חַדְלַי
Chadlai, an Israelite
Definition
Chadlai is a proper noun referring to an Israelite man named in the Old Testament. The name appears only once in the Bible, identifying Chadlai as the father of Amasa, a leader of the tribe of Ephraim (2 Chronicles 28:12). As a proper name, it does not have multiple senses or meanings in different passages. The significance lies solely in his role within a specific historical narrative, where his son is noted among the chiefs who opposed the plan to take Judahite captives after a battle.
Biblical Usage
The word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in 2 Chronicles 28:12. It functions strictly as a personal name, identifying the lineage of Amasa, an Ephraimite chief. The context is a pivotal moment of prophetic intervention and mercy, where Israelite leaders heeded the prophet Oded's warning and released their Judahite captives. Chadlai's name is listed among the fathers of these leaders, placing him within the tribal leadership structure of Ephraim during the reign of King Pekah of Israel.
Etymology
The name Chadlai (חַדְלַי) is derived from the Hebrew root חָדַל (H2309), meaning 'to cease, desist, forsake, or be idle.' It is a proper name formed from this root, likely carrying a sense of 'ceasing' or 'idleness.' As with many Hebrew names, it may have described a characteristic, circumstance at birth, or expressed a hope or statement about God (e.g., 'God has caused to cease').
Semantic Range
In ancient Israelite culture, names were often significant and descriptive. Bearing a name derived from 'to cease' (חָדַל) could reflect circumstances of birth, a parental prayer, or an attribute. As the father of a tribal chief, Chadlai was part of the social and military leadership. His mention highlights the importance of lineage and family identity in Israel's tribal society, where a man's authority was often connected to his father's house.
Amasa (Amasa, H6021) — Chadlai's son, the Ephraimite chief named in the same verse. Ephrayim (Ephraim, H669) — The tribe to which Chadlai's family belonged.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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