Lexical Summary
chalal: To profane, defile, pollute, desecrate, begin
Original Word:חָלַל
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:chalal
Pronunciation:khaw-LAL
Phonetic Spelling:(khaw-lal')
KJV: begin (X men began), defile, X break, defile, X eat (as common things), X first, X gather the grape thereof, X take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. (properly) to bore
2. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve
3. (figuratively) to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an "opening wedge")
4. denom. (from H2485) to play (the flute)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
begin men began, defile, break, defile, eat as common things
A primitive root (comparechalah); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an "opening wedge"); denom. (fromchaliyl) to play (the flute) -- begin (X men began), defile, X break, defile, X eat (as common things), X first, X gather the grape thereof, X take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.
see HEBREWchalah
see HEBREWchaliyl
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. (Arabic
perforate, pierce through, transfix, Ethiopic
(hollow)
read; Aramaic
hollow out,
pipe;
adjective
hollow,
cave,
sheath, etc.; Late Hebrew in derivatives noun
hollow, adjective
slain,
pipe); —
Perfectmy heart is pierced (wounded)within mePsalm 109:22 (? literallyone has pierced my heart; or read
?);Infinitive constructPsalm 77:11it is my piercing, my wound (my woe, my cross; so Ew Hi De Bae MV SS Köi. 341, but Hup Pe Bi Che readmy sickness).
Participle plural (Baer)Ezekiel 28:9in the hand of the ones wounding thee (Sm Co read ).
Participlepierced by the swordEzekiel 32:26.
Perfect3feminine singularJob 26:13his hand pierced the fleeing serpent; Participle feminineIsaiah 51:9who pierced the dragon.
ParticipleIsaiah 53:5pierced, wounded because of our transgressions (of the servant of , "" ).
II. [] —
Participle pluralPsalm 87:7as well the singers as the pipe-players, compare AV; < RV Pe De Che Bae and others
Participle from 1.dancers.
Participle1 Kings 1:40and the people piped with pipes (compare Assyrian—âlalu, according to D1 in ZimBP 117).
III. [] ;
also begin (literallyuntie, loosen, open, see Arabic) (Arabic
untie, undo, become free, lawful, free from obligation ortie; IV.make lawful; x.esteem lawful orfree, profane, desecrate, violate; Late Hebrewbe profane, desecrated (also Pi`el Hiph`il transitive), compare Aramaic
Pa`el ispurify,
Aph`el isprofane) —
PerfectEzekiel 25:3, (- Co)Ezekiel 22:16,Ezekiel 7:24;ImperfectIsaiah 48:11,Leviticus 21:9,Ezekiel 22:26;InfinitiveEzekiel 20:9,14,22, suffixLeviticus 21:4. —
.pollute, defile oneself
"" ,Leviticus 21:4 (H).
sexually ""Leviticus 21:9 (H).
Pass.,be polluted, defiled, of holy placesEzekiel 7:24;Ezekiel 25:3, name of GodEzekiel 20:9,14,22;Isaiah 48:11 and even God himselfEzekiel 22:16,26.
PerfectLeviticus 19:8 3t.; suffixDeuteronomy 20:6; 2masculine singularGenesis 49:4 3t.; 2 feminine singularEzekiel 22:8; 3plural suffixEzekiel 7:21 etc., + 16 t. Perfect;ImperfectLeviticus 21:12,15,23; suffixDeuteronomy 20:6; pluralLeviticus 21:6 4t.,Psalm 89:32 etc., + 13 t. Imperfect;InfinitiveAmos 2:7 4t.;Ezekiel 23:39 4t.;Jeremiah 16:18;ParticipleEzekiel 24:21 pluralMalachi 1:12;Nehemiah 13:17; suffixExodus 31:14; feminineLeviticus 21:9; —
defile, pollute:
,Genesis 49:4 (poem) =1 Chronicles 5:1 (the father's bed); a woman =Leviticus 19:29;Leviticus 21:9 (H);Leviticus 21:15 (H).
,profane, the altar by a toolExodus 20:25 (JE); sacred placesLeviticus 21:12,23 (H),Ezekiel 7:21,22 (twice in verse);Ezekiel 23:39;Ezekiel 24:21;Ezekiel 44:7;Zephaniah 3:4;Malachi 2:11;Psalm 74:7;Daniel 11:31; the holy landJeremiah 16:18; sacred thingsLeviticus 19:8;Leviticus 22:9,15 (H)Numbers 18:32 (P)Ezekiel 22:26; the sabbathExodus 31:14 (P),Isaiah 56:2,6;Ezekiel 20:13,16,21,24;Ezekiel 22:8;Ezekiel 23:38;Nehemiah 13:17,18; and so the sanctity of the prince of Tyre who made himself God, and his holy places,Ezekiel 28:7,16,18.
Leviticus 18:21;Leviticus 19:12;Leviticus 20:3;Leviticus 21:6;Leviticus 22:2,32 (all H),Amos 2:7;Jeremiah 34:16;Ezekiel 20:39;Ezekiel 36:20,21,22,23;Malachi 1:12, God himselfEzekiel 13:19.
defiles orprofanes his inheritance by giving it over to BabylonIsaiah 47:6; the princes of the sanctuary by giving them to ChaldeansIsaiah 43:28.
violate the honour of, dishonour, subject crown of Davidic kingdomPsalm 89:40 (followed by pregnantly), kingdom of JudahLamentations 2:2; theIsaiah 23:9.
violate a covenantPsalm 55:21;Psalm 89:35;Malachi 2:10, the of GodPsalm 89:32.
treat a vineyardas common (see )by beginning to use its fruitDeuteronomy 20:6 (twice in verse);Deuteronomy 28:30;Jeremiah 31:5 (see the lawLeviticus 19:23-25, H).
ParticipleEzekiel 36:23my great name which is profaned among the nations.
ImperfectEzekiel 39:7I will not let my holy name be profaned any more.
he shall not violate his wordNumbers 30:3 (P).
begin, PerfectGenesis 6:1 15t.,Judges 20:40,Deuteronomy 3:24;Esther 6:13,Deuteronomy 2:31;1 Samuel 22:15,Ezra 3:6 6t.;ImperfectJudges 10:18;Judges 13:5,Genesis 9:20 5t., 3 feminine singularJudges 13:25;Judges 16:19, 2masculine singularDeuteronomy 16:9,Deuteronomy 2:25;Joshua 3:7,Judges 20:31 3t.,Genesis 41:54,Ezekiel 9:6;ImperativeDeuteronomy 2:24,31;Infinitive construct1 Samuel 3:12 2t.; suffixGenesis 11:6;ParticipleJeremiah 25:29; —begin,Numbers 17:11;Numbers 17:12 (P)Deuteronomy 16:9; 2Chronicles 29:27 (twice in verse); so2 Samuel 24:15 We Dr ( inserts before ); with Infinitive ()begin toGenesis 41:54 (E),Genesis 6:1;Genesis 10:8 =1 Chronicles 1:10;Genesis 11:6;Numbers 25:1 (all J),Deuteronomy 2:25,31;Deuteronomy 3:24;Deuteronomy 16:9;Joshua 3:7 (D),Judges 10:18;Judges 13:5,25;Judges 16:19,22;Judges 20:31,39,40;1 Samuel 3:2;1 Samuel 14:35;1 Samuel 22:15;2 Kings 10:32;2 Kings 15:37;1 Chronicles 27:24; 2Chronicles 3:1,2; 29:17; 31:7,10,21; 34:3 (twice in verse);Ezra 3:6;Nehemiah 4:1;Esther 6:13;Esther 9:23;Jeremiah 25:29;Jonah 3:4; with consecutiveGenesis 9:20 (J),Ezra 3:8.; withbegin withGenesis 44:12 (J),Ezekiel 9:6; 2Chronicles 20:22; so2 Samuel 24:5, read forL We Dr.; withbegin fromEzekiel 9:6;begin! possess!Deuteronomy 2:24,31;beginning and ending1 Samuel 3:12 (i.e. accomplishing my full purpose, see Dr).
Perfectthen it was begun (= men began)to call on the name ofGenesis 4:26 (J).
—Hosea 8:10begin to be minished by reason of the burden RV Hi and others; Wü Now read (I. , ) — for omission of daghesh see also of Babylonian Manuscript —shall be in anguish a little for the burden, so Ra AV; Ewthat they may wait (?) a little;cease a little from anointing, so Che We, this probably best.
Topical Lexicon
Overview of UsageThe verb occurs about one hundred forty-three times and gathers several distinct yet related ideas: profaning what is holy, defiling persons or places, beginning an action, and piercing or fatally wounding. All nuances share the sense of breaching a boundary that God has set—whether the boundary is ritual, moral, temporal, or physical.
Holiness versus Profanation
At the heart of Israel’s covenant life stands the call, “You are to be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). The term repeatedly signals the opposite of holiness. Whenever something or someone God set apart is treated as ordinary, the verb appears. Thus Leviticus warns priests not to “profane” the sanctuary or the holy things (Leviticus 21:12; 22:2); the common worshiper must also avoid conduct that would make the sanctuary “common” (Leviticus 19:30). The line is clear: holiness is God-given; profanation is human rebellion.
Profaning the Name of the Lord
The Name encapsulates God’s revealed character and covenant faithfulness. Israel must not “swear falsely by My name and so profane the name of your God” (Leviticus 19:12). Child sacrifice to Molech does the same (Leviticus 18:21; 20:3). Ezekiel repeatedly laments that exile has “profaned” the divine Name among the nations (Ezekiel 36:20-23), yet promises that the Lord Himself will act “for the sake of My holy name, which you have profaned.”
Sabbaths and Sacred Seasons
The Sabbath is a weekly testimony that Israel belongs to the Creator-Redeemer. “Whoever profanes it shall surely be put to death” (Exodus 31:14). Prophets later indict the nation for turning the Sabbath into an ordinary market day (Ezekiel 22:8, 26; 23:38). The verb thereby becomes shorthand for treating God-ordained time as disposable.
Sanctuary, Offerings, and Ministry
Offerings with blemish “profane” the altar (Malachi 1:12-13). Priests mar their calling when they “do violence to My law and profane My holy things” (Ezekiel 22:26). Conversely, zeal for holiness is illustrated by Phinehas, who thrust his spear through flagrant sinners (Numbers 25:8—the same root appears as “pierced”), turning away wrath and restoring covenant order.
Sexual and Moral Purity
To violate a woman sexually is to “humiliate” or “defile” her, as Dinah experienced in Shechem (Genesis 34:5-31) and Tamar at the hands of Amnon (2 Samuel 13:12). Such acts desecrate God’s image-bearers and threaten the community’s holiness. The same root warns against cult prostitution (Leviticus 19:29).
Violence, Wounding, and Messianic Prophecy
The word describes lethal blows on the battlefield (Numbers 25:8;Isaiah 22:2) and is chosen by Isaiah to portray the suffering Servant: “But He was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5). The prophecy links human profanation of God’s holiness with a saving wound borne by God’s anointed, fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (John 19:34, 37).
The Idea of Beginning
A positive nuance surfaces early in Genesis: “At that time men began to call upon the name of the LORD” (Genesis 4:26). The same form marks the first expansion of humanity (Genesis 6:1), the exploits of Nimrod (Genesis 10:8), and Israel’s conquest mandate, “Begin to possess it” (Deuteronomy 2:24). The semantic shift reminds readers that all beginnings carry potential either to honor or to profane God.
Prophetic Oracles of Judgment and Restoration
Isaiah warns, “I profane the princes of the sanctuary” (Isaiah 43:28), showing that God Himself may treat corrupt leaders as common. Yet He also vows, “Never again will I allow My holy name to be profaned” (Ezekiel 39:7). Judgment and restoration hinge on the same term, underscoring divine sovereignty over holiness.
Theological and Ministry Considerations
1. Holiness is not merely ritual; it frames every aspect of life—time, worship, sexuality, governance.
2. Profanation brings judgment; holiness secured by atoning blood brings life (Hebrews 10:29-31 echoes this backdrop).
3. The Servant’s “piercing” answers humanity’s profanation, enabling the Church to proclaim a holy God who makes holy people (1 Peter 1:15-19).
4. Ministry guardedness: leaders today echo ancient priests; careless handling of God’s Word or people still “profanes” His Name (James 3:1).
5. Missional witness: Ezekiel’s concern that the nations view God as holy urges believers to uphold integrity before a watching world (Matthew 5:16).
Key References
Genesis 4:26; 6:1; 34:5-31
Exodus 31:14-15
Leviticus 18:21; 19:12, 29-30; 21:6-12; 22:2, 32
Numbers 25:8;Deuteronomy 2:24
2 Samuel 13:12
Isaiah 22:2; 43:28; 53:5
Ezekiel 20:9; 22:8, 26; 23:38; 36:20-23; 39:7
Malachi 1:12
(The above list is representative; for the full canonical scope consult a concordance.)
Forms and Transliterations
אֲחַלֵּ֥ל אַחֵ֥ל אָחֵל֙ אחל אחלל הֵחֵ֔ל הֵחֵ֕ל הֵחֵ֕לּוּ הֵחֵ֖לּוּ הֵחֵ֛ל הֵחֵ֛לָּה הֵחֵ֡לּוּ הֵחֵ֣ל הֵחֵ֣לּוּ הֵחֵ֣ל ׀ הֵחֵ֤ל הֵחֵ֥ל הֵחֵ֥לּוּ הֵחֵ֨לּוּ הֵחֵל֙ הֵחֵל֩ הַֽחִלֹּ֙תִי֙ הַֽחִלּ֙וֹתָ֙ הַֽמְחֻלָּל֙ הַחִלָּ֣ם הַחִלֹּ֛תִי הַחִלּ֨וֹתָ הָחֵ֖ל הָחֵ֣ל הוּחַ֔ל הוחל החל החלה החלו החלות החלם החלתי המחלל וְחִלְּל֖וּ וְחִלְּל֞וּ וְחִלְּלֽוּהָ׃ וְחִלֵּֽלוּ׃ וְחִלַּלְתָּ֛ וְחִלְּלֽוּהוּ׃ וְנִחֲל֖וּ וְנִחַ֥לְתְּ וַ֠יָּחֵלּוּ וַ֠יָּחֶל וַֽיְחַלְּל֖וּ וַאֲחַלֵּ֖ל וַיְחַלְּל֣וּ וַיָּ֣חֶל וַיָּ֤חֶל וַיָּ֥חֶל וַיָּ֧חֶל וַיָּחֵ֙לּוּ֙ וַיָּחֵ֡לּוּ וַיָּחֵ֣לּוּ וַתְּחִלֶּ֜ינָה וַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃ וַתְּחַלְּל֣וּ וַתְּחַלֶּלְ֨נָה וַתָּ֙חֶל֙ וָאֵחַ֖ל וָאֶחַלֶּלְךָ֩ וּֽבְחַלְּלוֹ֙ וּֽמְחַלְּלִ֖ים וּלְחַלֵּ֖ל ואחל ואחלל ואחללך ובחללו וחללו וחללו׃ וחללוה׃ וחללוהו׃ וחללת ויחל ויחלו ויחללו ולחלל ומחללים ונחלו ונחלת ותחל ותחלינה ותחללה׃ ותחללו ותחללנה חִלְּל֔וֹ חִלְּל֙וּהוּ֙ חִלְּל֣וּ חִלְּל֥וּ חִלְּלוּ־ חִלֵּ֑ל חִלֵּ֑לוּ חִלֵּ֣ל חִלֵּ֥ל חִלֵּֽלוּ׃ חִלַּ֖לְתָּ חִלַּ֙לְתִּי֙ חִלַּלְתֶּ֔ם חִלַּלְתֶּ֖ם חִלָּֽלְתְּ׃ חַלְּלָ֣ם חַלֵּ֖ל חָלַ֥ל חָלָ֑ל חֹֽלֲלָ֥ה חלל חללה חללו חללו־ חללו׃ חללוהו חללם חללת חללת׃ חללתי חללתם יְחַלְּל֔וּ יְחַלְּל֖וּ יְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ׃ יְחַלְּלֻ֑הוּ יְחַלֵּ֑לוּ יְחַלֵּ֔ל יְחַלֵּ֥ל יְחַלֵּל֙ יֵחָ֑ל יַחֵ֖ל יָחֵ֔ל יָחֵ֛ל יחל יחלל יחללהו יחללו יחללנו׃ כְּחֹלְלִ֑ים כחללים לְהֵ֖חַלּֽוֹ׃ לְחַלְּל֑וֹ לְחַלְּל֣וֹ לְחַלֵּ֖ל לְחַלֵּל֙ להחלו׃ לחלל לחללו מְחַֽלְלֶ֙יהָ֙ מְחַלְּלִ֣ים מְחַלְלֶֽיךָ׃ מְחַלֵּ֤ל מְחַלֶּ֔לֶת מְחֹלָ֣ל מְחֻ֣לְלֵי מְחוֹלֶ֥לֶת מֵֽחַלְּל֔וֹ מֵהָחֵ֤ל מֵהָחֵ֨ל מֵחֵ֣ל מהחל מחוללת מחל מחלל מחללו מחללי מחלליה מחלליך׃ מחללים מחללת נִחָ֗ל נחל תְּחַלֵּ֥ל תְחַלְּל֖וּ תְחַלְּלֶֽנּוּ׃ תְחַלְּלוּ֙ תְחַלְּלוּ־ תְחַלֵּ֛ל תֵחֵ֖ל תָּחֵ֑לּוּ תָּחֵ֣ל תחל תחלו תחלל תחללו תחללו־ תחללנו׃ ’ă·ḥal·lêl ’a·ḥêl ’ā·ḥêl ’ăḥallêl ’aḥêl ’āḥêl achalLel aChel chaLal chalLel challeLam chilLalet chilLalta chillalTem chilLalti chilLel chilleLo chilleLu chilleLuhu cholaLah hā·ḥêl ha·ḥil·lām ha·ḥil·lō·ṯî ha·ḥil·lō·w·ṯā ḥā·lal ḥā·lāl haChel hachilLam hachilLota hachilLoti hāḥêl haḥillām haḥillōṯî haḥillōwṯā ḥal·lə·lām ḥal·lêl ḥālal ḥālāl ḥallêl ḥalləlām ham·ḥul·lāl hamchulLal hamḥullāl hê·ḥêl hê·ḥêl·lāh hê·ḥêl·lū heChel heChellah heChellu hêḥêl hêḥêllāh hêḥêllū ḥil·lā·lət ḥil·lal·tā ḥil·lal·tem ḥil·lal·tî ḥil·lə·lōw ḥil·lê·lū ḥil·lə·lū ḥil·lə·lū- ḥil·lə·lū·hū ḥil·lêl ḥillālət ḥillaltā ḥillaltem ḥillaltî ḥillêl ḥilləlōw ḥillêlū ḥilləlū ḥilləlū- ḥilləlūhū ḥō·lă·lāh ḥōlălāh hū·ḥal huChal hūḥal kə·ḥō·lə·lîm kecholeLim kəḥōləlîm lə·ḥal·lə·lōw lə·ḥal·lêl lə·hê·ḥal·lōw lechalLel lechalleLo ləḥallêl ləḥalləlōw leHechalLo ləhêḥallōw mê·hā·ḥêl mə·ḥal·le·hā mə·ḥal·le·ḵā mə·ḥal·le·leṯ mə·ḥal·lə·lîm mê·ḥal·lə·lōw mə·ḥal·lêl mê·ḥêl mə·ḥō·lāl mə·ḥō·w·le·leṯ mə·ḥul·lê mechalLeicha mechalLeiha mechalLel mechalLelet mechalleLim mechalleLo meChel mechoLal mechoLelet meChullei mehaChel mêhāḥêl məḥallehā məḥalleḵā məḥallêl məḥalleleṯ məḥalləlîm mêḥalləlōw mêḥêl məḥōlāl məḥōwleleṯ məḥullê ni·ḥāl niChal niḥāl tā·ḥêl tā·ḥêl·lū taChel taChellu tāḥêl tāḥêllū ṯə·ḥal·lə·len·nū ṯə·ḥal·lə·lū ṯə·ḥal·lə·lū- tə·ḥal·lêl ṯə·ḥal·lêl ṯê·ḥêl techalLel techalleLennu techalleLu teChel təḥallêl ṯəḥallêl ṯəḥalləlennū ṯəḥalləlū ṯəḥalləlū- ṯêḥêl ū·ḇə·ḥal·lə·lōw ū·lə·ḥal·lêl ū·mə·ḥal·lə·lîm ūḇəḥalləlōw ulechalLel ūləḥallêl umechalleLim ūməḥalləlîm uvechalleLo vaachalLel vaeChal vaechallelCha vaiYachel vaiyaChellu vatTachel vatteChalLeha vattechalleLnah vattechalleLu vattechilLeinah vaychalleLu vechillalTa vechilLelu vechilleLuha vechilleLuhu veniChalt venichaLu wa’ăḥallêl wā’êḥal wā’eḥallelḵā wa·’ă·ḥal·lêl wā·’ê·ḥal wā·’e·ḥal·lel·ḵā wat·tā·ḥel wat·tə·ḥal·le·hā wat·tə·ḥal·lə·lū wat·tə·ḥal·lel·nāh wat·tə·ḥil·le·nāh wattāḥel wattəḥallehā wattəḥallelnāh wattəḥalləlū wattəḥillenāh way·ḥal·lə·lū way·yā·ḥel way·yā·ḥêl·lū wayḥalləlū wayyāḥel wayyāḥêllū wə·ḥil·lal·tā wə·ḥil·lê·lū wə·ḥil·lə·lū wə·ḥil·lə·lū·hā wə·ḥil·lə·lū·hū wə·ni·ḥă·lū wə·ni·ḥalt wəḥillaltā wəḥillêlū wəḥilləlū wəḥilləlūhā wəḥilləlūhū wəniḥalt wəniḥălū ya·ḥêl yā·ḥêl yaChel yaḥêl yāḥêl yê·ḥāl yə·ḥal·lə·len·nū yə·ḥal·lê·lū yə·ḥal·lə·lū yə·ḥal·lə·lu·hū yə·ḥal·lêl yeChal yechalLel yechalleLennu yechalleLu yechalleLuhu yêḥāl yəḥallêl yəḥalləlennū yəḥallêlū yəḥalləlū yəḥalləluhū
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