Lexical Summary chalaq: To divide, to share, to apportion, to distribute, to flatter Original Word: חָלַק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance deal, distribute, divide, flatter, give, have, imparter, take away a portion, A primitive root; to be smooth (figuratively); by implication (as smooth stones were used for lots) to apportion or separate -- deal, distribute, divide, flatter, give, (have, im-)part(-ner), take away a portion, receive, separate self, (be) smooth(-er). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. חָלַק verb divide, share (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic חֲלַק field, חוּלְּקָא portion, ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Qal Perfect ׳ה Deuteronomy 4:19 5t.; חָֽלְקוּ Joshua 18:2; Imperfect יַחֲלֹק Job 27:17; Proverbs 17:2; 2masculine singular suffix וַתַּחְלְקֵם Nehemiah 9:22; 3plural וַיַּחְלְקוּ Joshua 14:5; יַחֲלֹ֑קוּ 1 Samuel 30:24; וַיַּחְלְקוּם 1 Chronicles 24:4,5; תַּחְלְקוּ 2 Samuel 19:30; Imperative חִלְקוּ Joshua 22:8; Infinitive לַחֲלֹק Nehemiah 13:13; Participle חוֺלֵק Proverbs 29:24; — 1 divide, apportion, followed by accusative (of gods) and לְ person Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 29:25; accusative not expressed Nehemiah 13:13 (reference to offerings and tithes); with accusative (of land) Joshua 14:5 (P), Joshua 18:2 (JE), 2 Samuel 19:30: object people Nehemiah 9:22; עִם ׳ח divide with others Joshua 22:8 (D ?). 2 assign, distribute : Levites over (על) temple 2 Chronicles 23:18, compare 1 Chronicles 24:4,5. 3 assign, impart, followed by בִּינָה & לְ Job 39:17. 4 share (in), followed by accusative silver Job 27:17; inheritance Proverbs 17:2; spoil 1 Samuel 30:24 (object omitted); followed by עם have shares with עם גַּנָּב ׳ח Proverbs 29:24. 5 divide up = plunder the temple, followed by accusative 2 Chronicles 28:21 (see Be). Niph`al Imperfect יֵחָלֵק Numbers 26:55; 1 Kings 16:21; יֵחָ֫לֶק Job 38:24; וַיֵּחָלֵק Genesis 14:15; 3feminine singular תֵּחָלֵק Numbers 26:53,56; וֶַיּחָלְקֵם (Baer) 1 Chronicles 23:6; 1 Chronicles 24:3 compare Be & below below Pi`el; — 1 reflexive, divide oneself Genesis 14:15 (i.e. one's men). 2 passive be divided: a. apportioned, the land Numbers 26:53,55 (by lot) Numbers 26:56 (id.); all P. b. of people, divided into two factions 1 Kings 16:21. c. of light, parted, spread abroad Job 38:24. 3 transitive assign, distribute 1 Chronicles 23:6; 1 Chronicles 24:3, but transitive Niph`al is unlikely, see below Pi`el Perfect3plural חִלְּקוּ Joel 1 Chronicles 4:2; וְחִלַּקְתֶּם consecutive Ezekiel 47:21; suffix חִלְּקָם Lamentations 4:16; 3feminine singular suffix חִלְּקַ֫תָּה Isaiah 34:17; 2masculine singular suffix וְחִלַּקְתָּם Ezekiel 5:1; — Imperfect יְחַלֵּק Genesis 49:27 4t., etc.; probably read יְחַלְּקֵם 1 Chronicles 23:6; 1 Chronicles 24:3 (see above Niph`al), etc.; Imperative חַלֵּק Joshua 13:7; Infinitive חַלֵּק Joshua 19:51; Proverbs 16:19; suffix חַלְּקָם Isaiah 9:2; — 1 divide, apportion: food, at festival 2 Samuel 6:19, followed by accusative & לְ = 1 Chronicles 16:3, garments Psalm 22:19, sorrows Job 21:17 (no לְ); give a portion to, followed by לְ (no accusative expressed) Isaiah 53:12; a land Joel 4:2(no indirect object) Joshua 19:51 (P), also Micah 2:4; Psalm 60:8 = Psalm 108:8, Daniel 11:39; followed by accusative & לְ Joshua 13:7; Joshua 18:10; 1 Kings 18:6; Isaiah 34:17; Ezekiel 47:21; divide hair (symbolic) Ezekiel 5:1; divide spoil (שָׁלָל) Isaiah 9:2; Proverbs 16:19; Genesis 49:27 (poem), Exodus 15:9 (song); Judges 5:30; Psalm 68:13; Isaiah 53:12. 2 assign, distribute: Levites to their service, probably 1 Chronicles 23:6; 1 Chronicles 24:3 (see above) 3 scatter, followed by accusative Genesis 49:7 (poem) ("" הפיץ), Lamentations 4:16. Pu`al Perfect חֻלַּק Isaiah 33:23; וְחֻלַּק consecutive Zechariah 14:1; Imperfect3feminine singular תְּחֻלָּ֑ק Amos 7:17; be divided, of land Amos 7:17; spoil Isaiah 33:23; Zechariah 14:1. Hithpa`el Perfect וְהִתְחַלְּקוּ consecutive Joshua 18:5 divide (land) among themselves. Hiph`il Infinitive לַחֲלִק Jeremiah 37:12; to receive a portion (denominative from חֵלֶק), but dubious II. חָלַק verb be smooth, slippery (Late Hebrew adjective חָלָק smooth, empty, Arabic Qal Perfect ׳ח Hosea 10:2; 3masculine plural חָֽלְקוּ Psalm 55:22; — smooth, slippery, only figurative: Hosea 10:2 of heart of faithless Israel (so Ew Ke Wü Now RVm), We FALSE; >Vrss (not ᵐ5) Hi St who read חֻלַּק, divided is their heart; ᵐ5 ἐμέρισαν; of words, smooth Psalm 55:22 i.e. deceptive ("" רַכּוּ דְבָרָיו מִשֶּׁמֶן). Hiph`il Perfect הֶחֱלִיק Psalm 36:3, הֶחֱלִיקָה Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 7:5; Imperfect יַחֲלִיקוּן Psalm 5:10; Participle מַחֲלִיק Proverbs 28:23 2t.; make smooth: 1 literally of idol-maker Isaiah 41:7 with accusative instrument מַּטִּישׁ hammer. 2 figurative the tongue, i.e. flatter with it Psalm 5:10; Proverbs 28:23, words Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 7:5 אֲמָרֶיהָ הֶחֱלִיקָה; absolute deal smoothly, followed by אֶלֿ Psalm 36:3, עַל Proverbs 29:5. Topical Lexicon Semantic Scopeחָלַק moves in two principal directions: 1. “to divide, distribute, apportion, share” (physical or legal allotment). The same verbal root therefore binds together the ideas of portioning out tangible inheritance and the seductive yielding of unrighteous words. Scripture consistently places the verb under God’s sovereign prerogatives and man’s moral accountability. Distribution across Scripture Approximately sixty-five occurrences are spread through every major Old Testament corpus: Divine Allotment of the Promised Land Deuteronomy repeatedly grounds Israel’s hope in YHWH’s right “to apportion” (chalaq) the inheritance: Joshua implements that decree: “Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD, and there Joshua apportioned the land” (Joshua 18:10). The verb underscores that Israel did not seize Canaan by human stratagem but received a measured gift. Psalm 78:55 reflects on the conquest: “He…apportioned them for an inheritance and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.” Scattering as Judicial Counter-allotment When covenant infidelity sets in, the same verb announces dispersion instead of inheritance: “I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel” (Genesis 49:7). Thus חָלַק can mark either gracious distribution or disciplinary fragmentation. Inheritance and Priestly Provision Priests and Levites receive no territorial allotment; instead, “the LORD is their inheritance” (Deuteronomy 10:9). Their portion (חֵלֶק, a cognate noun) comes through offerings. The verb undergirds tithing regulations and communal support, reminding modern ministry of God’s ordained patterns for vocational servants. Flattery, Smooth Speech, and Moral Danger The second semantic lane indicts deceitful language: Flattery appears in the context of seduction (Proverbs 2:16; 5:3; 6:24; 7:5), politics (Daniel 11:21), and prophetic resistance (Isaiah 30:10). The same root that once denoted rightful distribution now exposes the slick tongue that claims what it has no right to seize. Prophetic Polemic Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah employ חָלַק to condemn leaders who “divide” land unjustly (Micah 2:5) or soothe people with “smooth things” (Isaiah 30:10). In each case, flattery masks idolatry and social oppression. The prophets therefore call the covenant community back to YHWH, the only trustworthy Portion. Wisdom Literature and the Ethics of the Tongue Proverbs mounts a sustained offensive against deceptive speech, repeatedly pairing flattery with ruin: Job, in his integrity, refuses such compromise: “Let me not, I pray, show partiality to any man, nor let me flatter any man” (Job 32:21). Theological Themes 1. Stewardship and Gratitude: Every rightful share proceeds from God’s hand; human division must mirror His justice. Christological and New Testament Resonance While חָלַק itself does not occur in the Greek New Testament, its themes echo: Jesus refuses Satan’s “all the kingdoms” offer (Matthew 4:9) and denounces Pharisaic hypocrisy. Paul warns against “smooth talk and flattery” that “deceive the hearts of the naive” (Romans 16:18). The ultimate inheritance is “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4), entrusted by the same God who once apportioned Canaan. Practical Ministry Applications • Teach stewardship: Property, gifting, and ministry spheres are divine allotments to be exercised under God’s authority. Representative Occurrences Genesis 49:7; Deuteronomy 4:19; 10:9; 29:26; Joshua 18:10; 2 Samuel 19:29; 1 Kings 12:24; 2 Chronicles 32:29; Nehemiah 9:22; Job 32:21; Psalm 12:2; 55:21; 78:55; Psalm 109:2; Proverbs 2:16; 6:24; 29:5; 26:28; Isaiah 30:10; Jeremiah 3:13; Micah 2:4-5; Daniel 11:21-32. Forms and Transliterations אֲחַלְּקֵ֣ם אֲחַלְּקָ֥ה אֲחַלֵּ֣ק אֲחַלֶּק־ אחלק אחלק־ אחלקה אחלקם בְּחַלְּקָ֥ם בחלקם הֶחֱלִ֣יק הֶחֱלִֽיקָה׃ החליק החליקה׃ וְהִֽתְחַלְּק֥וּ וְחִלַּקְתֶּ֞ם וְחִלַּקְתָּֽם׃ וְחֻלַּ֥ק וַֽיְחַלְּק֥וּ וַֽיַּחְלְק֑וּם וַֽיַּחְלְק֖וּ וַֽתַּחְלְקֵ֖ם וַיְחַלֵּ֨ק וַיְחַלֵּק֙ וַיְחַלֶּק־ וַיֵּחָלֵ֨ק וַיֶּֽחָלְקֵ֣ם וַיֶּֽחָלְקֵ֥ם וַיַּחְלְק֥וּם והתחלקו וחלק וחלקתם וחלקתם׃ ויחלק ויחלק־ ויחלקו ויחלקום ויחלקם ותחלקם חִלְּקַ֥תָּה חִלְּקָ֔ם חִלְק֥וּ חִלֵּֽקוּ׃ חַלֵּ֞ק חָ֥לַק חָלְק֖וּ חָלְק֤וּ ׀ חָלַ֖ק חָלַ֜ק חָלַ֣ק חָלַ֤ק חָלַ֥ק חֻלַּ֤ק חוֹלֵ֣ק חולק חלק חלקו חלקו׃ חלקם חלקתה יְחַלְּק֣וּ יְחַלֵּ֣ק יְחַלֵּ֥ק יְחַלֵּֽק׃ יֵחָ֣לֶק יֵחָלֵ֖ק יֵחָלֵ֛ק יַחֲלִֽיקוּן׃ יַחֲלֹ֥ק יַחֲלֹֽק׃ יַחֲלֹֽקוּ׃ יחליקון׃ יחלק יחלק׃ יחלקו יחלקו׃ לַחֲלִ֥ק לַחֲלֹ֥ק לחלק מִֽמַּחֲלִ֥יק מֵֽחַלֵּ֖ק מֵֽחַלֵּ֥ק מַחֲלִ֣יק מַחֲלִ֥יק מחליק מחלק ממחליק תְּחַלֵּ֥ק תְּחֻלָּ֑ק תֵּחָלֵ֖ק תֵּחָלֵ֥ק תַּחְלְק֖וּ תחלק תחלקו ’ă·ḥal·lə·qāh ’ă·ḥal·lə·qêm ’ă·ḥal·lêq ’ă·ḥal·leq- ’ăḥallêq ’ăḥalleq- ’ăḥalləqāh ’ăḥalləqêm achalLek achalleKah achalleKem bə·ḥal·lə·qām bechalleKam bəḥalləqām chaLak chalKu chalLek chilKu chilleKam chilleKattah chilLeku choLek chulLak ḥā·laq ḥā·lə·qū ḥal·lêq ḥālaq ḥāləqū ḥallêq he·ḥĕ·lî·qāh he·ḥĕ·lîq hecheLik hecheLikah heḥĕlîq heḥĕlîqāh ḥil·lə·qām ḥil·lə·qat·tāh ḥil·lê·qū ḥil·qū ḥilləqām ḥilləqattāh ḥillêqū ḥilqū ḥō·w·lêq ḥōwlêq ḥul·laq ḥullaq la·ḥă·liq la·ḥă·lōq lachaLik lachaLok laḥăliq laḥălōq ma·ḥă·lîq machaLik maḥălîq mê·ḥal·lêq mechalLek mêḥallêq mim·ma·ḥă·lîq mimachaLik mimmaḥălîq tachleKu taḥ·lə·qū taḥləqū tê·ḥā·lêq tə·ḥal·lêq tə·ḥul·lāq techaLek techalLek techulLak têḥālêq təḥallêq təḥullāq vaiyachleKu vaiyachleKum vaiyechaLek vaiyechalKem vattachleKem vaychallek vaychalleKu vechillakTam vechillakTem vechulLak vehitchalleKu wat·taḥ·lə·qêm wattaḥləqêm way·ḥal·lə·qū way·ḥal·lêq way·ḥal·leq- way·yaḥ·lə·qū way·yaḥ·lə·qūm way·ye·ḥā·lə·qêm way·yê·ḥā·lêq wayḥallêq wayḥalleq- wayḥalləqū wayyaḥləqū wayyaḥləqūm wayyêḥālêq wayyeḥāləqêm wə·ḥil·laq·tām wə·ḥil·laq·tem wə·hiṯ·ḥal·lə·qū wə·ḥul·laq wəḥillaqtām wəḥillaqtem wəhiṯḥalləqū wəḥullaq ya·ḥă·lî·qūn ya·ḥă·lō·qū ya·ḥă·lōq yachaLikun yachaLok yachaLoku yaḥălîqūn yaḥălōq yaḥălōqū yê·ḥā·leq yê·ḥā·lêq yə·ḥal·lə·qū yə·ḥal·lêq yechaLek yechalLek yechalleKu yêḥāleq yêḥālêq yəḥallêq yəḥalləqūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 14:15 HEB: וַיֵּחָלֵ֨ק עֲלֵיהֶ֧ם ׀ לַ֛יְלָה NAS: He divided his forces against KJV: And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, INT: divided against night Genesis 49:7 Genesis 49:27 Exodus 15:9 Numbers 26:53 Numbers 26:55 Numbers 26:56 Deuteronomy 4:19 Deuteronomy 29:26 Joshua 13:7 Joshua 14:5 Joshua 18:2 Joshua 18:5 Joshua 18:10 Joshua 19:51 Joshua 22:8 Judges 5:30 1 Samuel 30:24 2 Samuel 6:19 2 Samuel 19:29 1 Kings 16:21 1 Kings 18:6 1 Chronicles 16:3 1 Chronicles 23:6 1 Chronicles 24:3 65 Occurrences |