Lexical Summary
chalats: To draw out, to deliver, to equip, to rescue
Original Word:חָלַץ
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:chalats
Pronunciation:khaw-lats'
Phonetic Spelling:(khaw-lats')
KJV: arm (self), (go, ready) armed (X man, soldier), deliver, draw out, make fat, loose, (ready) prepared, put off, take away, withdraw self
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to pull off
2. (hence, intensively) to strip
3. (reflexively) to depart
4. (by implication) to deliver, equip (for fight)
5. to present, strengthen
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
arm self, go, ready armed man, soldier, deliver, draw out, make fat, loose,
A primitive root; to pull off; hence (intensively) to strip, (reflex.) To depart; by implication, to deliver, equip (for fight); present, strengthen -- arm (self), (go, ready) armed (X man, soldier), deliver, draw out, make fat, loose, (ready) prepared, put off, take away, withdraw self.
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. , (Late Hebrew
id.; Aramaic ;
despoil, usually Pa`el etc.; Phoenician proper name
Baal has rescued, and alone; Arabic
withdraw, retire) —
PerfectHosea 5:6; consecutiveDeuteronomy 25:9;Lamentations 4:3;Imperfect2masculine singular ;Passive participle constructDeuteronomy 25:10; —
draw, draw off, with accusative of sandalDeuteronomy 25:9;Isaiah 20:2 (both followed by with ), compareDeuteronomy 25:10;draw out, present the breast, of animal giving suckLamentations 4:3.
intransitivewithdraw (himself) followed byHosea 5:6.
Perfect be deliveredProverbs 11:8 (followed by );ImperfectProverbs 11:9;Psalm 60:7 =Psalm 108:7 (Ges§ 51. 2. R. 2).
PerfectLeviticus 14:43 etc.;ImperfectJob 36:15;Psalm 7:5 (but on text see below near the end); suffixPsalm 50:15;Psalm 81:8, etc.;ImperativePsalm 6:5;Psalm 119:153;Psalm 140:2; —
pull out, tear outLeviticus 14:40,43 (P; stones from infested house).
rescue, deliver, with object person, but only in poetry; — followed byPsalm 6:5;Psalm 116:8 (); comparePsalm 140:2 (followed by ); absolute with accusativePsalm 18:20 =2 Samuel 22:20;Psalm 34:8;Psalm 50:15;Psalm 81:8;Psalm 91:15;Psalm 119:153;Job 36:15;Psalm 7:5; followed by accusative,but I delivered AV Hup Ri, compare Ew;and spoiled, despoiled Ges Hi De Bae (but this only in Aramaic); <and oppressed (read ) Krochm Dy Gr Che; ("" ).
II. [] (primary idea ofstrength, vigour, see Hiph`il, noun , and Assyrian—alƒu,fortification (SchrCOT Gloss AsrbAnnals ii. 52), compare—ilƒu,belt, ZehnpfBAS i. 499; Aramaic
accinctus ad opus, strenuus,
fortitudo, strenuitas, Greek , > Thes Rob Ges SS who regard as = I. in sensestrip for battle,expeditus) —
onlyPassive participleNumbers 32:21 7t., constructNumbers 32:27; pluralNumbers 32:30 2t., construct1 Chronicles 12:34 3t.;Isaiah 15:4; —equipped:
as adjectiveNumbers 32:30,32;Deuteronomy 3:18.
as substantive singular collectiveNumbers 32:21 (J E; see Niph`alNumbers 32:20) 2Chronicles 20:21; 28:14, with articleJoshua 6:7,9,13 (JE);Numbers 32:27men equipped for war (JE), soNumbers 32:29 (P);1 Chronicles 12:24 (23 van d. H); pluralNumbers 31:5 (P)1 Chronicles 12:25 (24, van d. H) 2Chronicles 17:18;Joshua 4:13 (P); noteIsaiah 15:4warriors (equipped ones, Chemen-at-arms)of Moab.
Imperfect2masculine pluralNumbers 32:20, 1pluralNumbers 32:17;ImperativeNumbers 31:3;be, orgo equipped, followed byNumbers 32:17,20 (both J E; see Qal ParticipleNumbers 32:21); followed byNumbers 31:3 (P; Niph`al Imperative here surprising with , see Di).
Imperfect)Isaiah 58:11he ()will brace up, in-vigorate, thy bones (MV De Di; Hup Che critical note Du and others readrenew, rejuvenate).
Topical Lexicon
Root Meaning and Range of Usageחָלַץ (chalats) carries the idea of forcibly drawing out or stripping off so as to set free, and by extension to equip or prepare. In Scripture the verb clusters around two principal spheres: (1) deliverance or rescue from danger, oppression, or death, and (2) military readiness, whether arming for battle or removing armor.
Divine Deliverance from Bondage
The first thematic appearance is programmatic for the entire Bible. InExodus 3:8 the Lord tells Moses, “I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land”. Here חָלַץ affirms that Israel’s liberation is God-initiated, God-effected, and God-directed, establishing a paradigm for every subsequent act of salvation. This motif echoes inJudges 6:9;1 Samuel 10:18; andMicah 6:4, underscoring the continuity of God’s redemptive purpose through Israel’s history.
Personal Rescue from Life-Threatening Distress
In the Psalter חָלַץ voices the cry of the individual saint. David testifies, “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). Repeated petitions such asPsalm 25:15,Psalm 55:18, andPsalm 140:1 show that believers confidently invoke the same saving power that once shattered Pharaoh’s tyranny. The verb therefore links corporate redemption with personal experience; the covenant God who redeems a nation also rescues a single soul from snares, sickness, injustice, or the grave (Psalm 56:13;Psalm 69:14).
Military Connotations: Arming and Stripping for Battle
When Israel crosses the Jordan, “all your valiant men shall cross over, fully armed, ahead of your brothers” (Joshua 1:14). Here חָלַץ describes being equipped for conflict. The same root marks the forty thousand who “arranged for battle” (Joshua 4:13), the armed guard circling Jericho (Joshua 6:7-13), and Saul’s men who alone possessed weapons (1 Samuel 13:22). Conversely, David “took them off” (1 Samuel 17:39) when removing Saul’s armor; חָלַץ can signal stripping away impediments that hinder authentic warfare. The two military nuances—arming and disarming—together picture decisive preparation and decisive reliance on God rather than human hardware.
Human Agency in Deliverance
While salvation originates with the Lord, חָלַץ also commands human responsibility. “Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82:4). Proverbs amplifies the ethical obligation: “Deliver those being led away to death” (Proverbs 24:11) and “You shall beat him with the rod and rescue his soul from Sheol” (Proverbs 23:14). God’s people become instruments of His liberating justice, mirroring His character in practical intervention for the vulnerable.
Liturgical and Poetic Emphasis in the Psalms
More than half of the occurrences cluster in Psalms, making חָלַץ a liturgical keyword. Lament, thanksgiving, and praise all rely on it.Psalm 54:7, for instance, moves from plea to proclamation: “For He has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has gazed upon my foes.” The regular rehearsal of God’s deliverance nurtures communal memory and individual assurance, teaching successive generations to trust the Lord in crisis.
Prophetic Assurance
Jeremiah’s call narrative contains repeated promises: “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:8; see also 15:20; 20:13). In a hostile culture the prophet rests on חָלַץ as a covenant guarantee that opposition cannot thwart divine purpose.
Wisdom Literature’s Ethical Charge
Beyond Psalms, חָלַץ penetrates Wisdom teaching.Proverbs 11:8 contrasts destinies: “The righteous is rescued from trouble; in his place the wicked goes in,” illustrating retributive justice.Proverbs 2:12 credits divine wisdom with rescuing from evil men, showing that moral discernment itself is a form of deliverance.
Historical-Theological Significance
From Exodus to the Exile, the verb tracks salvation history’s heartbeat. Each deliverance—corporate or personal—foreshadows the climactic redemption accomplished in Messiah. The pattern is consistent: bondage, cry, divine intervention, freedom, worship. God’s faithfulness in past crises serves as both precedent and pledge for future hope.
Ministry Applications
1. Intercession: Believers pray with biblical vocabulary that expects concrete rescue (Psalm 50:15).
2. Pastoral Care: חָלַץ legitimizes appeals for emotional and spiritual liberation from sin’s snares.
3. Social Action: Scripture commissions the church to active rescue of the oppressed, unborn, trafficked, or persecuted (Proverbs 24:11).
4. Spiritual Warfare: As Israel armed for battle, Christians “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11), confident that God both equips and ultimately delivers.
Christological and New Testament Connections
The Septuagint frequently renders חָלַץ with ῥύομαι (rhyomai), the very verb Paul employs: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13) and “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed” (2 Timothy 4:18). Thus the Old Testament word anticipates the consummate salvation accomplished at the cross and guaranteed at the Lord’s return (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
Illustrative Occurrences
•Exodus 3:8 – National liberation from Egypt
•Joshua 1:14; 6:7 – Armed readiness in conquest
•2 Samuel 22:20 – Davidic praise for deliverance
•Psalm 34:17-19; 50:15 – Repeated personal rescue
•Proverbs 24:11 – Ethical imperative to save lives
•Jeremiah 1:8 – Prophetic protection amid opposition
Key Theological Themes
Deliverance is (1) God’s sovereign act, (2) mediated through human obedience, (3) both physical and spiritual, (4) a present experience and an eschatological promise. חָלַץ therefore anchors hope, energizes mission, and magnifies the Lord who “rescues me from my enemies; indeed, You lift me above my foes” (Psalm 18:48).
Forms and Transliterations
אֲ֝חַלְּצֵ֗הוּ אֲ֝חַלֶּצְךָ֗ אחלצהו אחלצך הֵחָלְצ֧וּ הֶֽחָל֔וּץ הֶֽחָל֗וּץ הֶֽחָלוּץ֙ החלוץ החלצו וְהֶ֣חָל֔וּץ וְהֶחָל֣וּץ וְהֶחָלוּץ֙ וְחִלְּצוּ֙ וְחַלְּצֵ֑נִי וְחָלְצָ֤ה וַֽיְחַלְּצֵֽם׃ וָאֲחַ֫לְּצֶ֥ךָּ וָאֲחַלְּצָ֖ה ואחלצה ואחלצך והחלוץ וחלצה וחלצו וחלצני ויחלצם׃ חֲל֥וּץ חֲלֻצֵ֤י חֲלוּצִ֖ים חֲלוּצִ֛ים חֲלוּצִ֣ים חֲלוּצֵ֣י חֲלוּצֵ֥י חִלֵּ֣ץ חִלַּ֥צְתָּ חַלְּצֵ֣נִי חַלְּצָ֣ה חָ֣לְצוּ חָל֛וּץ חָל֤וּץ חָלַ֖ץ חלוץ חלוצי חלוצים חלץ חלצה חלצו חלצי חלצני חלצת יְ֝חַלְּצֵ֗נִי יְחַלְּצֵ֖נִי יְחַלֵּ֣ץ יֵחָלְצ֣וּן יֵחָלֵֽצוּ׃ יַחֲלִ֑יץ יחליץ יחלץ יחלצו׃ יחלצון יחלצני נֵחָלֵ֣ץ נֶחֱלָ֑ץ נחלץ תֵּחָ֥לְצ֛וּ תַחֲלֹ֖ץ תחלץ תחלצו ’ă·ḥal·lə·ṣê·hū ’ă·ḥal·leṣ·ḵā ’ăḥalləṣêhū ’ăḥalleṣḵā achalletzcha achalleTzehu chaLatz challeTzah challeTzeni Chaltzu chaLutz chaluTzei chaluTzim chilLatzta chilLetz ḥā·laṣ ḥā·lə·ṣū ḥă·lu·ṣê ḥă·lū·ṣê ḥă·lū·ṣîm ḥă·lūṣ ḥā·lūṣ ḥal·lə·ṣāh ḥal·lə·ṣê·nî ḥālaṣ ḥāləṣū ḥalləṣāh ḥalləṣênî ḥălūṣ ḥālūṣ ḥăluṣê ḥălūṣê ḥălūṣîm hê·ḥā·lə·ṣū he·ḥā·lūṣ hechalTzu hechaLutz hêḥāləṣū heḥālūṣ ḥil·laṣ·tā ḥil·lêṣ ḥillaṣtā ḥillêṣ nê·ḥā·lêṣ ne·ḥĕ·lāṣ nechaLetz necheLatz nêḥālêṣ neḥĕlāṣ ṯa·ḥă·lōṣ tachaLotz ṯaḥălōṣ tê·ḥā·lə·ṣū teChalTzu têḥāləṣū vaachalleTzah vaaChalleTzeka VaychalleTzem vechalleTzeni vechalTzah vechilleTzu veHechaLutz wā’ăḥalləṣāh wā’ăḥalləṣekā wā·’ă·ḥal·lə·ṣāh wā·’ă·ḥal·lə·ṣe·kā way·ḥal·lə·ṣêm wayḥalləṣêm wə·ḥā·lə·ṣāh wə·ḥal·lə·ṣê·nî wə·he·ḥā·lūṣ wə·ḥil·lə·ṣū wəḥāləṣāh wəḥalləṣênî wəheḥālūṣ wəḥilləṣū ya·ḥă·lîṣ yachaLitz yaḥălîṣ yê·ḥā·lê·ṣū yê·ḥā·lə·ṣūn yə·ḥal·lə·ṣê·nî yə·ḥal·lêṣ yechaLetzu yechalLetz yechalleTzeni yechalTzun yêḥālêṣū yêḥāləṣūn yəḥallêṣ yəḥalləṣênî
Links
Interlinear Greek •
Interlinear Hebrew •
Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
Parallel Texts
