חָלָב (cha.lav)
cha.lav
milk
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 40 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chalak refers to the white, nourishing liquid produced by nursing animals, most commonly cows or goats. In the Old Testament, it appears frequently in descriptions of the Promised Land’s fertility, such as when Moses tells the Israelites that God is bringing them into a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). This phrase became a standard idiom for abundance and divine blessing throughout the historical books and prophets.
While the primary meaning is fresh milk, the word can also denote sour milk or cheese, as seen when David brings loaves of bread and cheeses to his brothers in the army (1 Samuel 17:18). The sources note a poetic distinction where "sucking the milk of nations" describes claiming wealth from conquered peoples (Isaiah 60:16), highlighting its metaphorical weight. The term is rooted in the idea of richness and fatness, contrasting with leaner foods to symbolize luxury and sustenance.
Translators usually render chalak simply as "milk," though context sometimes requires "cheese" or references to nursing. Its repeated use in Deuteronomy and the Prophets ties physical nourishment directly to God’s covenant faithfulness, portraying His provision not just as survival but as a rich, abundant gift for His people.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chalav (milk) appears often in Scripture as a symbol of God’s generous provision. When the Bible describes the Promised Land as flowing with milk and honey, it paints a picture of abundance that goes far beyond basic survival. It is an image of richness and care, showing that God desires to bless His people with more than just enough to get by. This language reminds us that our Creator is deeply interested in our well-being and comfort.
While the phrase often points to physical fertility, it also carries a deeper spiritual weight. In passages like Isaiah, milk represents the wealth and peace that come from trusting in God rather than relying on human strength. It suggests a life where needs are met with ease and dignity. This imagery invites us to see our daily bread and drink as gifts of grace, reflecting a Father who knows what we need before we ask.
Even in personal moments, such as when Jael offers milk to the thirsty soldier Sisera, the substance serves as a sign of hospitality and rest. It is a simple comfort that can bring relief in times of weariness. For believers today, this word encourages us to trust in God’s ability to provide sustenance for our bodies and souls, knowing that He is faithful to meet our needs according to His riches.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 40 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- milk23×
- in/ [the] milk of3×
- and/ milk3×
- more than/ milk2×
- [the] milk of2×
- <the>/ milk2×
- milk/ my1×
- like <the>/ milk1×
- in <the>/ milk1×
- from/ milk1×
- and/ milk of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָלָ֖ב13×
- חָלָב֙4×
- בַּ/חֲלֵ֥ב3×
- מֵֽ/חָלָ֔ב1×
- מֵ/חָלָֽב\׃\ \פ1×
- מֵ/חָלָ֑ב1×
- כֶ֭/חָלָב1×
- חָלָ֥ב1×
- חָלָ֤ב1×
- חָלָ֣ב1×
- חָלָ֡ב1×
- חָלָ֛ב1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 3:8
I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.
This verse establishes the foundational idiom of a land flowing with milk and honey, defining the physical blessing of the covenant promise.
-
Deuteronomy 32:14
butter from the herd, and milk from the flock, with fat of lambs, rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the finest of the wheat. From the blood of the grape, you drank wine.
Here milk is listed alongside fat lambs and wine to depict the lavish abundance enjoyed by Israel in their inheritance.
-
Judges 5:25
He asked for water. She gave him milk. She brought him butter in a lordly dish.
The poet uses the offering of milk to highlight the unexpected hospitality and comfort provided to a weary enemy commander.