inheritance or inheritance portion, fate or lot, portion of food or sacrificial offering, figurative share in speech or character, flattery (smooth speech)

Root / Etymology

From the root חָלַק (ḥ-l-q), meaning 'to divide, to apportion, to distribute, to be smooth.' The noun חֵלֶק is formed as a substantive indicating 'that which is apportioned/divided'—thus, a portion or share. The sense of 'smoothness' (e.g., in flattery) is less common and possibly secondary, arising from the adjectival usage of the root meaning 'smooth.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֵלֶק is most frequently used in legal, cultic, and narrative contexts to refer to a share of land, inheritance, or sacred portions (Levites' portions, priestly dues, etc.) among Israelite tribes or households (e.g. Joshua 19). In wisdom literature, it expands to mean one’s lot or fate in life (Eccl 3:22). The word does not inherently indicate how the portion is assigned (by casting lots, decree, inheritance), but is often contextually tied to distributions by tribe, family, or divine allocation. The extended meaning as 'flattery' (speech that is 'smooth' or enticing) appears in poetic/wisdom contexts (e.g. Ps 12:3), connecting the semantic field of smoothness to deceptive or alluring language. English translations such as 'portion' or 'share' generally capture the main semantic field, but may miss nuance where the sense is fate/destiny or flattery. Related terms: גּוֹרָל (gôrāl 'lot, fate') tends to emphasize allocation by chance or divine will, while נַחֲלָה (naḥalah 'inheritance, heritage') focuses specifically on hereditary land or rights, often with a legal connotation. חֵלֶק can overlap these but is generally broader, encompassing any share, assigned or obtained. In post-biblical usage, chelek often acquires spiritual or metaphysical senses (e.g., 'portion in the world to come'), but this is not primary in the Hebrew Bible.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָלַק; properly, smoothness (of the tongue); also an allotment; flattery, inheritance, part, [idiom] partake, portion.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חלק (ḥ-l-q) — divide, apportion, distribute, be smooth

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2505 חָלַק I will apportion
H2507 חֵלֶק allotted portion
H2508 חֲלָק smooth
H2509 חָלָק smooth
H2510 חָלָק Halak

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2506-03 חֵ֥לֶק cheleq HNcmsa portion allotted portion 27
H2506-09 חֶלְק֔/וֹ cheleqo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his portion his allotted portion 6
H2506-08 חֶלְקִ֥/י cheleqi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my portion my allotted portion 6
H2506-01 בְּ/חֵ֥לֶק becheleq HR/Ncmsc in the portion in allotted portion of 4
H2506-04 חֶלְקָֽ/ם cheleqam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their portion their allotted portion 4
H2506-02 חֲלָקִ֑ים chalaqim HNcmpa portions allotted portions 4
H2506-15 וְ/חֵ֨לֶק֙ vecheleq HC/Ncmsc and portion and portion-of 3
H2506-05 חֶלְקְ/ךָ֙ cheleqekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms is your portion your allotted portion 3
H2506-12 כְּ/חֵ֖לֶק kecheleq HR/Ncmsa like portion as a portion 2
H2506-10 הַ/חֲלָקִ֔ים hachalaqim HTd/Ncmpa of the portions the apportioned shares 2

Occurrences in Scripture

67 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2506-15 Genesis 14:24 וְ/חֵ֨לֶק֙ vecheleq HC/Ncmsc and the share and portion-of
H2506-04 Genesis 14:24 חֶלְקָֽ/ם cheleqam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their share their allotted portion
H2506-03 Genesis 31:14 חֵ֥לֶק cheleq HNcmsa portion allotted portion
H2506-04 Leviticus 6:10 חֶלְקָ֛/ם cheleqam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their portion their allotted portion
H2506-15 Numbers 18:20 וְ/חֵ֕לֶק vecheleq HC/Ncmsa and portion and portion-of
H2506-05 Numbers 18:20 חֶלְקְ/ךָ֙ cheleqekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your portion your allotted portion
H2506-03 Numbers 31:36 חֵ֕לֶק cheleq HNcmsc portion allotted portion
H2506-03 Deuteronomy 10:9 חֵ֥לֶק cheleq HNcmsa portion allotted portion
H2506-03 Deuteronomy 12:12 חֵ֥לֶק cheleq HNcmsa portion allotted portion
H2506-03 Deuteronomy 14:27 חֵ֥לֶק cheleq HNcmsa portion allotted portion
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