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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חָדַלH2308
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 Ithe stopped3×Genesis 41:49, 1 Kings 15:21, 2 Chronicles 16:5
Should I stop giving3×Judges 9:9, Judges 9:11, Judges 9:13
should we refrain3×1 Kings 22:15, 2 Chronicles 18:5, 2 Chronicles 18:14
Stop3×2 Chronicles 25:16, Isaiah 1:16, Amos 7:5
cease2×Deuteronomy 15:11, Job 3:17
ceased2×Exodus 9:33, Judges 5:7
refuse to listen2×Ezekiel 2:5, Ezekiel 3:11
. . .1×Proverbs 10:19
and if I hold back1×Job 16:6
and let him rest1×Job 14:6
and they stopped1×Genesis 11:8
and whoever refuses1×Ezekiel 3:27
by ceasing1×1 Samuel 12:23
can payment suffice1×Psalms 49:8
do not1×Exodus 23:5
fail1×Job 14:7
go no farther1×Jeremiah 40:4
had ceased1×Exodus 9:34
had passed1×Genesis 18:11
has stopped1×Isaiah 24:8
have failed me1×Job 19:14
have stopped1×Jeremiah 51:30
he declined1×1 Samuel 23:13
he has ceased1×Psalms 36:3
hunger no more1×1 Samuel 2:5
I will not rest1×Judges 15:7
If you cease1×Proverbs 19:27
it ended1×Judges 5:7
keep them1×Zechariah 11:12
Leave me alone1×Job 7:16
Leave us alone1×Exodus 14:12
Put no more trust1×Isaiah 2:22
refuse1×Ezekiel 2:7
she stopped1×Ruth 1:18
should I refrain1×1 Kings 22:6
should we stop1×Judges 20:28
So he refrained1×Jeremiah 41:8
So stop1×2 Chronicles 35:21
still fails1×Numbers 9:13
stopped1×2 Chronicles 25:16
to restrain yourself1×Proverbs 23:4
we stopped1×Jeremiah 44:18
were deserted1×Judges 5:6
will cease1×Exodus 9:29
will stop [worrying]1×1 Samuel 9:5
Withdraw1×Job 10:20
you refrain1×Deuteronomy 23:22
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 11:8וַֽיַּחְדְּל֖וּtoand they stoppedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralGenesis 18:11חָדַל֙tohad passedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 41:49חָדַ֥לtohe stoppedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularExodus 9:29יֶחְדָּל֗וּןtowill ceaseVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nunExodus 9:33וַֽיַּחְדְּל֤וּtoceasedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralExodus 9:34חָדַ֨לtohad ceasedVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularExodus 14:12חֲדַ֥לtoLeave us aloneVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularExodus 23:5וְחָדַלְתָּ֖todo notConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularNumbers 9:13וְחָדַל֙tostill failsConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 15:11יֶחְדַּ֥לtoceaseVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 11:8
Aligned rows58
Books represented17
Genesis3Exodus5Numbers1Deuteronomy2Judges8Ruth11 Samuel41 Kings32 Chronicles6Job7Psalms2Proverbs3Isaiah3Jeremiah4Ezekiel4Amos1Zechariah1
Source forms
אֶחְדָּ֑ל4x’eḥ·dālJudges 20:28, 1 Kings 22:6, 2 Chronicles 18:5, 2 Chronicles 18:14
הֶחֳדַ֙לְתִּי֙3xhe·ḥo·ḏal·tîJudges 9:9, Judges 9:11, Judges 9:13
וַיֶּחְדַּ֕ל3xway·yeḥ·dal1 Kings 15:21, 2 Chronicles 16:5, Jeremiah 41:8
חֲדַל־3xḥă·ḏal-2 Chronicles 25:16, 2 Chronicles 35:21, Amos 7:5
חֲדַ֥ל2xḥă·ḏalExodus 14:12, Job 7:16
חָדַ֖ל2xḥā·ḏalPsalms 36:3, Isaiah 24:8
חָדֵ֑לּוּ2xḥā·ḏêl·lūJudges 5:7, 1 Samuel 2:5
יֶחְדַּ֥ל2xyeḥ·dalDeuteronomy 15:11, 1 Samuel 9:5
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular8xExodus 14:12, 2 Chronicles 25:16, 2 Chronicles 35:21, Job 7:16
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural7xJudges 5:6, Judges 5:7, 1 Samuel 2:5, Job 3:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular5x1 Samuel 23:13, 1 Kings 15:21, 2 Chronicles 16:5, 2 Chronicles 25:16
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular5xJudges 15:7, Judges 20:28, 1 Kings 22:6, 2 Chronicles 18:5
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular5xGenesis 18:11, Genesis 41:49, Exodus 9:34, Psalms 36:3
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular4xDeuteronomy 15:11, 1 Samuel 9:5, Proverbs 10:19, Ezekiel 3:27
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural3xIsaiah 1:16, Isaiah 2:22, Zechariah 11:12
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural3xEzekiel 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 definitionSource: 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 groups1Aligned forms40
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense40×
Imperfect1Kgs 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 14:715×
Perfect1Sam 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 44:1813×
Sequential imperfect2Chr 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 11:1211×
JussiveJob 10:201×
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.