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חֲשַׁל

𐤇𐤔𐤋

chăshal

H2827 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חשל to be weak, to make weak, to crush, to subdue

Definition

To weaken or make feeble, particularly through crushing, overpowering, or wearing down by force or hardship. In context, primarily denotes the act of reducing strength or effectiveness, most often in the context of warfare, opposition, or physical/subjugating actions.

Semantic Range

to weaken, to enfeeble, to crush, to subdue, to diminish strength, to overcome by force

Root / Etymology

This Aramaic verb is a cognate of the Hebrew root חָשַׁל (ḥāshal). The common Semitic root carries the sense of being weak or feeble. In Aramaic, the form חֲשַׁל (chăshal) maintains a causative nuance: 'to cause to become weak,' 'to enfeeble,' or 'to break down through force.' The derivation in the Biblical Aramaic is directly related and follows standard verbal patterns for causative/denominative verbs.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֲשַׁל appears in Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (notably Ezra and Daniel) where it often describes the actions of stronger powers subduing or crushing opposition, such as the metaphorical 'weakening' or 'crushing' of kingdoms or adversaries. The term is less common than related roots like דכא (to crush, destroy) and does not carry the same theological connotations as words describing divine judgment. Unlike Hebrew verbs such as רפה (to slacken, become weak), חֲשַל in Aramaic is more active and causative, typically describing deliberate subjugation rather than passive weakening. In translation, English versions sometimes render it with terms like 'subdue,' 'crush,' or 'make weak,' but the base concept focuses on the reduction of strength by active opposition. Use is generally restricted to Aramaic passages from the exilic and post-exilic periods, reflecting the changing linguistic context of the Israelite and Judean community under foreign rule. There is little evidence for significant semantic shift across the period, but its use is shaped by Persian-era political realities.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) a root corresponding to חָשַׁל; to weaken, i.e. crush; subdue.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חשל (ḥ-š-l) — weakness, enfeebling, crushing, subduing

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2826 חָשַׁל the weakened ones

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2827-01 וְ/חָשֵׁל֙ vechashel AC/Vqrmsa and-smashes and subduing one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2827-01 Daniel 2:40 וְ/חָשֵׁל֙ vechashel AC/Vqrmsa and-smashes and subduing one
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