What does חָדַל mean in the Bible?
e. (by implication) desist ; (figuratively) be lacking or idle".
Hebrew · H2308
חָדַל
Properly, to be flabby , i.e. (by implication) desist ; (figuratively) be lacking or idle
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חָדַל H2308
What does חָדַל mean in the Bible?
חָדַל is a Hebrew word meaning "properly, to be flabby , i.e. (by implication) desist ; (figuratively) be lacking or idle".
Full entry for חָדַל (H2308) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2308?
The BSB source-word alignment has 58 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include he stopped (3), Should I stop giving (3), should we refrain (3), Stop (3), cease (2).
Where does חָדַל appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 11:8. Its strongest book concentrations include Judges (8), Job (7), 2 Chronicles (6), Exodus (5).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It he stopped 3× Genesis 41:49, 1 Kings 15:21, 2 Chronicles 16:5
Should I stop giving 3× Judges 9:9, Judges 9:11, Judges 9:13
should we refrain 3× 1 Kings 22:15, 2 Chronicles 18:5, 2 Chronicles 18:14
Stop 3× 2 Chronicles 25:16, Isaiah 1:16, Amos 7:5
cease 2× Deuteronomy 15:11, Job 3:17
ceased 2× Exodus 9:33, Judges 5:7
refuse to listen 2× Ezekiel 2:5, Ezekiel 3:11
. . . 1× Proverbs 10:19
and if I hold back 1× Job 16:6
and let him rest 1× Job 14:6
and they stopped 1× Genesis 11:8
and whoever refuses 1× Ezekiel 3:27
by ceasing 1× 1 Samuel 12:23
can payment suffice 1× Psalms 49:8
do not 1× Exodus 23:5
fail 1× Job 14:7
go no farther 1× Jeremiah 40:4
had ceased 1× Exodus 9:34
had passed 1× Genesis 18:11
has stopped 1× Isaiah 24:8
have failed me 1× Job 19:14
have stopped 1× Jeremiah 51:30
he declined 1× 1 Samuel 23:13
he has ceased 1× Psalms 36:3
hunger no more 1× 1 Samuel 2:5
I will not rest 1× Judges 15:7
If you cease 1× Proverbs 19:27
it ended 1× Judges 5:7
keep them 1× Zechariah 11:12
Leave me alone 1× Job 7:16
Leave us alone 1× Exodus 14:12
Put no more trust 1× Isaiah 2:22
refuse 1× Ezekiel 2:7
she stopped 1× Ruth 1:18
should I refrain 1× 1 Kings 22:6
should we stop 1× Judges 20:28
So he refrained 1× Jeremiah 41:8
So stop 1× 2 Chronicles 35:21
still fails 1× Numbers 9:13
stopped 1× 2 Chronicles 25:16
to restrain yourself 1× Proverbs 23:4
we stopped 1× Jeremiah 44:18
were deserted 1× Judges 5:6
will cease 1× Exodus 9:29
will stop [worrying] 1× 1 Samuel 9:5
Withdraw 1× Job 10:20
you refrain 1× Deuteronomy 23:22
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 11:8 וַֽיַּחְדְּל֖וּ to and they stopped Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Genesis 18:11 חָדַל֙ to had passed Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 41:49 חָדַ֥ל to he stopped Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Exodus 9:29 יֶחְדָּל֗וּן to will cease Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun Exodus 9:33 וַֽיַּחְדְּל֤וּ to ceased Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Exodus 9:34 חָדַ֨ל to had ceased Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Exodus 14:12 חֲדַ֥ל to Leave us alone Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Exodus 23:5 וְחָדַלְתָּ֖ to do not Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Numbers 9:13 וְחָדַל֙ to still fails Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 15:11 יֶחְדַּ֥ל to cease Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 11:8
Aligned rows 58
Books represented 17
Genesis 3 Exodus 5 Numbers 1 Deuteronomy 2 Judges 8 Ruth 1 1 Samuel 4 1 Kings 3 2 Chronicles 6 Job 7 Psalms 2 Proverbs 3 Isaiah 3 Jeremiah 4 Ezekiel 4 Amos 1 Zechariah 1
Source forms
אֶחְדָּ֑ל 4x ’eḥ·dāl Judges 20:28, 1 Kings 22:6, 2 Chronicles 18:5, 2 Chronicles 18:14
הֶחֳדַ֙לְתִּי֙ 3x he·ḥo·ḏal·tî Judges 9:9, Judges 9:11, Judges 9:13
וַיֶּחְדַּ֕ל 3x way·yeḥ·dal 1 Kings 15:21, 2 Chronicles 16:5, Jeremiah 41:8
חֲדַל־ 3x ḥă·ḏal- 2 Chronicles 25:16, 2 Chronicles 35:21, Amos 7:5
חֲדַ֥ל 2x ḥă·ḏal Exodus 14:12, Job 7:16
חָדַ֖ל 2x ḥā·ḏal Psalms 36:3, Isaiah 24:8
חָדֵ֑לּוּ 2x ḥā·ḏêl·lū Judges 5:7, 1 Samuel 2:5
יֶחְדַּ֥ל 2x yeḥ·dal Deuteronomy 15:11, 1 Samuel 9:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular 8x Exodus 14:12, 2 Chronicles 25:16, 2 Chronicles 35:21, Job 7:16
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural 7x Judges 5:6, Judges 5:7, 1 Samuel 2:5, Job 3:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 5x 1 Samuel 23:13, 1 Kings 15:21, 2 Chronicles 16:5, 2 Chronicles 25:16
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular 5x Judges 15:7, Judges 20:28, 1 Kings 22:6, 2 Chronicles 18:5
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular 5x Genesis 18:11, Genesis 41:49, Exodus 9:34, Psalms 36:3
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 4x Deuteronomy 15:11, 1 Samuel 9:5, Proverbs 10:19, Ezekiel 3:27
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural 3x Isaiah 1:16, Isaiah 2:22, Zechariah 11:12
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 3x Ezekiel 2:5, Ezekiel 2:7, Ezekiel 3:11
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. properly, to be flabby , i.e. (by implication) desist ; (figuratively) be lacking or idle
Source Gloss
properly, to be flabby , i.e. (by implication) desist ; (figuratively) be lacking or idle
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
properly, to be flabby, i.e. (by implication) desist; (figuratively) be lacking or idle BDB: cease Usage: cease, end, fall, forbear, forsake, leave (off), let alone, rest, be unoccupied, want.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 1 Aligned forms 40
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 40×
Imperfect 1Kgs 22:6 · 2Chr 18:5 · 2Chr 18:14 · Judg 15:7 · Judg 20:28 · 1Sam 9:5 · Deut 15:11 · Ezek 3:27 · Prov 10:19 · Ezek 2:5 · Ezek 2:7 · Ezek 3:11 · 1Kgs 22:15 · Deut 23:23 · Job 14:7 15×
Perfect 1Sam 2:5 · Jer 51:30 · Job 3:17 · Job 19:14 · Judg 5:6 · Judg 5:7 · Exod 9:34 · Gen 18:11 · Gen 41:49 · Isa 24:8 · Ps 36:4 · Jer 44:18 13×
Sequential imperfect 2Chr 25:16 · 2Chr 35:21 · Amos 7:5 · Exod 14:12 · Jer 40:4 · Job 7:16 · Prov 19:27 · Prov 23:4 · Isa 1:16 · Isa 2:22 · Zech 11:12 11×
Jussive Job 10:20 1×
Word Origins
חָדַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain