חָלַם (cha.lam)
cha.lam
be healthy; to dream
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chalam carries two distinct meanings that appear unrelated in English: to be healthy or strong, and to dream. In its basic form, it describes physical vitality, such as when a text notes that young animals are robust. The causative form can also mean to restore someone to health, emphasizing the return of strength.
However, chalam is most frequently encountered in Scripture as "to dream." This usage spans ordinary nighttime visions and significant prophetic revelations. The sources distinguish between standard dreams and those attributed to false prophets, showing that the word itself does not guarantee divine origin. In Genesis, it describes Jacob’s ladder, while Jeremiah uses it to contrast true prophecy with deceptive visions.
Translators must rely on context to determine which meaning applies. A passage about physical recovery requires the sense of health, whereas a narrative involving night visions calls for "dream." This dual nature highlights how ancient Hebrew often linked bodily strength with the mysterious experiences of the mind, though the Bible treats them as separate lexical tracks.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chalam reminds us that God often speaks in the quiet spaces of our lives, using dreams to reveal His plans. In Genesis, Jacob sees a ladder reaching heaven while sleeping, showing that divine connection is not limited by human effort. Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s visions, guiding Egypt through crisis. These stories show that God uses night visions to prepare hearts for what lies ahead.
Yet chalam also carries the sense of health and strength. In Job, young animals grow strong in open fields, reflecting vitality that comes from God’s care. This dual meaning suggests that spiritual insight and physical well-being are both gifts from Him. When we rest, whether in sleep or recovery, we invite His presence into our daily lives.
For your faith, this word encourages trust in God’s timing. Dreams may bring clarity, but health reminds us to care for our bodies as temples of the Spirit. Both aspects point to a God who sustains and guides, offering hope even in uncertainty.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I have dreamed7×
- and/ he dreamed4×
- we dreamed2×
- he dreams2×
- you have dreamed1×
- they become strong1×
- like/ [those who] dream1×
- he had dreamed1×
- he dreamed1×
- and/ we dreamed/ !1×
- and/ they dreamed1×
- and/ may you restore to health/ me1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָלָֽמְתִּי\׃2×
- מַחְלְמִֽים\׃1×
- כְּ/חֹלְמִֽים\׃1×
- יַחֲלֹ֨ם1×
- יַחֲלֹ֤ם1×
- יַחְלְמ֣וּ1×
- חֹלֵ֔ם1×
- חָלָֽמְנוּ\׃1×
- חָלָ֑מְתָּ1×
- חָלָ֑מְתִּי1×
- חָלַ֥ם1×
- חָלַ֤מְתִּֽי1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 28:12
He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
This verse shows chalam describing Jacob’s dream of a ladder, revealing God’s promise of presence and protection during his journey.
-
Genesis 41:1
At the end of two full years, Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river.
Here chalam refers to Pharaoh’s troubling dreams, which Joseph interprets to save Egypt from famine, demonstrating God’s sovereignty through visions.
-
Job 39:4
Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go out, and don’t return again.
In this context, chalam means the young animals become strong, highlighting God’s provision of vitality and growth in creation.
-
Isaiah 29:8
It will be like when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he eats; but he awakes, and his hunger isn’t satisfied; or like when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he drinks; but he awakes, and behold, he is faint, and he is still thirsty. The multitude of all the nations that fight against Mount Zion will be like that.
This passage uses chalam to describe a hungry man dreaming of food but waking unsatisfied, illustrating the emptiness of false hopes without God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does chalam mean in the Bible?
How is chalam different from other words for dreaming?
Where does chalam appear most often?
Does chalam always mean a divine dream?
Every Occurrence (21 verses across 7 books)
Genesis 12 verses
He dreamed and saw a stairway set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God were…
Genesis 37:5Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more.
Genesis 37:6He said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed:
Genesis 37:9He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, “Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and…
Genesis 37:10He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him, and said to him, “What is this dream that you…
Genesis 40:5They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the…
Genesis 40:8They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.” Joseph said to them, “Don’t…
Genesis 41:1At the end of two full years, Pharaoh dreamed, and behold, he stood by the river.
Genesis 41:5He slept and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, healthy and good.
Genesis 41:11We dreamed a dream in one night, he and I. Each man dreamed according to the interpretation of his dream.
Genesis 41:15Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you,…
Genesis 42:9Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the…