Lexical Summary chaloph: Change, passing, renewal Original Word: חֲלוֹף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance destruction From chalaph; properly, surviving; by implication (collectively) orphans -- X destruction. see HEBREW chalaph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chalaph Definition a passing away, vanishing NASB Translation unfortunate* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֲלוֺף noun masculine a passing away, vanishing (properly Infinitive of חלף) — ׳בְּנֵי ח Proverbs 31:8 i.e. those who are passing away, transitory (compare Qal 1 b.). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Context At its single appearance in the Old Testament (Proverbs 31:8), חֲלוֹף designates people whose lives are slipping away—those on the margins, defenseless, powerless, and “passing on” toward death or ruin. The term gathers all who lack a voice: the poor, the sick, the unborn, the elderly, the oppressed, the persecuted, and any whose circumstances render them vulnerable. Occurrence in Proverbs 31:8 “Open your mouth for the mute, for the justice of all the dispossessed.” (Proverbs 31:8) The “dispossessed” (בְּנֵי חֲלוֹף, literally “sons of חֲלוֹף”) receive a direct charge from the inspired writer: God’s people are to speak up publicly and persistently for them. The verse is framed within the description of the virtuous ruler and the virtuous woman (Proverbs 31:1-9, 10-31), showing that advocacy is essential to both godly leadership and godly daily life. Biblical Theology of Advocacy for the Vulnerable 1. God’s character: “The LORD watches over the foreigner; He sustains the fatherless and widow” (Psalm 146:9). Thus Proverbs 31:8 aligns seamlessly with the wider revelation: God’s people are to uphold justice for those whose lives are fleeting and endangered. The Transience of Human Life חֲלוֹף echoes the recurring biblical theme that human life is fragile and quickly fading (Psalm 39:5; James 4:14). Recognizing life’s brevity deepens compassion: those “passing away” cannot wait for delayed righteousness. Urgency in advocacy mirrors the fleeting nature of their plight. Historical Usage in Israel Ancient Near-Eastern courts were normally closed to the disadvantaged unless an advocate intervened. Proverbs 31:8 implicitly calls kings, judges, and citizens to break that pattern by personally championing the oppressed. The very preservation of the verse in wisdom literature suggests that Israel’s sages expected every household to embrace this royal duty. Christ’s Example and the Gospel Impulse Jesus consistently honored and defended society’s “חֲלוֹף”: His cross provides the ultimate advocacy—bearing judgment on behalf of helpless sinners—so His followers must likewise bear burdens (Galatians 6:2). Applications for Ministry Today • Pro-life work for the unborn and care for expectant mothers. Related Scriptures Psalm 82:3-4; Proverbs 24:11-12; Isaiah 58:6-7; Micah 6:8; Matthew 25:40; Luke 10:30-37; James 1:27; 1 John 3:17-18. חֲלוֹף therefore stands as a concise yet powerful summons: those who belong to the eternal God must spend their brief earthly days defending lives that are even more fleeting. Forms and Transliterations חֲלֽוֹף׃ חלוף׃ chaLof ḥă·lō·wp̄ ḥălōwp̄Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 31:8 HEB: כָּל־ בְּנֵ֥י חֲלֽוֹף׃ NAS: For the rights of all the unfortunate. KJV: of all such as are appointed to destruction. INT: of all are appointed to destruction 1 Occurrence |
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