חֵ֫לֶק (che.leq)
che.leq
Helek
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Chelek means "portion" or "share." It appears in the Bible as the second son of Gilead and a descendant of Manasseh. The sources note that he is first mentioned in Numbers 26:30, where his family line is recorded during the wilderness period.
Although this specific individual is not a major character in the narrative, his name carries symbolic weight. In biblical culture, a "portion" often referred to one's inheritance or allotment of land. As a member of the tribe that received territory east of the Jordan, Chelek’s name reflects the theme of divine provision and tribal identity.
The adjective form, Cheleki ("Helekite"), appears in Numbers 26:35 to describe his descendants. This linguistic detail helps readers track family lines and understand how ancient Israelites identified themselves through their ancestors' names and inheritances.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Chelek means "portion" or "share." In Numbers 26:30, it marks a family line within the tribe of Manasseh. This recording was not just administrative; it affirmed each family’s place in God’s covenant community. Their identity was tied to their ancestral heritage and the land they would inherit.
Joshua 17:2 shows this portion becoming reality as land is distributed. For believers, this reminds us that our spiritual inheritance is secure. We are part of a larger story, valued and included by God’s grace. Our identity rests in Christ, who gives us a share in His eternal kingdom.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of/ Helek1×
- Helek1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/חֵ֕לֶק1×
- חֵ֗לֶק1×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 26:30
These are the sons of Gilead: of Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites;
This verse introduces Helek as a son of Gilead, establishing the family line that would later receive an inheritance.
-
Joshua 17:2
So this was for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families: for the children of Abiezer, for the children of Helek, for the children of Asriel, for the children of Shechem, for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida. These were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.
Here the name appears in the context of land distribution, showing how the family's portion was assigned among Manasseh’s descendants.