What does חָלַל (chalal) mean in the Bible?
חָלַל (chalal): To pierce or wound, thus to profane sacred things by breaking covenant boundaries or ritual purity.
Hebrew · H2490
חָלַל
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'); to play (the flute)
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חָלַל H2490
Pronunciation chalal
What does חָלַל (chalal) mean in the Bible?
חָלַל (chalal): To pierce or wound, thus to profane sacred things by breaking covenant boundaries or ritual purity.
Full entry for חָלַל (H2490) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2490?
The BSB source-word alignment has 142 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include began (13), profane (8), and profaned (4), defile (4), They began (4).
Where does חָלַל (chalal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 4:26. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (35), Leviticus (16), 2 Chronicles (11), Deuteronomy (10).
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 began 13× Genesis 6:1, Genesis 10:8, Genesis 41:54, Numbers 25:1
profane 8× Leviticus 18:21, Leviticus 21:6, Leviticus 22:2, Leviticus 22:15
and profaned 4× Leviticus 20:3, Jeremiah 34:16, Ezekiel 20:24, Ezekiel 23:38
defile 4× Leviticus 19:29, Leviticus 21:15, Numbers 18:32, Ezekiel 20:39
They began 4× Judges 20:31, 2 Chronicles 20:22, 2 Chronicles 29:17, 2 Chronicles 31:7
. . . 3× Deuteronomy 16:9, Nehemiah 4:7
be profaned 3× Ezekiel 20:9, Ezekiel 20:14, Ezekiel 20:22
You have profaned 3× Ezekiel 13:19, Ezekiel 28:18, Ezekiel 36:23
Begin 2× Deuteronomy 2:24, Deuteronomy 2:31
enjoy its fruit 2× Deuteronomy 20:6, Deuteronomy 28:30
had begun 2× Numbers 16:47, Judges 20:39
has begun 2× Numbers 16:46, Esther 6:13
he began 2× 2 Chronicles 31:21, 2 Chronicles 34:3
I will begin 2× Deuteronomy 2:25, Joshua 3:7
profaned 2× Ezekiel 20:13, Ezekiel 22:8
profaning 2× Nehemiah 13:17, Ezekiel 20:16
they have defiled 2× Psalms 74:7, Jeremiah 16:18
without profaning it 2× Isaiah 56:2, Isaiah 56:6
[men] began 1× Genesis 4:26
[Solomon] began 1× 2 Chronicles 3:2
[the Israelites] began 1× Ezra 3:6
am beginning 1× Jeremiah 25:29
and defiled 1× Lamentations 2:2
and desecrate 1× Daniel 11:31
and enjoy the fruit 1× Jeremiah 31:5
and profane 1× Ezekiel 22:26
and so profane 1× Leviticus 19:12
and so profane himself 1× Leviticus 21:4
and sullied 1× Psalms 89:39
and they profaned 1× Ezekiel 20:21
and they will begin 1× Hosea 8:10
and they will defile 1× Ezekiel 7:22
and they will defile it 1× Ezekiel 7:22
And when you have defiled 1× Ezekiel 22:16
and will defile 1× Ezekiel 28:7
Anyone who profanes it 1× Exodus 31:14
because Reuben defiled 1× 1 Chronicles 5:1
began [the work] 1× Ezra 3:8
began as well 1× 2 Chronicles 29:27
beginning 1× Genesis 44:12
begun to enjoy its fruit 1× Deuteronomy 20:6
break 1× Numbers 30:2
by profaning 1× Nehemiah 13:18
can I let Myself be defamed 1× Isaiah 48:11
defiled it 1× Genesis 49:4
defiles herself 1× Leviticus 21:9
from beginning 1× 1 Samuel 3:12
had profaned 1× Ezekiel 36:21
has profaned 1× Malachi 2:11
have begun 1× Deuteronomy 3:24
he has profaned 1× Leviticus 19:8
he violates 1× Psalms 55:20
I am about to desecrate 1× Ezekiel 24:21
I have begun 1× Deuteronomy 2:31
I profaned 1× Isaiah 47:6
In this way she began 1× Judges 16:19
is wounded 1× Psalms 109:22
it was the first 1× 1 Samuel 14:35
Josiah began 1× 2 Chronicles 34:3
Now begin 1× Ezekiel 9:6
of those who wound you 1× Ezekiel 28:9
or desecrate 1× Leviticus 21:12
pierced 1× Job 26:13
playing 1× 1 Kings 1:40
proceeded 1× Genesis 9:20
profanes 1× Leviticus 21:9
set out 1× Jonah 3:4
Since [the people] began 1× 2 Chronicles 31:10
slain 1× Ezekiel 32:26
so as not to desecrate 1× Leviticus 21:23
so as to profane 1× Malachi 2:10
So I drove you in disgrace 1× Ezekiel 28:16
So I will disgrace 1× Isaiah 43:28
so that I am profaned 1× Ezekiel 22:26
So they began 1× Ezekiel 9:6
the first time 1× 1 Samuel 22:15
they had started 1× Esther 9:23
they have begun 1× Genesis 11:6
they profane it 1× Leviticus 22:9
they profaned 1× Ezekiel 36:20
they violate 1× Psalms 89:31
to be profaned 1× Ezekiel 39:7
to defile 1× Isaiah 23:9
to profane it 1× Ezekiel 23:39
violate 1× Psalms 89:34
vvv 1× 1 Samuel 3:2
was pierced 1× Isaiah 53:5
was profaned 1× Ezekiel 25:3
which has been profaned 1× Ezekiel 36:23
who pierced through 1× Isaiah 51:9
who will defile them 1× Ezekiel 7:21
who wounds 1× Proverbs 26:10
will be profaned 1× Ezekiel 7:24
will begin 1× Judges 13:5
will launch 1× Judges 10:18
you defiled 1× Ezekiel 44:7
you profaned 1× Ezekiel 36:22
you will defile it 1× Exodus 20:25
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 4:26 הוּחַ֔ל to [men] began Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 6:1 הֵחֵ֣ל to began Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 9:20 וַיָּ֥חֶל to proceeded Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 10:8 הֵחֵ֔ל to began Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 11:6 הַחִלָּ֣ם to they have begun Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural Genesis 41:54 וַתְּחִלֶּ֜ינָה to began Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural Genesis 44:12 הֵחֵ֔ל to beginning Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 49:4 חִלַּ֖לְתָּ to defiled it Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular Exodus 20:25 וַתְּחַֽלְלֶֽהָ׃ to you will defile it Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular Exodus 31:14 מְחַֽלְלֶ֙יהָ֙ to Anyone who profanes it Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 4:26
Aligned rows 142
Books represented 28
Genesis 8 Exodus 2 Leviticus 16 Numbers 5 Deuteronomy 10 Joshua 1 Judges 8 1 Samuel 4 1 Kings 1 2 Kings 2 1 Chronicles 3 2 Chronicles 11 Ezra 2 Nehemiah 3 Esther 2 Job 1 Psalms 6 Proverbs 1 Isaiah 8 Jeremiah 4 Lamentations 1 Ezekiel 35 Daniel 1 Hosea 1 Amos 1 Jonah 1 Zephaniah 1 Malachi 3
Source forms
הֵחֵ֣ל 4x hê·ḥêl Genesis 6:1, 2 Kings 10:32, 2 Kings 15:37, 2 Chronicles 29:27
הֵחֵ֔ל 4x hê·ḥêl Genesis 10:8, Genesis 44:12, 1 Samuel 14:35, 1 Chronicles 1:10
הֵחֵל֙ 3x hê·ḥêl 2 Chronicles 34:3, Ezekiel 20:14, Ezekiel 20:22
חִלֵּ֑לוּ 3x ḥil·lê·lū Ezekiel 20:16, Ezekiel 20:21, Ezekiel 20:24
חִלַּ֖לְתָּ 3x ḥil·lal·tā Genesis 49:4, Psalms 89:39, Ezekiel 28:18
אָחֵל֙ 2x ’ā·ḥêl Deuteronomy 2:25, Joshua 3:7
הֵחֵ֥ל 2x hê·ḥêl Numbers 16:46, Numbers 16:47
הֵחֵ֤ל 2x hê·ḥêl 1 Chronicles 27:24, 2 Chronicles 29:27
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular 16x Genesis 6:1, Genesis 10:8, Genesis 44:12, Numbers 16:46
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural 7x 1 Samuel 3:2, 2 Chronicles 20:22, 2 Chronicles 31:7, Ezra 3:6
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural 7x Psalms 74:7, Ezekiel 20:13, Ezekiel 20:16, Ezekiel 20:21
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 6x Genesis 9:20, Numbers 25:1, Judges 16:22, 2 Chronicles 3:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 4x Judges 20:31, 2 Chronicles 29:17, Ezekiel 9:6, Hosea 8:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural 4x Jeremiah 31:5, Ezekiel 7:22, Ezekiel 28:7, Daniel 11:31
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 4x Leviticus 21:6, Leviticus 22:2, Leviticus 22:15, Psalms 89:31
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular 4x Leviticus 19:8, Psalms 55:20, Lamentations 2:2, Malachi 2:11
Hebrew word. To pierce or wound, thus to profane sacred things by breaking covenant boundaries or ritual purity.
Strong's H2490
Lexical occurrences 143 verses Word forms 8 forms 88 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Nehemiah 13:15-22 Source Gloss
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'); to play (the flute)
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 8 Aligned forms 88
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 40×
Perfect 1Chr 1:10 · 1Chr 27:24 · 1Sam 14:35 · 2Chr 29:27 · 2Chr 31:21 · 2Chr 34:3 · 2Kgs 10:32 · 2Kgs 15:37 · Gen 6:1 · Gen 10:8 · Gen 44:12 · Judg 20:39 · Num 17:11 · Num 17:12 · 1Sam 3:2 · 2Chr 20:22 28×
Imperfect Deut 2:25 · Ezek 39:7 · Josh 3:7 · Judg 10:18 · Judg 13:5 · Num 30:3 · Deut 16:9 · Ezek 9:6 8×
Sequential imperfect Deut 2:24 · Deut 2:31 2×
Infinitive absolute 1Sam 3:12 1×
Participle active Jer 25:29 1×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 36×
Perfect Ezek 20:13 · Ezek 20:16 · Ezek 20:21 · Ezek 20:24 · Ezek 23:38 · Ps 74:7 · Zeph 3:4 · Lam 2:2 · Lev 19:8 · Mal 2:11 · Ps 55:21 · Ezek 28:18 · Gen 49:4 · Ps 89:40 · Ezek 36:22 · Ezek 36:23 18×
Imperfect Lev 21:6 · Lev 22:2 · Lev 22:15 · Ps 89:32 · Ezek 20:39 · Lev 22:32 · Num 18:32 · Lev 21:12 · Lev 21:15 · Lev 21:23 · Lev 18:21 · Ps 89:35 12×
Participle active 1Kgs 1:40 · Ezek 24:21 · Lev 21:9 · Mal 1:12 4×
Infinitive construct Amos 2:7 1×
Jussive Lev 19:29 1×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 6×
Infinitive construct Ezek 20:9 · Ezek 20:14 · Ezek 20:22 3×
Imperfect Isa 48:11 · Lev 21:9 2×
Perfect Ezek 25:3 1×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 1×
Participle passive Ezek 32:26 1×
Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action 1×
Perfect Gen 4:26 1×
Poel 2×
Participle active Isa 51:9 1×
Perfect Job 26:13 1×
Polal 1×
Participle passive Isa 53:5 1×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 1×
Perfect Ps 109:22 1×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
To treat as common or defile what is holy.
Showing 1 selected witness from 143 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
Why This Word Matters
Sabbath violation represents treating sacred time as ordinary, undermining covenant holiness. Nehemiah 13:15-22
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