חָדֵל (cha.del)
cha.del
rejected/fleeting
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The adjective chadel describes something that is fleeting, transient, or lacking in substance. In the Hebrew Bible, it characterizes things that are rejected or fail to endure, emphasizing their temporary and insubstantial nature rather than any inherent value.
This word appears only once in Scripture, in Isaiah 1:3, where it modifies the ox’s manger and the donkey’s trough. The text uses chadel to highlight how Israel has failed to recognize God’s provision, treating His care as something empty or transient. By calling these symbols of sustenance “lacking,” the prophet underscores the spiritual emptiness of a people who ignore their Creator.
Its rarity makes this single usage particularly significant. Rather than describing physical decay, chadel points to a failure of perception—a blindness to the enduring reality of God’s faithfulness. The word serves as a stark reminder that what appears familiar or routine can become meaningless if disconnected from its divine source.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word chadel describes what is fleeting, insubstantial, or rejected. It points to things that lack enduring value because they are disconnected from their source. In Isaiah 1:3, this adjective highlights how Israel failed to recognize God’s provision, treating His care as empty and transient. The prophet uses this rare term to expose a spiritual blindness where familiar blessings lose their meaning.
When we view life’s routines without gratitude, they can feel hollow. Chadel reminds us that true substance comes only from acknowledging the Creator behind every gift. This word invites us to look beyond surface appearances and find depth in God’s faithfulness. It challenges us to see His provision not as something ordinary, but as a lasting reality rooted in His love.
May this insight help you appreciate the enduring nature of God’s care. Let it encourage you to seek substance over fleeting pleasures. In recognizing His hand in all things, we find peace that outlasts every temporary trial.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ rejected of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/חֲדַ֣ל1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn’t respect him.
This verse uses a related Hebrew concept for rejection, showing how the Messiah was despised and treated as having no lasting value by men.