חֻלְדָּה (chul.dah)
chul.dah
Huldah
N:N-F-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-F-P
Word Overview
The name chul.dah, meaning "weasel," identifies a prophetess active during the reign of King Josiah in the divided monarchy period. She appears in only two biblical passages, both recording her crucial role in the religious reforms of that era (2 Kings 22:14; 2 Chronicles 34:22).
When the high priest Hilkiah discovered a scroll of the Law during temple repairs, Josiah sent his officials to consult chul.dah. Her response provided authoritative confirmation of the book’s contents and delivered a message of judgment for the nation, yet also mercy for the king who humbled himself. This encounter highlights her recognized status as a genuine voice of God in Jerusalem.
Her husband, Shallum, is noted as the keeper of the wardrobe, placing her within the administrative structures of the royal court. Despite the brevity of her scriptural presence, chul.dah stands as a significant figure whose words helped trigger one of Judah’s most important spiritual renewals.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Huldah’s name means “weasel,” yet Scripture remembers her not for her title, but for her faithfulness. When King Josiah sent his officials to ask God about a newly found scroll of the Law, they went to her. In a time when women rarely held public religious authority, Huldah spoke with clear confidence, delivering both warning and comfort from the Lord.
This story reminds us that God uses ordinary people in unexpected ways. Huldah was married to Shallum, who managed the king’s wardrobe, placing her within the daily life of Jerusalem. She did not seek fame; she simply answered when called. Her example encourages us to trust that God can speak through anyone willing to listen and share His truth honestly.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Huldah2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֻלְדָּ֨ה2×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 22:14
So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they talked with her.
This verse establishes Huldah’s official recognition as a prophetess by listing the high-ranking officials who sought her counsel regarding the discovered scroll.
-
II Chronicles 34:22
So Hilkiah and those whom the king had commanded went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter), and they spoke to her to that effect.
The parallel account confirms that both the royal court and religious leaders viewed her words as authoritative during this critical moment of national reform.