Original Word: חַכְלִלוּת
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: chakliluwth
Pronunciation: khak-lee-looth'
Phonetic Spelling: (khak-lee-looth')
KJV: redness
NASB: redness
Word Origin: [from H2447 (חַכלִיל - dull)]

1. flash (of the eyes)
2. in a bad sense, blearedness

redness

From chakliyl; flash (of the eyes); in a bad sense, blearedness -- redness.

see HEBREW chakliyl

Word Origin
from the same as Chakilah
Definition
dullness
NASB Translation
redness (1).

חַכְלִילוּת noun feminine dulness, of eyes in drunkenness, עֵינָָֽיִם׃׳לְמִי חַכ Proverbs 23:29 (Proverbs 23:30 לַמְאַחֲרִים עַלהַֿיָּ֑יִן).

Overview

חַכְלִלוּת (haklilut) describes the tell-tale “redness” or bloodshot condition of the eyes that accompanies excessive drinking. Its single appearance in Scripture forms part of a vivid catalogue of the physical and emotional fallout of substance abuse.

Usage in Scripture

Proverbs 23:29–30 sets the term among six piercing questions: “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample mixed drinks”. The list moves from inward anguish to outward disfigurement, climaxing in haklilut as the final, visible proof of a deeper disorder.

Context within Proverbs 23

Verses 29–35 form a cohesive warning that begins with misery (“woe… sorrow”) and ends with moral paralysis (“When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?” v. 35). The redness of eyes functions as a hinge: it is both symptom and symbol—eyes created for discernment now dulled and inflamed. The larger chapter contrasts the fleeting allure of wine (vv. 31–32) with the lasting bite of its consequences, reinforcing the wisdom theme that sin promises pleasure but produces pain.

Historical and Cultural Insights

Wine was a common staple in the ancient Near East, celebrated in festive and covenantal settings (Genesis 14:18; Psalm 104:15). Yet wisdom literature never ignores its dangers (Proverbs 20:1). Bloodshot eyes were an unmistakable cultural marker of inebriation—easily recognized in communal life where family, clan, and judicial interactions depended on clear-sighted participants. The proverb therefore leverages a familiar sight to convict the conscience.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons

1. Physical indicators reveal spiritual realities: outward redness signals inward disorder (Matthew 15:18–19).
2. Sin damages perception; the very organ designed for “keeping watch” (Proverbs 4:25) becomes clouded.
3. What begins as a private indulgence turns public, harming relationships (“strife… complaints”).
4. The progression mirrors James 1:14–15—desire conceives, gives birth to sin, and sin to death.

Connections within the Canon

• Old Testament parallels: Isaiah 28:7 laments priests “reeling from wine,” while Habakkuk 2:15 condemns those who intoxicate neighbors.
• New Testament continuity: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18); also Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 6:10; 1 Peter 4:3–4.
• Positive contrast: the Messianic blessing of abundance (John 2:1–11) highlights responsible celebration under Christ’s lordship, never the enslaving excess portrayed in Proverbs.

Pastoral and Discipleship Applications

• Counseling: Haklilut illustrates that habitual sin eventually surfaces; compassionate confrontation can begin with noticing “red eyes” of fatigue, addiction, or grief.
• Preaching: the sixfold question structure provides a ready homiletic outline—moving from hidden pain to visible ruin and finally to the call of grace (Titus 2:11–12).
• Accountability: small groups may use Proverbs 23:29–35 to discuss personal boundaries, guarding senses (“Do not gaze at wine when it sparkles,” v. 31) and cultivating Spirit-filled alternatives.

Summary

Haklilut is more than a medical description; it is wisdom’s spotlight on the cost of unchecked desire. Proverbs employs the redness of eyes to expose the deceptive path of drunkenness, aligning bodily brokenness with spiritual need. The single occurrence stands as a permanent witness that Scripture’s exhortations are holistic, calling believers to sobriety of mind and clarity of vision in service to God and neighbor.

חַכְלִל֥וּת חכללות chachliLut ḥaḵ·li·lūṯ ḥaḵlilūṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts