חָלָא (cha.la)
cha.la
be sick
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chala means to be sick or diseased. It describes a state of physical illness rather than a specific medical condition. The term appears only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Chronicles 16:12.
In this verse, King Asa suffers from a severe disease in his feet during his final years. The text notes that despite seeking help from physicians, he does not turn to God for healing. This single usage highlights the word’s focus on bodily affliction and its place within a narrative about spiritual reliance versus human intervention.
Unlike other Hebrew words for sickness that might imply punishment or specific ailments, chala simply states the fact of illness. Its rarity in Scripture makes this solitary occurrence stand out as a poignant detail in the account of Asa’s life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chala appears only once in the Old Testament, describing King Asa’s severe illness in his feet (2 Chronicles 16:12). This rare term simply states the fact of physical sickness without adding moral judgment or specifying a particular disease. It reminds us that illness is a real part of human experience, often occurring regardless of one’s spiritual standing.
Asa’s story shows that even those who once sought God can turn to human solutions alone in times of pain. Yet this single occurrence invites reflection on where we place our trust when bodies fail. It does not condemn Asa but highlights the tension between medical care and divine reliance, a balance many believers navigate today.
When facing health struggles, you are not alone. Scripture acknowledges physical suffering as part of life, while also pointing to God’s sustaining presence. This word helps us see illness honestly, without shame or fear, knowing that our worth is not tied to our health.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he became sick1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יֶּחֱלֶ֣א1×
Key Verses
-
II Chronicles 16:12
In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was diseased in his feet. His disease was exceedingly great; yet in his disease he didn’t seek Yahweh, but just the physicians.
This verse uses chala to describe Asa’s severe foot disease, highlighting his failure to seek God during his illness.