### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **çâlach**, represented by `{{H5545}}`, is a primitive root used to mean **to forgive, pardon, or spare**. It appears 46 times across 45 unique verses in the Bible. This term is distinct in that it primarily describes God's specific act of pardoning sin and iniquity, highlighting it as a divine action.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H5545}}` is central to the relationship between God and His people. It is often presented as a conditional act, granted by God when His people repent. For instance, God promises, "If my people... humble themselves, and pray... and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin" [[2 Chronicles 7:14]]. The term is also deeply connected to the sacrificial system, where a priest makes an atonement for sin, resulting in it being forgiven [[Leviticus 4:35]]. In prophetic contexts, it signifies a complete restoration, with God promising, "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more" [[Jeremiah 31:34]]. However, forgiveness is not guaranteed, as the Lord "would not pardon" the shedding of innocent blood [[2 Kings 24:4]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide a fuller context for the concept of pardon:
* `{{H5771}}` **ʻâvôn** (iniquity): This word signifies perversity or moral evil and is frequently the object of God's pardon. It is used in passages like [[Psalms 103:3]], which speaks of God "who forgiveth all thine iniquities".
* `{{H2403}}` **chaṭṭâʼâh** (sin): Representing an offence and its penalty, this term often appears alongside iniquity as that which requires forgiveness [[Jeremiah 36:3]].
* `{{H3722}}` **kâphar** (to make an atonement): This verb, meaning to expiate or condone, describes the action, often by a priest, that results in forgiveness. The process is clear: the priest makes atonement, "and it shall be forgiven" [[Leviticus 6:7]].
* `{{H7725}}` **shûwb** (to turn back): This represents the human act of repentance that is often a prerequisite for receiving God's pardon. [[Isaiah 55:7]] directly connects the call to "return unto the LORD" with the promise that "he will abundantly pardon".
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H5545}}` is demonstrated in several key themes:
* **A Divine Act:** Forgiveness is overwhelmingly portrayed as an act that only God can perform. It is a core aspect of His merciful character, as seen in prayers beseeching Him, "O Lord, forgive" [[Daniel 9:19]], and his response to Moses, "I have pardoned according to thy word" [[Numbers 14:20]].
* **The Role of Repentance:** God's pardon is frequently tied to humanity's turning from evil. This connection is explicit in God's plan for the house of Judah to "return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin" [[Jeremiah 36:3]].
* **The Function of Atonement:** In the Levitical system, forgiveness is the direct outcome of the atonement process. Atonement `{{H3722}}` must be made for a sin `{{H2403}}` before it "shall be forgiven `{{H5545}}`" [[Leviticus 4:26]].
* **Complete Removal:** God's pardon is absolute. In the new covenant, He promises to "remember their sin no more" [[Jeremiah 31:34]]. This idea is further reinforced when the LORD declares that Israel's iniquity will be sought, "and there shall be none... for I will pardon them whom I reserve" [[Jeremiah 50:20]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H5545}}` is a specific and powerful term for divine pardon. It is not a casual act but a profound release from guilt and penalty that stems from God's own merciful nature. Its use throughout scripture establishes a clear theological framework where God's forgiveness is linked to human repentance and, within the Old Testament law, the mediatorial act of atonement, ultimately resulting in the complete blotting out of sin.
TRV