חָלָה (cha.lah)
cha.lah
be weak: weak; to beg; be weak: ill; be weak: grieved
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 65 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chalah describes a state of weakness that extends beyond physical illness to include emotional exhaustion and grief. In its basic sense, it means to become weak or sick, but the sources indicate it also covers being worn down by sorrow or fatigue. This broad range allows the word to describe both bodily disease and the heavy weight of distress, as seen when King David is described as being grieved by the actions of others.
A notable feature of this word is its use in the Piel stem to mean "to entreat" or "beg." This shift from weakness to pleading suggests that supplication often arises from a position of vulnerability. When someone is weak, they are more likely to seek help, turning their frailty into an appeal for mercy or intervention.
Translators typically render chalah as "sick," "weak," or "grieved" depending on the context. In historical books like Kings and Chronicles, it frequently describes physical ailments of kings and prophets. However, its application to grief in passages like Isaiah highlights how deeply intertwined physical and emotional suffering were understood to be in ancient Hebrew thought.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word chalah captures a profound reality: that weakness is not merely a physical state but a deeply human condition encompassing grief, exhaustion, and vulnerability. When Scripture describes someone as chalah, it acknowledges the heavy toll of sorrow or illness, reminding us that our frailty is seen and understood by God. This term bridges the gap between bodily pain and emotional distress, showing that our struggles are holistic.
Interestingly, the word also shifts to mean begging or entreaty in certain contexts. This suggests that true prayer often arises from a place of honest weakness. When we feel unable to stand on our own, we turn to God not out of strength, but out of need. This vulnerability is not a failure of faith; it is the very posture that invites divine intervention and mercy.
In your own life, this word offers comfort. You do not need to hide your struggles or pretend to be strong when you are weary. Whether facing physical illness, deep grief, or simple exhaustion, bringing your weakness before God is a valid and powerful act of trust. It is in these moments of honesty that we often find the grace to endure.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 65 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he became sick5×
- and/ I will be weak4×
- and/ he entreated3×
- [is] sick3×
- I have been wounded3×
- to/ entreat2×
- he was sick2×
- he had been sick2×
- entreat2×
- [was] sick2×
- [is] severe2×
- I have entreated2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֹלֶ֥ה4×
- חָלָ֖ה4×
- חָלָ֥ה3×
- וְ/חָלִ֥יתִי3×
- נַחְלָ֖ה2×
- נֶחְל֖וּ2×
- חֹלֶ֑ה2×
- הָחֳלֵֽיתִי\׃2×
- שֶׁ/חוֹלַ֥ת1×
- נַחֲלָ֖ה1×
- נַחְלָ֥ה1×
- מַחֲלָה\־1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 48:1
After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
This verse establishes the primary meaning of physical sickness, showing how a father's decline impacts the family line and Joseph's leadership.
-
II Samuel 13:2
Amnon was so troubled that he became sick because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything to her.
Here chalah describes emotional distress manifesting as physical illness, illustrating the deep connection between heartache and bodily health in ancient thought.
-
I Kings 17:17
After these things, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his sickness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.
The severity of the child's sickness ('no breath left') highlights how this word is used for life-threatening conditions that require prophetic intervention.
-
Exodus 32:11
Moses begged Yahweh his God, and said, “Yahweh, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
In the Piel stem, this occurrence shows Moses using his position of intercession to beg God, linking vulnerability with earnest prayer for mercy.
-
II Kings 20:1
In those days Hezekiah was sick and dying. Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Set your house in order; for you will die, and not live.’”
Hezekiah's illness is described with urgency ('sick and dying'), marking a pivotal moment where human weakness meets divine promise and healing.