חָלָא
to be sick
Definition
The Hebrew verb חָלָא (châlâʼ) means to be sick, diseased, or afflicted with illness. It describes a state of physical infirmity or bodily weakness. In its sole biblical occurrence in 2 Chronicles 16:12, it refers to King Asa's severe foot disease. As a primitive root, it is closely related to חָלָה (H2470), which has a broader semantic range including both physical sickness and the concept of being weak or wounded.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Chronicles 16:12, describing King Asa's foot disease in the later years of his reign. The context is a historical narrative of Judah's kings, specifically noting a physical ailment that befell Asa. The Chronicler records that even in his sickness, Asa did not seek the Lord but relied only on physicians.
Etymology
חָלָא is a primitive Hebrew root. It is etymologically connected to the more common verb חָלָה (H2470), which also means 'to be weak, sick, or afflicted.' The relationship suggests a core idea of frailty or infirmity. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Arabic and Aramaic, carry similar meanings related to sickness and weakness.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word contributes to the biblical theme of human frailty and the proper response to suffering. In 2 Chronicles 16:12, Asa's sickness becomes a theological indictment; his failure to seek the Lord during his illness is presented as a spiritual failure, contrasting with other kings like Hezekiah who turned to God in sickness (2 Kings 20). It reminds the reader that physical ailments can be moments for spiritual reliance or rebellion.
In the ancient Near East, illness was often viewed through a spiritual lens, potentially as divine judgment or discipline. The text's note that Asa sought only physicians reflects a known ancient medical profession, but the Chronicler's criticism highlights the cultural and religious expectation to seek divine healing or guidance first, as seen with other kings and figures in Scripture.
חָלָה (châlâh, H2470) — A much more common verb for being sick or weak, with a wider usage including metaphorical weakness. דָּוֶה (dāveh, H1738) — Often describes a state of being faint, unwell, or languishing. חָלַשׁ (châlash, H2522) — Means to be weak, feeble, or prostrated.
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.
Full methodology & sources →