English · KJV
H2480

חָלַט

châlaṭ /khaw-lat'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto snatch at
KJV usagecatch.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of châlaṭ — 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 châlaṭ, represented by H2480, is a primitive root meaning to snatch at; catch. This specific term is quite rare, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire biblical text, making its single appearance highly significant for its context.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole use of H2480 is found in 1 Kings 20:33. In this narrative, the servants of Ben-hadad are listening intently to the king of Israel, waiting for any sign of mercy. The verse states, "Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it." They were not physically catching an object, but rather "snatching" a crucial word spoken by the king—"brother." This act of eagerly seizing upon the word demonstrates their desperate hope and sharp attentiveness in a politically charged moment.

Related Words & Concepts

The context of H2480 is enriched by the words used alongside it in 1 Kings 20:33:

  • H5172 nâchash (diligently observe): This word, often translated as to "use enchantment" or "learn by experience," implies more than casual watching. It suggests the men were intensely analyzing the king for any sign, almost like diviners seeking an omen Genesis 30:27.
  • H4116 mâhar (hastily): This term, meaning to hurry or act promptly, describes the swiftness of the men's reaction. Their action was not just quick but immediate, seizing the opportunity the moment it appeared Ecclesiastes 5:2.
  • H3947 lâqach (to take): Immediately after the word is "caught," the king commands his men to "bring" Ben-hadad. This word for "to take" provides a conceptual parallel to H2480, encompassing a wide range of applications from receiving gifts to seizing a nation Deuteronomy 4:34.

Theological Significance

While appearing only once, the context of H2480 offers several insights:

  • The Power of Words: The passage uniquely illustrates how a single spoken word can be "caught" like a tangible object, holding the power to change a situation from hostility to potential alliance.
  • Discerning Opportunity: The action of "catching" is directly linked to the men's diligent observation H5172. This highlights the importance of being spiritually and mentally alert to perceive a moment of grace or a critical opening.
  • Urgent Response: The speed of the action, described as "hastily" H4116, underscores the principle that opportunities, once presented, must be seized without delay. The men's quick response secured the very outcome they were hoping for.

Summary

In summary, H2480 provides a vivid and focused picture of what it means to "snatch" an opportunity. Though it is one of the most infrequently used words in the Bible, its single occurrence in 1 Kings 20:33 captures a dramatic moment of diplomacy and desperation. It demonstrates that words carry immense weight and that attentiveness and quick action are essential to seizing the fleeting chances they may offer.

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 across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — 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.

  • יַּחְלְטוּ

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.

H5172 נָחַשׁ a primitive root; properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate; [idiom] certainly, divin H4116 מָהַר a primitive root; properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e. (by implication); to hurry (in a good or a bad sense); oft H3947 לָקַח a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, in

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

1 verse, all in 1 Kings — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.