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Hebrew · H2459

חֶלֶב

Fat , whether literally or figuratively; hence, the richest or choice part

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חֶלֶבH2459
Pronunciationḥelbāmô

What does חֶלֶב (ḥelbāmô) mean in the Bible?

חֶלֶב (ḥelbāmô): Fat as the richest, most prized portion—literal sustenance becomes figurative marker of abundance and divine blessing.

Full entry for חֶלֶב (H2459) · Open the biblical lexicon

Questions this entry answers

What does חֶלֶב (ḥelbāmô) mean in the Bible?

חֶלֶב (ḥelbāmô): Fat as the richest, most prized portion—literal sustenance becomes figurative marker of abundance and divine blessing.

How does the BSB render H2459?

The BSB source-word alignment has 92 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the fat (36), with the fat (9), fat (5), the fat portions (4), and the fat (3).

Where does חֶלֶב (ḥelbāmô) appear in Scripture?

The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 4:4. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (48), Exodus (6), Numbers (6), Psalms (6).

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
the fat36×Exodus 23:18, Exodus 29:13, Exodus 29:22, Leviticus 3:3
with the fat9×Exodus 29:13, Exodus 29:22, Leviticus 3:4, Leviticus 3:10
fat5×Leviticus 3:17, Leviticus 7:33, Leviticus 8:25, Ezekiel 39:19
the fat portions4×Leviticus 6:12, Leviticus 8:26, Leviticus 9:20, Leviticus 10:15
and the fat3×1 Kings 8:64, 2 Chronicles 7:7, Isaiah 1:11
with fat3×Job 15:27, Isaiah 34:6, Isaiah 34:7
-2×1 Kings 8:64, 2 Chronicles 7:7
from the fat2×Genesis 45:18, 2 Samuel 1:22
the best part2×Numbers 18:30, Numbers 18:32
the finest2×Numbers 18:12, Psalms 81:16
their fat2×Leviticus 8:16, Numbers 18:17
. . .1×Leviticus 7:24
[it]1×Leviticus 4:31
along with the fat1×2 Chronicles 29:35
and Eglon’s fat1×Judges 3:22
and fat1×2 Chronicles 35:14
and insensitive1×Psalms 119:70
and the fat portions1×Leviticus 9:24
consisting of its fat1×Leviticus 3:9
From their prosperity1×Psalms 73:7
is better than the fat1×1 Samuel 15:22
its fat1×Leviticus 4:26
like the fat1×Leviticus 4:26
of the fat1×Leviticus 7:23
the best1×Numbers 18:29
the best portions1×Genesis 4:4
the choicest1×Deuteronomy 32:14
the freshest1×Numbers 18:12
their callous [hearts]1×Psalms 17:10
these1×Leviticus 9:20
They also brought the fat portions1×Leviticus 9:19
with the finest1×Psalms 147:14
with the richest1×Psalms 63:5
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 4:4וּמֵֽחֶלְבֵהֶ֑ןtothe best portionsConjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine pluralGenesis 45:18חֵ֥לֶבtofrom the fatNoun - masculine singular constructExodus 23:18חֵֽלֶב־tothe fatNoun - masculine singular constructExodus 29:13הַחֵלֶב֮tothe fatArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 29:13הַחֵ֖לֶבtowith the fatArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 29:22הַחֵ֨לֶבtothe fatArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 29:22הַחֵ֣לֶב׀tothe fatArticle | Noun - masculine singularExodus 29:22הַחֵ֙לֶב֙towith the fatArticle | Noun - masculine singularLeviticus 3:3הַחֵ֙לֶב֙tothe fatArticle | Noun - masculine singularLeviticus 3:3הַחֵ֔לֶבtothe fatArticle | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map

A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.

First aligned rowGenesis 4:4
Aligned rows92
Books represented14
Genesis2Exodus6Leviticus48Numbers6Deuteronomy3Judges11 Samuel32 Samuel11 Kings22 Chronicles4Job1Psalms6Isaiah5Ezekiel4
Source forms
הַחֵ֙לֶב֙11xha·ḥê·leḇExodus 29:22, Leviticus 3:3, Leviticus 3:4, Leviticus 3:9
הַחֵ֔לֶב6xha·ḥê·leḇLeviticus 3:3, Leviticus 3:9, Leviticus 3:14, Leviticus 4:8
חֵ֣לֶב5xḥê·leḇNumbers 18:12, Psalms 63:5, Ezekiel 39:19, Ezekiel 44:7
הַחֵ֖לֶב4xha·ḥê·leḇExodus 29:13, Leviticus 7:3, Leviticus 7:31, Leviticus 7:33
חֵ֥לֶב4xḥê·leḇGenesis 45:18, Leviticus 3:17, Leviticus 16:25, Psalms 147:14
הַחֵלֶב֮3xha·ḥê·leḇExodus 29:13, Leviticus 8:16, Leviticus 8:25
הַחֲלָבִ֖ים3xha·ḥă·lā·ḇîmLeviticus 9:19, Leviticus 9:20
חֵ֖לֶב3xḥê·leḇLeviticus 3:16, Numbers 18:12, Deuteronomy 32:14
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - masculine singular31xExodus 29:13, Exodus 29:22, Leviticus 3:3, Leviticus 3:4
Noun - masculine singular construct12xGenesis 45:18, Exodus 23:18, Leviticus 4:8, Leviticus 4:35
Noun - masculine singular8xLeviticus 3:16, Leviticus 3:17, Leviticus 4:31, Leviticus 7:25
Article | Noun - masculine plural7xLeviticus 8:26, Leviticus 9:19, Leviticus 9:20, Leviticus 9:24
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular7xLeviticus 3:9, Leviticus 4:19, Leviticus 4:26, Leviticus 7:3
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct4xLeviticus 7:24, Isaiah 1:11, Isaiah 43:24
Noun - masculine plural construct4xLeviticus 6:12, 1 Kings 8:64, 2 Chronicles 7:7
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct4x1 Samuel 15:22, 2 Samuel 1:22, Psalms 81:16, Isaiah 34:6
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

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain

Full license details