Bible Word Study
הֲלַךְ
hălak · to walk
הֲלַךְ
to walk
Definition
The Aramaic verb הֲלַךְ (hălak) primarily means 'to walk' or 'to go.' In its biblical usage, it most often describes literal physical movement, as seen when Abraham's servant is told to take Rebekah and 'go' (Genesis 24:51). However, in the book of Daniel, it takes on a more figurative sense, describing the conduct or manner of life. For example, it describes the 'walking' of a divine being in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:25) and is used by King Nebuchadnezzar to describe his own proud 'walk' or behavior before his humbling (Daniel 4:29, 37).
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in Aramaic portions of the Old Testament. It appears four times: once in Genesis (24:51) and three times in Daniel (3:25, 4:29, 4:37). In Genesis, it denotes simple physical departure. In Daniel, its usage is more complex, moving from describing the movement of a supernatural figure (Daniel 3:25) to metaphorically describing a king's arrogant conduct and subsequent acknowledgment of God's sovereignty (Daniel 4:29, 37).
Etymology
הֲלַךְ is the Aramaic cognate of the common Hebrew verb הָלַךְ (hālak, H1980), both meaning 'to walk' or 'to go.' It is part of a widespread Semitic root (h-l-k) related to walking and going. The Aramaic form appears in biblical texts that were originally written or spoken in Aramaic, reflecting the language used in the Babylonian and Persian periods.
Semantic Range
In its figurative use in Daniel, הֲלַךְ connects physical movement to spiritual and moral conduct. King Nebuchadnezzar's 'walk' represents his autonomous, prideful life before God humbles him. His final confession that God is able to humble those who 'walk' in pride (Daniel 4:37) transforms the word into a key term for understanding the theme of God's sovereignty over human kingdoms and the necessity of humble submission to Him. This enriches reading by showing how a simple word for movement can frame a narrative of conversion and divine judgment. In the ancient Near East, 'walking' was a fundamental metaphor for one's way of life, conduct, and ethical path. This cultural understanding is why the term easily shifts from literal to figurative meaning, especially in the wisdom and courtly contexts of Daniel. The portrayal of a divine figure 'walking' in the fire (Daniel 3:25) would resonate with depictions of deities being present and active within their realms. הָלַךְ (hālak, H1980) — The direct Hebrew equivalent, used far more frequently throughout the Old Testament with the same range of literal and figurative meanings.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]