Original Word: חֵלֶק
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: cheleq
Pronunciation: KHEH-lek
Phonetic Spelling: (khay'lek)
KJV: flattery, inheritance, part, X partake, portion
NASB: portion, share, portions, reward, divisions, property, associate
Word Origin: [from H2505 (חָלַק - To divide)]

1. (properly) smoothness (of the tongue)
2. also an allotment

flattery, inheritance, part, partake, portion

From chalaq; properly, smoothness (of the tongue); also an allotment -- flattery, inheritance, part, X partake, portion.

see HEBREW chalaq

Word Origin
from chalaq
Definition
portion, tract, territory
NASB Translation
associate (1), catch (1), divisions (2), equal portions (1), farm land (1), inheritance (1), land (1), legacy (1), lot (1), portion (36), portions (4), property (2), reward (4), share (9), territory (1).

I. חֵ֫לֶק noun masculine^{Joshua 18:5} portion, tract, territory — ׳ח absolute Genesis 31:14 +; construct Genesis 14:24 +; suffix חֶלְקִי Psalm 16:5 6t.; חֶלְקְךָ Numbers 18:20; Ecclesiastes 9:9; חֶלְקֶ֑ךָ Psalm 50:18; חֶלְקֵךְ Isaiah 57:6; חֶלְקוֺ Habakkuk 1:16 5t.; חֶלְקָם Genesis 14:24 3t.; plural חֲלָקִים Joshua 18:5 5t.; suffix חֶלְקֵיהֶם Hosea 5:7; —

1 portion, share:

a. of booty Genesis 14:24 (twice in verse); Numbers 31:36 (P) 1 Samuel 30:24 (twice in verse).

b. of food Leviticus 6:10 (P); יאכלו ׳כּח ׳ח Deuteronomy 18:8; = food Habakkuk 1:16 ("" מַאֲכָל); so (of unrestricted charity) Ecclesiastes 11:2 see Now.

c. followed by בְּ, share or interest in Ecclesiastes 9:6, with idea of obligation to Genesis 31:14 (E; in father's house), 2 Samuel 20:1 = 1 Kings 12:16 2Chronicles 10:16 (in royal line; all "" נַחֲלָה); of right (privilege) in ביהוה ׳ח Joshua 22:25,27 (P); Nehemiah 2:20 (in Jerusalem; + צְדָקָה וְזִכָּרוֺן),

d. proper share or part אַעֲנֶה חֶלְקִי Job 32:17 i.e. I will do my part in replying. Especially

2 portion, tract, of land:

a. as distributive at conquest Joshua 19:9, seven portions Joshua 18:5,6,9 (all J E) Joshua 18:7 (J E; + נחלה in "" clause), Joshua 15:13; Joshua 19:9 (both P); none for tribe of Levi Deuteronomy 10:9; Deuteronomy 12:12; Deuteronomy 14:27,29; Deuteronomy 18:1; Joshua 18:7 (all D; "" נחלה), Joshua 14:4 (P), none for priests Numbers 18:20 (P; "" verb נחל).

b. of land possessed by people Hosea 5:7; Micah 2:4.

c. portion to be assigned after exile Isaiah 61:7; Ezekiel 45:7; Ezekiel 48:8,21, חֶלְקוֺ עַלאַֿדְמַת הַקֹּדֶשׁ Zechariah 2:16.

d. specifically of town-land, district about a town, יִזְרְעֵאל ׳ח 2 Kings 9:10,36 + 1 Kings 21:23 (ᵑ0 חֵל), ׳יִזְ ׳הַשָּׂדֶה בְּח 1 Kings 21:37.

e. הַחֵלֶק Amos 7:4 (opposed to תְּהוֺם) apparently of land of Israel

3 hence portion, i.e. (acquired) possession:

a. of people as ׳יs possession Deuteronomy 32:9 ("" חֶבֶל נחלתו); but especially

b. of ׳י as possession of his servants: of priests, as enjoying perquisites of altar Numbers 18:20 (P; "" נחלה), in spiritual sense Psalm 73:26; Psalm 119:57; Lamentations 3:24; מְנָת חֶלְקִי ׳י Psalm 16:5; בְּאֶרֶץ הַחַיִּים ׳ח Psalm 142:6; hence יעקב ׳ח of ׳י Jeremiah 10:16 = Jeremiah 51:19 (שֵׁבֶט נַחֲלָתוֺ in "" clause)

4 chosen portion, habitual mode of life ׳עִםמְֿנָאֲפִים ח Psalm 50:18 with adulterers is thy chosen life (companionship, shewing character); בְּחַלְּקֵינַֿחַל חֶלְקֵךְ Isaiah 57:6 among smooth (things i.e. stones) of a brook-bed is thy chosen life (of idolatrous habit; see חָלָק); חֶלְקָם בַּחַיִּים Psalm 17:14.

5 portion, award, from God אֱלוֺהַּ ׳ח Job 31:2 ("" נחלה); specifically of punishment of wicked Isaiah 17:14 ("" גּוֺרָל), עִםאֵֿל Job 27:13, מֵאֱלֹהִים Job 20:29 ("" נחלה); = profit, reward חֶלְקִי מִכָּלעֲֿמָלִי Ecclesiastes 2:10, compare Ecclesiastes 2:21; Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes 5:17; Ecclesiastes 5:18; Ecclesiastes 9:9. — לְחֵלָק Job 17:5 is dubious: a share of feast, or of booty, Kmp Hi; a prey, spoil, Ew Di Da; AV flattery does not suit context.

III. חֵ֫לֶק noun [masculine] smoothness, seductiveness of speech, only singular construct בְּחֵלֶק שְׁפָתֶיהָ תַּדִּיחֶ֑נּוּ Proverbs 7:21 with the seductiveness of her lips she impelleth him ("" הִטַּתּוּ בְּרֹב לִקְחָהּ). — I. and II. חֵלֶק see below I. חלק.

Semantic Range and Core Idea

חֵלֶק denotes a “portion,” “share,” or “allotment,” whether tangible—land, spoil, food—or intangible—destiny, inheritance, relationship. The word therefore bridges material and spiritual themes, uniting the concrete realities of Israel’s covenant life with the believer’s ultimate hope in God.

Distribution in Scripture

Approximately sixty-seven occurrences span the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets. The term clusters around three chief spheres: (1) territorial inheritance, (2) prescribed priestly portions, and (3) personal or national destiny. These spheres often overlap, underscoring the unified biblical presentation of God as both Giver and Gift.

Inheritance and Land Allotments

After the conquest, חֵלֶק becomes a technical term for tribal boundaries. Joshua 18:5 commands, “Divide the land into seven portions,” while Joshua 19:9 explains that Simeon received “a portion of Judah” because Judah’s share was too large. These passages emphasize that Israel’s geography is neither random nor fully humanly determined; it is a visible sign of covenant grace. The same vocabulary appears in Ezekiel’s visionary redistribution of the land (Ezekiel 45:1; 48:29), projecting the certainty of future inheritance beyond exile.

Priestly and Levitical Portions

Numbers 18:20 records the divine pronouncement to Aaron: “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.” Here חֵלֶק communicates both deprivation and privilege. The Levites surrender territorial claims yet gain a superior allotment—Yahweh Himself. Deuteronomy 18:1-2, 1 Samuel 2:14-15, and Nehemiah 12:44 describe the practical outworking: tithes, offerings, and sacrificial meat constitute their material share. The pattern models New Covenant ministry that looks first to God, not land or status, for sufficiency.

Individual Share and Destiny

In Wisdom Literature the word widens from land to life itself. Job laments, “This is the portion that God has reserved for the wicked” (Job 20:29), while Ecclesiastes teaches contentment: “It is good and fitting… to enjoy the good of all his labor… this is his lot” (Ecclesiastes 5:18). Psalm 16:5 personalizes the idea: “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure.” Thus חֵלֶק becomes a lens through which every believer evaluates circumstance—whether prosperity, suffering, or daily bread—as a measured share from the sovereign hand of God.

God Himself as Portion

Several texts elevate חֵלֶק to its highest sense by identifying the LORD with the believer’s portion. Lamentations 3:24 testifies in a setting of ruin, “The LORD is my portion,” anchoring hope amid national collapse. Psalm 73:26 similarly declares, “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” These confessions transform the term from quantitative allotment to qualitative relationship; the greatest gift is the Giver. Such verses ground Christian assurance that earthly loss never forfeits the believer’s ultimate inheritance (compare 1 Peter 1:4).

Portion of the Wicked

By contrast, חֵלֶק can denote the divinely assigned outcome of rebellion. Isaiah 17:14 warns that invading nations awaken “to their portion of plunder.” Micah 2:4 prophesies, “We are utterly ruined! He changes the portion of my people.” The word therefore serves as a moral counterpoint: every life receives a portion, but only faith converts portion into blessing.

Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions

Zechariah 2:12 promises, “The LORD will inherit Judah as His portion in the Holy Land,” anticipating eschatological restoration. Daniel employs the cognate idea when promising the prophet a “lot” at the end of days (Daniel 12:13). The concept of portion thus spans covenant history, reaching consummation when Messiah’s people inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5) and God is “all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28).

Ethical and Homiletical Reflections

1. Stewardship: Recognizing every resource as a God-given portion fosters gratitude and generosity (Proverbs 17:2).
2. Contentment: Acceptance of one’s allotted share guards against envy (Psalm 16:5-6; Hebrews 13:5).
3. Ministry: Those dedicated to the gospel mirror the Levites—living from what God supplies while pointing others to the greater inheritance (1 Corinthians 9:13-14).
4. Warning: A share can be forfeited through unbelief; Esau “found no place for repentance” regarding his inheritance (Hebrews 12:16-17, echoing Genesis 25:33).

Practical Application for Today

Believers face a culture that measures worth by possession, yet Scripture redirects focus to the true Portion. The church proclaims that Christ is both the guarantor and content of our inheritance. Pastors can employ חֵלֶק to teach:
• Assurance amid loss—God remains our portion (Psalm 142:5).
• Motivation for mission—others must be invited into God’s allotted salvation (Acts 26:18).
• Antidote to materialism—earthly shares are temporary; eternal riches abide (Colossians 3:2-4).

Thus the biblical theology of חֵלֶק gathers Israel’s land, the priestly calling, and personal destiny into a comprehensive portrait of divine generosity, culminating in the believer’s everlasting portion in Christ.

בְּחֵ֣לֶק בְּחֵ֥לֶק בחלק הַחֲלָקִ֔ים הַחֲלָקִים֙ הַחֵֽלֶק׃ החלק׃ החלקים וְחֵ֕לֶק וְחֵ֙לֶק֙ וְחֵ֨לֶק וְחֶלְקִ֗י וּֽכְחֵ֛לֶק וחלק וחלקי וכחלק חֲלָקִ֑ים חֲלָקִ֔ים חֲלָקִ֖ים חֵ֕לֶק חֵ֖לֶק חֵ֙לֶק֙ חֵ֜לֶק חֵ֣לֶק חֵ֤לֶק חֵ֥לֶק חֵ֧לֶק חֵ֨לֶק חֵֽלֶק־ חֶ֝לְקִ֗י חֶלְק֑וֹ חֶלְק֔וֹ חֶלְקְךָ֙ חֶלְקִ֑י חֶלְקִ֖י חֶלְקִ֤י חֶלְקִ֥י חֶלְקֵ֔ךְ חֶלְקֵיהֶֽם׃ חֶלְקֶֽךָ׃ חֶלְקָ֑ם חֶלְקָ֛ם חֶלְקָ֥ם חֶלְקָֽם׃ חֶלְקֽוֹ׃ חלק חלק־ חלקו חלקו׃ חלקי חלקיהם׃ חלקים חלקך חלקך׃ חלקם חלקם׃ כְּחֵ֖לֶק כְּחֵ֣לֶק ׀ כחלק לְ֭חֵלֶק לחלק bə·ḥê·leq beChelek bəḥêleq chalaKim Chelek chelKam chelKech chelkeCha chelkeiHem chelKi chelKo ha·ḥă·lā·qîm ha·ḥê·leq ḥă·lā·qîm hachalaKim haChelek haḥălāqîm haḥêleq ḥălāqîm ḥê·leq ḥê·leq- ḥel·qām ḥel·qê·hem ḥel·qe·ḵā ḥel·qə·ḵā ḥel·qêḵ ḥel·qî ḥel·qōw ḥêleq ḥêleq- ḥelqām ḥelqêhem ḥelqêḵ ḥelqeḵā ḥelqəḵā ḥelqî ḥelqōw kə·ḥê·leq keChelek kəḥêleq lə·ḥê·leq Lechelek ləḥêleq ū·ḵə·ḥê·leq ucheChelek ūḵəḥêleq veChelek vechelKi wə·ḥê·leq wə·ḥel·qî wəḥêleq wəḥelqîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts