Original Word: חֲלִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Chaliy
Pronunciation: khaw-lee'
Phonetic Spelling: (khal-ee')
KJV: Hali
NASB: Hali
Word Origin: [the same as H2481 (חֲלִי - jewels)]

1. Chali, a place in Israel

Hali

The same as chaliy; Chali, a place in Palestine -- Hali.

see HEBREW chaliy

Word Origin
from the same as chali
Definition
a place in Asher
NASB Translation
Hali (1).

II. חֲלִי proper name, of a location in Asher Joshua 19:25, site unknown (see conjectures in Di).

Name and Meaning

Hali is listed among the fortified towns allotted to the tribe of Asher when the land was divided under Joshua. The name evokes the idea of an “ornament” or “jewel,” hinting at beauty and value—qualities that will inform its spiritual implications.

Biblical Occurrence

Hali appears a single time in Scripture:
• Joshua 19:25 – “Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph.” (Berean Standard Bible)

Geographical Setting

Hali lay in the northern coastal hill country allocated to Asher, a region stretching from Mount Carmel toward Lebanon. Though its precise location is uncertain today, it belonged to a cluster of settlements west of the Sea of Galilee that guarded trade routes between the Mediterranean and inland valleys. As part of Asher’s inheritance, Hali contributed to the tribe’s strategic access to fertile plains and maritime commerce.

Historical Context

After the conquest, Israel transitioned from nomadic life to settled inheritance. Each list of towns in Joshua underscores the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise first declared to Abraham (Genesis 15:18–21). Hali’s inclusion marks one more tangible confirmation that “Not one of the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled” (Joshua 21:45).

Theological and Ministry Insights

1. Covenant Faithfulness: Hali embodies the nuanced detail with which God metes out His promises. Even a small, otherwise forgotten village is named and remembered, reminding believers that God’s faithfulness extends to the smallest particulars of their lives.
2. Corporate Inheritance: Hali illustrates that inheritance is not merely personal but tribal and communal. Modern ministry draws from this picture to emphasize shared identity in Christ and collective mission (Ephesians 2:19–22).
3. Beauty and Holiness: The probable meaning “ornament” mirrors passages where holiness is depicted as adornment (Psalm 96:9; 1 Peter 3:3–4). Hali nudges God’s people to pursue inward beauty that reflects divine splendor.

Typological Reflections

The distribution of land in Joshua foreshadows the believer’s spiritual inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:11). Just as Hali formed a defined plot inside Asher’s borders, every saint has a “place prepared” (John 14:2) within the larger household of God. The delineated boundaries point forward to the measured perfection of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:15–17).

Application for Contemporary Faith

• Value Hidden Places: Ministry often overlooks small congregations or remote fields; Hali teaches that no place is insignificant when God assigns it.
• Celebrate Community Allotments: Churches should rejoice in the varied gifts and callings distributed among believers, recognizing each member as an “ornament” enhancing the body’s beauty (1 Corinthians 12:22–26).
• Guard the Inheritance: As Asher’s towns needed vigilance against encroachment, so modern believers steward doctrine and holiness, “contending for the faith that was once for all delivered” (Jude 3).

Cross-References for Further Study

Genesis 49:20; Deuteronomy 33:24–25; Joshua 19:24–31; Psalm 96:9; Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 2:19–22; 1 Peter 3:3–4; Revelation 21:15–17

וַחֲלִ֖י וחלי vachaLi wa·ḥă·lî waḥălîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts