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חֶלְקַת

𐤇𐤋𐤒𐤕

Cheleqat

H2520 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חלק to divide, to apportion, to share

Definition

Proper noun designating a specific locality; refers to a tract or portion of land (likely denoting 'territorial portion' or 'allotment'). In contexts where it appears in the Hebrew Bible, 'Chelqath' serves as a place name, connected to the concept of land division or territorial assignment. The primary lexical meaning centers on a demarcated plot or area.

Semantic Range

allotment, tract of land, territorial portion, assigned share (as a place name); part, division (generic, in construct forms)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root ח־ל־ק (חלק), meaning 'to divide, to apportion, to share.' The form חֶלְקַת is a feminine construct state, functioning effectively as 'the portion/tract of.' It represents the concept of a portion or assigned land, reflecting division or allocation from the base root meaning. The full form 'חֶלְקַת' always appears as a proper place name, especially in conjunction with further specification (e.g. 'Chelqath-hatsurim').

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term 'Chelqath' is attested as a toponym in biblical lists of Israelite settlements and tribal allotments, such as in Joshua 19:25 (as חֶלְקַת, Helkath, among Zebulunite towns). When paired in composite toponyms (e.g., חֶלְקַת הַצּוּרִים 'Chelqath-hatsurim' in 2 Samuel 2:16), it denotes a specific tract with added description. The usage highlights the social and administrative practice of designating territory among tribes or groups during the settlement of the land. English translations may render 'Chelqath' as 'Helkath,' but the term's focus is the portioning or allocation of land rather than smoothness or flatness; the KJV gloss 'smoothness' derives from folk etymology rather than contextual usage. There are no direct religious or ethnic connotations: the word operates as a secular geographic or administrative term.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a form of חֶלְקָה; smoothness; Chelkath, a place in Palestine; Helkath.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חלק (ḥ-l-q) — divide, apportion, share

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2505 חָלַק I will apportion
H2506 חֵלֶק in allotted portion of
H2507 חֵלֶק allotted portion
H2508 חֲלָק smooth
H2509 חָלָק smooth

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2520-01 חֶלְקַ֥ת cheleqat HNp Helkath Allotment-tract of 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2520-01 Joshua 19:25 חֶלְקַ֥ת cheleqat HNp Helkath Allotment-tract of
H2520-01 Joshua 21:31 חֶלְקָת֙ cheleqat HNp Helkath Allotment-tract of
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