a primitive root; to prostrate; by implication, to overthrow, decay; discomfit, waste away, weaken.
Transliteration:châlash
Pronunciation:khaw-lash'
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew verb H2522 (חָלַשׁ, *châlash*) is a primitive root, conveying a fundamental sense of reduction, weakening, or bringing low. Its core meaning can be understood as "to prostrate," implying a state of being laid low, either through external force or internal decay. From this primary sense, a rich semantic range emerges:
* **To overthrow/discomfit:** This active sense denotes the act of defeating an enemy, causing them to fall or be subdued. It suggests a decisive victory where the opponent is rendered powerless.
* **To decay/waste away/weaken:** This passive or intransitive sense describes a process of decline, deterioration, or loss of strength. It can refer to physical decay, the fading of vitality, or the general weakening of something over time.
* **To lay low/cut down:** Similar to "prostrate," this emphasizes the action of bringing something or someone down from a position of strength or prominence.
The dual nature of H2522—active defeat and passive decay—highlights its versatility in describing both the exercise of power and the inevitable processes of decline in the created order.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb H2522 appears in a limited number of biblical passages, yet each instance powerfully illustrates its semantic range:
* **Exodus 17:13**: "So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword." Here, H2522 (translated as "overwhelmed" or "discomfited") clearly denotes military defeat. Joshua, empowered by God, actively brings low the Amalekites, causing them to fall in battle. This is a direct expression of the "overthrow" aspect of the word, signifying a decisive and complete victory. The context underscores divine enablement in warfare.
* **Job 14:10**: "But man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he?" In this poignant reflection on human mortality, H2522 (translated as "is laid low" or "wastes away") describes the inevitable physical decline and death of humanity. It speaks to the fragility of life and the process of decay that leads to the grave. This usage emphasizes the "waste away" or "decay" aspect, highlighting the transient nature of human existence.
* **Isaiah 14:12**: "How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!" This verse, part of a prophetic oracle against the king of Babylon (often interpreted messianically as referring to Lucifer's fall), uses H2522 (translated as "laid the nations low"). Here, it describes the former power and influence of the one who once caused nations to "prostrate" or be "overthrown," contrasting it sharply with his own subsequent fall. The word emphasizes the reversal of fortunes, from one who weakens others to one who is himself weakened and brought low.
* **Isaiah 24:4**: "The earth mourns and wastes away; the world languishes and wastes away; the highest people of the earth languish." H2522 appears twice in this verse (translated as "wastes away" or "fades away"), describing the desolation and decay that will come upon the earth as a result of divine judgment. This usage aligns with the "decay" and "weaken" senses, painting a picture of universal decline and loss of vitality, affecting both the physical world and its inhabitants.
* **Isaiah 24:7**: "The new wine mourns; the vine languishes; all the merry-hearted sigh." Similar to the previous verse, H2522 (translated as "languishes") describes the fading of joy and prosperity, specifically in the context of the vine and wine, which symbolize abundance and celebration. This reinforces the sense of decay and weakening, here applied to the cessation of merriment and fruitfulness.
These occurrences demonstrate H2522's capacity to describe both the active imposition of weakness (military defeat, laying nations low) and the passive experience of weakening and decay (human mortality, earthly desolation).
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of H2522 intersects with several other Hebrew words and theological concepts:
* **Strength and Weakness:** H2522 stands in contrast to words denoting strength, power, and might, such as `{{H2389}}` (חָזַק, *chazaq*, "to be strong, firm") or `{{H5797}}` (עֹז, *'oz*, "strength, might"). Its focus is on the absence or loss of these qualities.
* **Victory and Defeat:** In its active sense, H2522 is closely related to words signifying defeat or destruction, such as `{{H5221}}` (נָכָה, *nakah*, "to strike, smite, kill") or `{{H7843}}` (שָׁחַת, *shachath*, "to spoil, corrupt, destroy"). It describes the outcome of such actions.
* **Mortality and Decay:** In its passive sense, H2522 connects with terms related to human finitude, mortality, and the transient nature of creation, such as `{{H4191}}` (מוּת, *muth*, "to die") or `{{H1819}}` (דָּכָא, *daka', "to crush, be broken").
* **Judgment and Desolation:** The use of H2522 in Isaiah 24 links it to concepts of divine judgment, desolation, and the undoing of creation's order, often expressed through words like `{{H2717}}` (חָרַב, *charab*, "to lay waste, be desolate") or `{{H8074}}` (שָׁמֵם, *shamem*, "to be desolate, appalled").
The concept of God's sovereignty is central, as He is ultimately the one who enables victory (Exodus 17) and brings about judgment and decay (Isaiah 24).
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H2522 is multifaceted, touching upon themes of divine sovereignty, human frailty, and eschatological judgment.
1. **Divine Sovereignty in Conflict:** In the context of warfare, particularly in Exodus 17, H2522 highlights that victory is ultimately from the Lord. Joshua "discomfited" Amalek, but it was God who delivered them into his hand. This underscores the theological truth that human strength and strategy are insufficient without divine enablement. God is able to weaken and bring low even the most formidable adversaries.
2. **The Reality of Human Mortality and Creation's Frailty:** Job 14:10 profoundly uses H2522 to articulate the universal human experience of death and decay. It serves as a stark reminder of the brevity and fragility of life, a consequence of the Fall. Similarly, Isaiah 24 employs the word to depict the decay of the earth itself, demonstrating that even the created order is subject to deterioration and judgment, unable to sustain itself indefinitely. This points to the need for a redemptive work beyond mere human effort.
3. **Judgment on Pride and Rebellion:** Isaiah 14:12 powerfully employs H2522 to describe the fall of one who once "laid the nations low," now himself brought low. This illustrates a divine principle: those who exalt themselves and oppress others will ultimately be humbled. It speaks to God's justice, where the proud are prostrated and the mighty are stripped of their power, a theme echoed throughout biblical prophecy concerning arrogant rulers and nations.
4. **The Transience of Earthly Glory:** The repeated use of H2522 in Isaiah 24 to describe the "wasting away" of the earth and its inhabitants serves as a powerful theological statement about the impermanence of all earthly endeavors, joys, and achievements. It contrasts the fleeting nature of this world with the enduring nature of God's word and kingdom.
In summary, H2522 serves as a potent reminder of God's ultimate power to weaken and bring low, whether through military conquest, the natural process of death, or the execution of divine judgment. It underscores the transient nature of all created things and the inevitable humbling of pride.
### Summary
The Hebrew verb H2522 (חָלַשׁ, *châlash_) is a primitive root with a core meaning of "to prostrate," extending to a semantic range encompassing both active "overthrowing" or "discomfiting" and passive "decaying," "wasting away," or "weakening." Its biblical occurrences vividly illustrate these facets: from Joshua's decisive "discomfiture" of Amalek ([[Exodus 17:13]]), demonstrating divine power in warfare, to the poignant description of human life "wasting away" in death ([[Job 14:10]]). Prophetic texts like Isaiah utilize H2522 to depict the dramatic fall of the proud who once "laid nations low" ([[Isaiah 14:12]]), and the universal "wasting away" of the earth and its inhabitants under divine judgment ([[Isaiah 24:4]], [[Isaiah 24:7]]). Theologically, H2522 underscores God's absolute sovereignty in enabling victory and executing judgment, while also highlighting the inherent fragility of human existence and the transient nature of the created order. It serves as a stark reminder that all earthly strength and glory are ultimately subject to divine will and the processes of decay.
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