Original Word: הֲלם
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: halom
Pronunciation: hah-LOHM
Phonetic Spelling: (hal-ome')
KJV: here, hither(-(to)), thither
NASB: here, this far, this place
Word Origin: [from the article (see H1973 (הָלְאָה - onward))]

1. hither

here, hitherto, thither

From the article (see halah); hither -- here, hither(-(to)), thither.

see HEBREW halah

Word Origin
a prim. adverb
Definition
hith-er
NASB Translation
here (9), this far (2), this place (1).

הֲלֹם adverb of place, hither (Arabic hither!) — Exodus 3:5 אַלתִּֿקְרַב הֲלֹם approach not hither, Judges 18:3; Judges 20:7; 1 Samuel 10:22; 1 Samuel 14:16 and lo, the camp melted away וַיֵּלֶךְ וַהֲלֹם read with ᵐ5 (ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν) Th We Dr הֲלֹם וַהֲלֹם hither and thither i.e. in different directions (compare הֵנָּה וָהֵנָּה Joshua 8:20), Joshua 8:36; Joshua 8:38; Ruth 2:14; עַד הֲלֹם figurative hitherto, thus far (i.e. to this point of dignity and greatness) 2 Samuel 7:18 (= 1 Chronicles 17:16). Psalm 73:10, if text be sound, הֲלֹם must mean thither (that is, after the persons described Psalm 73:3); but such sense questionable; read probably with Houb La for ישיב עמו הלם, יַשְׂבִּעֵמוֺ לָ֑חֶם satisfies them with bread: compare Che Hup^Now. Genesis 16:13 = here; but here also text is dubious: v Di. Judges 14:15 read הֲלֹם for הֲלֹא: see הֲ

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Spatial immediacy in Scripture

The adverb הֲלם functions as a concise summons to the reader’s attention—“here,” “in this place,” or “thus far.” Its appearances gather around moments when location matters theologically: where the Lord reveals Himself, where covenant kindness is extended, where decisions must be rendered, and where gratitude is expressed for grace already received.

Encounters with the divine presence

Genesis 16:13 records Hagar’s astonished testimony: “Here now I have seen the One who sees me!” The word fixes the scene—an unwed servant, a wilderness well, and the compassionate God who attends the afflicted. Likewise at Exodus 3:5 the Lord halts Moses with “the place where you are standing is holy ground,” marking the precise spot where divine transcendence touches human history. These early occurrences establish הֲלם as a literary marker that the invisible God is nevertheless present and active in specific earthly settings.

Markers of holy ground and worship

Samuel’s narrative resumes the theme. Twice (1 Samuel 14:36, 38) Saul is told, “Let us consult God here” and “Come here, all you leaders,” emphasizing that seeking the Lord’s will must occur where He already stands witness. When David later sits before the Lord (2 Samuel 7:18; 1 Chronicles 17:16) he confesses, “What is my house, that You have brought me this far?” הֲלם becomes a verbal Ebenezer, acknowledging spatially—and therefore historically—how far God has carried His servant.

Hospitality and covenant kindness

At Ruth 2:14 Boaz’s invitation, “Come over here, have some bread,” transforms a barley field into a sanctuary of grace. A Gentile widow finds refuge “here” among covenant people, foreshadowing the ingathering of the nations in the Messiah’s line that her account advances.

Judicial and communal decision-making

Israel’s elders are summoned to deliberate “here and now” (Judges 20:7), and the Danites question a Levite, “Who brought you here?” (Judges 18:3). הֲלם highlights accountability in the very locations where deeds occur; judgment is rendered not in abstraction but in the context of observable reality.

Search and discovery

When Saul is elusive, the people ask, “Has the man arrived here yet?” (1 Samuel 10:22). The inquiry underscores that God’s chosen king must be located in real space and time before he can serve. Location validates vocation.

Contrast of the wicked

Psalm 73:10 laments that the faithless entice others: “Therefore their people return to this place and drink up waters in abundance.” The same adverb that denotes holy ground can also mark arenas of corruption, reminding worshipers that every “here” must be evaluated under God’s gaze.

Ministry implications

1. Awareness of place. Whether pulpit, home, or marketplace, every “here” is potentially holy ground when God’s word is heard and obeyed.
2. Gratitude for progress. Like David, believers can rehearse how far the Lord has brought them, turning physical surroundings into reminders of grace.
3. Integrity in decision-making. The use of הֲלם in judicial contexts urges transparency and accountability within the body of Christ.
4. Inclusive hospitality. Boaz’s “Come over here” challenges local congregations to extend covenant kindness to outsiders who seek refuge among God’s people.

Summary

הֲלם threads through Scripture as a theological compass pointing to the immediacy of God’s presence. It gathers moments of revelation, mercy, judgment, and remembrance into the single confession: the Lord is not distant but “here.”

הֲלֹ֑ם הֲלֹ֔ם הֲלֹ֖ם הֲלֹ֛ם הֲלֹ֣ם הֲלֹֽם׃ הֲלֹם֙ הלם הלם׃ hă·lōm haLom hălōmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts