חֲלָק (cha.laq)
cha.laq
portion
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The word ḥalaq in Hebrew denotes a portion, possession, or lot. It appears only once in the biblical text, within Ezra 5:8. In this context, it refers to the specific allotment of land or property that belongs to a particular group or individual.
This term is the Aramaic equivalent of the more common Hebrew che.leq (H2506). While che.leq appears frequently throughout the Old Testament to describe inheritance or destiny, ḥalaq carries the same core meaning of assigned share. Its singular usage in Ezra highlights the legal and tangible nature of land rights during the post-exilic period, where defining possession was crucial for community restoration.
Translators typically render this word as "portion" or "possession," reflecting its straightforward sense of what is allotted. The rarity of this form underscores the shift in linguistic landscape during Ezra's time, when Aramaic became a dominant administrative language alongside Hebrew. The term anchors the concept of ownership in a specific, divinely or legally granted share.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In Ezra 4:16, the Aramaic word ḥalaq describes a 'possession' or land grant held by the city of Babylon. This specific term highlights how legal ownership was documented and protected during the post-exilic period. It reminds us that God cares about the tangible realities of our lives, including our homes, resources, and place in the world.
While this word appears only once in Scripture, its context shows that God is aware of human rights and historical records. For your faith, this means you can trust that God sees your specific portion—what He has allotted to you—and He is faithful to protect it. You do not need to worry about what belongs to others; your focus is on stewarding the share He has given you with integrity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- possession1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֲלָק֙1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 4:16
We inform the king that if this city is built and the walls finished, then you will have no possession beyond the River.
This verse uses ḥalaq to describe the historical land grant held by Babylon, showing how the word functions in legal documentation of possession.