חָלִ֫ילָה (cha.li.lah)
cha.li.lah
forbid
H:IntjQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:Intj
Word Overview
The Hebrew word chalilah functions as a strong exclamatory phrase meaning "far be it" or "God forbid." It appears eighteen times in the Old Testament, with notable frequency in Genesis and Samuel. Rather than expressing simple regret, this term conveys absolute moral rejection of an action that would violate divine law or personal integrity.
Its root sense points to something profane or unworthy, which is why it serves as a shield against ethical compromise. When characters use it, they are drawing a hard line between what is possible and what is permissible. The phrase acts as a verbal barrier, asserting that certain evils are so contrary to God’s nature that they cannot even be entertained as options for the righteous.
Translators often render this term with "God forbid" or "by no means," capturing its emphatic tone. For example, Abraham uses it when rejecting the idea of destroying the righteous with the wicked in Genesis 18:25, and Joseph employs it to refuse Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39:9. In these contexts, the word anchors the speaker’s identity in fidelity to God, making the proposed sin unthinkable.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life presents a choice between what is easy and what is right, this Hebrew phrase acts as a firm boundary. It translates to "far be it" or "God forbid," serving as a powerful declaration that certain actions are simply not part of the path of faith. It is not merely a polite refusal but a moral stance that protects integrity when pressure mounts.
Abraham used these words to defend justice, and David refused to harm God’s anointed because he held this conviction deep in his heart. For you, it reminds us that our identity is anchored in who God is, not in the compromises we might consider. It invites you to trust that staying faithful is always the safer, more enduring way.
This expression helps us recognize that some doors should remain closed, not because they are difficult, but because they violate the character of God. By holding this line, we find peace in knowing that our refusal to sin is an act of worship and a reflection of divine grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- far be it20×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָלִ֣ילָה6×
- חָלִ֤ילָה4×
- חָלִילָה֩3×
- חָלִ֙ילָה֙2×
- חָלִילָה֮1×
- חָלִ֨לָה1×
- חָלִ֣לָה1×
- חָלִ֗ילָה1×
- חָלִ֖לָה1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 18:25
May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Abraham uses this phrase to challenge the idea that God would destroy the righteous with the wicked, highlighting divine justice.
-
I Samuel 26:11
Yahweh forbid that I should stretch out my hand against Yahweh’s anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let’s go.”
David refuses to kill Saul, stating he would never stretch out his hand against Yahweh's anointed, showing reverence for God's authority.
-
II Samuel 23:17
He said, “Be it far from me, Yahweh, that I should do this! Isn’t this the blood of the men who risked their lives to go?” Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things.
David rejects drinking the water brought by his men at great risk, calling it akin to drinking their blood, which he abhors.
-
Job 34:10
“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
Elihu asserts that God is too holy to commit wickedness, using this phrase to defend God's moral perfection against accusation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact meaning of chalilah?
Why do biblical characters use this phrase?
How is this different from simple regret?
Every Occurrence (18 verses across 7 books)
Genesis 3 verses
May it be far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be…
Genesis 44:7They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a…
Genesis 44:17He said, “Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he will be my slave; but as…