English · KJV
H1986

הָלַם

hâlam /haw-lam'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto strike down; by implication, to hammer, stamp, conquer, disband
KJV usagebeat (down), break (down), overcome, smite (with the hammer).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of hâlam — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word hâlam, represented by H1986, is a primitive root meaning to strike down. It appears 9 times across 9 unique verses in the Bible. Its definition encompasses forceful actions like hammering, stamping, conquering, and disbanding, and it is translated as beat down, break down, overcome, and smite with the hammer.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H1986 is used to describe both literal and figurative acts of striking. It is used in the context of artisanship, where a craftsman smote the anvil with a hammer while making an idol Isaiah 41:7. In a dramatic scene of warfare, Jael smote Sisera with a workmen's hammer Judges 5:26. The term is also used metaphorically, describing the drunkards of Ephraim as being overcome with wine Isaiah 28:1, and in another instance, the lords of the heathen are said to have broken down the principal plants of a vine Isaiah 16:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand on the concept of striking and destroying:

  • H1989 halmûwth (hammer): This word is derived from H1986 and refers to the instrument of striking. It appears alongside its root verb in the account of Jael smiting Sisera with a hammer Judges 5:26.
  • H5221 nâkâh (to strike): A more general term for striking, it is used in parallel with H1986 to describe a beating: "They have stricken me... they have beaten me" Proverbs 23:35. It is also used when Moses is commanded to smite the rock in Horeb Exodus 17:6.
  • H4272 mâchats (to dash asunder, wound): This verb denotes a violent and destructive blow. It is used alongside H1986 in the account of Jael, who pierced Sisera's temples Judges 5:26. It also describes divine judgment, as the Lord will strike through kings in the day of his wrath Psalms 110:5.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H1986 is centered on the application of decisive force.

  • Violent Action: The word most often conveys a literal, forceful blow. This is seen in the chaos of battle where horsehoofs are broken Judges 5:22, enemies are beating down one another 1 Samuel 14:16, and carved work is broken down with axes and hammers Psalms 74:6.
  • Conquering and Subduing: The action of striking extends to the idea of overcoming or subduing. This can be the effect of wine on a person Isaiah 28:1, the ruin of a vineyard by conquerors Isaiah 16:8, or the physical beating of a person into insensibility Proverbs 23:35.
  • Righteous Correction: In a striking contrast, the word is used to describe a beneficial act. The psalmist declares that when the righteous smite him, it is a kindness and an excellent oil that will not break his head Psalms 141:5, reframing a violent action as a form of helpful discipline.

Summary

In summary, H1986 is a dynamic verb that captures the essence of a forceful impact. It moves from the literal blow of a hammer, whether in construction Isaiah 41:7 or in combat Judges 5:26, to the figurative sense of being overcome by a substance Isaiah 28:1 or devastated by an enemy Isaiah 16:8. The unique usage in Psalms shows that this act of "smiting" can even be interpreted as a positive, corrective measure, demonstrating the word's potent and versatile meaning.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb and an adverb across 9 occurrences, inflected in 7 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • הָלְמוּ
  • הֲלֹם
  • הָלְמָה
  • יַהֲלֹמוּ
  • יֶהֶלְמֵ
  • הֲלוּמֵי
  • הוֹלֶם

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1989 הַלְמוּת from הָלַם; a hammer (or mallet); hammer. H5221 נָכָה a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [id H4272 מָחַץ a primitive root; to dash asunder; by implication, to crush, smash or violently plunge; figuratively, to subdue or destr

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 9 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Isaiah (3 verses); never once in the other 34.

2
Judges
1
1 Samuel
2
Psalms
1
Proverbs
3
Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.