חֵלֶק
𐤇𐤋𐤒
Cheleq
H2507 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A portion, part, or share, often referring to an allotted division of property, territory, inheritance, or responsibility; in some contexts, can refer to one's physical or social portion (i.e., someone's lot or share in life), or a figurative allotment such as fate or blessing. Also used as a proper name for an individual (Chelek) among the Israelites.
Semantic Range
allotted portion; share of land or inheritance; share of goods, offerings, or responsibilities; figurative lot or fate; physical part; proper name (Israelite individual: Chelek)
Root / Etymology
The word חֵלֶק derives from the root ח-ל-ק (חלק), which means 'to divide, apportion, distribute.' The nominal form חֵלֶק thus refers to that which is divided or allocated — a portion or share. The usage as a personal name (Chelek) represents a rare proper noun application of the noun meaning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In pre-monarchic and monarchic Israelite society, חֵלֶק was most frequently used to denote a physical or economic share allotted to a clan, tribe, or individual, especially related to land distribution (e.g., the land portions allotted to different tribes in Joshua). The term appears regularly in legal, cultic, and poetic texts, often highlighting the significance of one’s assigned lot—whether agricultural, sacrificial (such as portions given to priests), or existential (a 'portion' in life or reward from the deity). Contrasted with terms like גּוֹרָל (goral, 'lot'), which emphasizes the process or act of casting lots, חֵלֶק typically stresses the result—the portion itself. In later biblical literature, the term can develop a more abstract nuance, signifying spiritual inheritance or existential fate. English translations often render חֵלֶק as 'portion,' 'share,' 'lot,' or 'part,' but may overlook the nuance of bestowed allotment and the cultural weight of land and inheritance in Israelite society. As a proper name (Chelek), the term appears only within genealogical lists and does not carry the broader sense of 'portion' in those occurrences.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as חֵלֶק; portion; Chelek, an Israelite; Helek.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חלק (ḥ-l-q) — divide, apportion, distribute, be smooth
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2505 | חָלַק | I will apportion |
| H2506 | חֵלֶק | in allotted portion of |
| H2508 | חֲלָק | smooth |
| H2509 | חָלָק | smooth |
| H2510 | חָלָק | Halak |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2507-01 |
חֵ֗לֶק | cheleq | HNp |
Helek | allotted portion | 1 |
H2507-02 |
לְ/חֵ֕לֶק | lecheleq | HR/Np |
Helek | to Chelek | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2507-02 |
Numbers 26:30 | לְ/חֵ֕לֶק | lecheleq | HR/Np |
Helek | to Chelek |
H2507-01 |
Joshua 17:2 | חֵ֗לֶק | cheleq | HNp |
Helek | allotted portion |