Lexical Summary chadal: To cease, desist, leave off, refrain, forsake Original Word: חָדַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cease, end, fall, forbear, forsake, leave off, let alone, rest, A primitive root; properly, to be flabby, i.e. (by implication) desist; (figuratively) be lacking or idle -- cease, end, fall, forbear, forsake, leave (off), let alone, rest, be unoccupied, want. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to cease NASB Translation cease (10), ceased (8), ceasing (1), deserted (1), fail (1), failed (1), gave (1), hold back (1), leave (5), let my alone (1), neglects (1), never mind (2), no (1), past (1), quit (1), refrain (6), refrained (1), refuse (1), regarding* (1), rest (1), stop (4), stopped (4), stops (1), unavoidable* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חָדַל verb cease (Sabean חדל be negligent, SabDenkm76) — Qal Perfect חָדַל Genesis 18:11 4t.; וְחָדַל consecutive Numbers 9:13; Psalm 49:9; 2masculine singular וְחָדַלְתָּ֫ Exodus 23:5; plural הָֽדְּלוּ Judges 5:6 4t.; חָד֑לּוּ (compare Köi, 243) Judges 5:7; 1 Samuel 2:5; 1plural חָדַלְנוּ Jeremiah 44:18; Imperfect יֶחְדַּל Deuteronomy 15:11 + (Job 10:20 Kt יחדל jussive > Qr וַחֲדָ֑ל Imperative); אֶחְדָּ֑ל Judges 15:7 3t.; וְאַחְדְּלָה Job 16:6; plural יֶחְדָּ֑לוּ Ezekiel 2:5 2t.; יֶחְדָּלוּ֔ן Exodus 9:29; וַיַּחְדְּלוּ Genesis 11:8; Exodus 9:33, נֶחְדָּ֑ל 1 Kings 22:15, etc.; Infinitive construct חֲדֹל 1 Samuel 12:23; Imperative חֲדַל Exodus 14:12 +, etc.; חִדְלוּ Isaiah 1:16; Isaiah 2:22; חֲדָ֑לוּ Zechariah 11:22; — 1 cease, come to an end Exodus 9:29,33,34 (J), Isaiah 24:8; impersonal חָדַל לִהְיוֺת לְשָׂרָה Genesis 18:11 (J); cease to be Deuteronomy 15:11 (followed by מִן), and in poetry Judges 5:6,7 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 2:5; Job 14:7; = be lacking, fail Job 19:14; Proverbs 10:19. 2 cease, leave off, followed by infinitive with לְ Genesis 11:8 (J), Genesis 41:49 (E), Numbers 9:13 (P), 1 Samuel 12:23; 1 Samuel 23:13; Jeremiah 44:18; Jeremiah 51:30; Deuteronomy 23:23; Psalm 36:4; Proverbs 19:27; Ruth 1:18; infinitive alone Isaiah 1:16; so also Hosea 8:10, where read וְחָֽדְלוּ for וַיָּחֵלּוּ ᵐ5 Che We; followed by infinitive with מִן Exodus 23:5 (JE), 1 Kings 15:21 2Chronicles 16:5; followed by substantive with מִן (cease regarding) Isaiah 2:22 (but Che Du and others treat see as interpolation; omitted by ᵐ5), 1 Samuel 9:5; Proverbs 23:4; followed by מֵאלהים2Chronicles 35:21, i.e. leave off provoking God; Exodus 14:12 (J), followed by מִמֶּנּו desist from us, let us alone; Job 7:16; followed by accusative Job 3:17 רֹגֶז ׳ח; Job 14:6 have rest (i.e. cease from being troubled, see Di; compare Job 14:1); no complem. expressed, cease, forbear Judges 15:7; Judges 20:28; Amos 7:5; 1 Kings 22:6,15 2Chronicles 18:5,14; Jeremiah 40:4; Jeremiah 41:8; Zechariah 11:12; Psalm 49:9; Job 16:6; 2Chronicles 25:16; specifically of refusal to hear Ezekiel 2:5,7; Ezekiel 3:11,27 (all opposed to שָׁמַע). Hoph`al Perfect (contracted) with interrogative particle הֶחֳדַלְתִּי Judges 9:9,11,13 should I be made to leave, followed by accusative (compare Köi, 240 ff.); **Job 10:20 (but read here probably יְמֵי חֶלְדִּי ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Bi Bu Du); but perhaps read הֶחָדַלְתִּי, Qal Perfect Stu Be, compare, for accusative followed by, Job 3:17. Topical Lexicon Overview חָדַל (Strong’s Hebrew 2308) expresses the ideas of ceasing, stopping, refraining, leaving off, or letting alone. Though linguistically simple, its occurrences display a rich tapestry of divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and covenant faithfulness. About fifty-eight times the Spirit employs the verb to mark moments when activity terminates—whether judgment, sin, pleading, or toil. Each appearance reminds readers that the God of Scripture both initiates and halts events for His redemptive purposes. Catalog of Usage 1. Cessation of divine judgments (Exodus 9:29, 33-34; Amos 7:5-6). Key Texts “So Moses left Pharaoh’s presence and went out of the city. He stretched out his hands toward the LORD, and the thunder and hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down upon the land. But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart.” “ ‘Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation.’ But Moses implored the LORD his God… ”. The verb highlights the tension between divine wrath and covenant mediation. “When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to persuade her.” “Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!” “Then I said, ‘Lord GOD, please stop! How will Jacob survive, for he is so small?’ So the LORD relented from this outcome. ‘It will not happen either,’ said the Lord GOD.” “The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has turned to mourning.” Themes and Theology Sovereign Control חָדַל underscores that every cessation ultimately depends on God. Plagues end only when He wills (Exodus 9). Storms obey Him (Jonah 1:15). National calamities pause at prophetic intercession (Amos 7:2-6). Mediation and Intercession The verb often appears in dialogues where a mediator implores God to “cease” judgment (Moses, Amos). These scenes foreshadow the perfect mediation of Jesus Christ, whose atonement brings an enduring cessation of wrath for believers. Human Freedom and Responsibility When people refuse to “cease” sin (Exodus 16:28; Isaiah 1:16), judgment follows. Conversely, choosing to refrain from a vow (Deuteronomy 23:22) or abandoning violence (Isaiah 2:22) displays obedient restraint. Redemptive Rest חָדַל highlights God-granted rest after labor or turmoil—physical (hail ceasing), emotional (Naomi’s persuasion), or spiritual (sin stopped). Such rest anticipates the eternal Sabbath in Christ. Judgment and Desolation In prophetic poetry the word describes societal collapse: deserted highways (Judges 5:6), vanished joy (Lamentations 5:15), silenced song (Isaiah 24:8). These pictures warn of the consequences of persistent rebellion. Foreshadowings of the Gospel 1. Prophetic pleas for God to cease judgment prefigure Christ’s high-priestly intercession. Practical Ministry Applications Pastoral Counseling Encourage believers to “cease striving” in self-effort and trust God’s sovereign timing (cf. Exodus 14:12 contrasted with Psalm 46:10). Corporate Worship Highlight moments when God halted calamities in response to prayer, inspiring confidence in congregational intercession. Ethics and Vows Teach the wisdom principle of Deuteronomy 23:22—better to refrain from a vow than to break it—promoting integrity. Mission and Justice Isaiah’s plea to “stop doing evil” (Isaiah 1:16) motivates holistic ministry: repentance leads to social righteousness and care for the oppressed (Isaiah 1:17). Homiletical and Devotional Insights • Every divine “cease” is both judgment and mercy: judgment on sin, mercy toward those who heed the warning. Forms and Transliterations אֶחְדָּ֑ל אֶחְדָּֽל׃ אחדל אחדל׃ הֶחֳדַ֙לְתִּי֙ החדלתי וְ֝אַחְדְּלָ֗ה וְחָדַ֥ל וְחָדַל֙ וְחָדַלְתָּ֖ וְיֶחְדָּ֑ל וַֽיַּחְדְּל֖וּ וַֽיַּחְדְּל֤וּ וַחֲדָ֑ל וַיֶּחְדַּ֕ל וַיֶּחְדַּ֖ל וַיֶּחְדַּ֣ל וַתֶּחְדַּ֖ל ואחדלה וחדל וחדלת ויחדל ויחדלו ותחדל חֲדַ֥ל חֲדַל־ חֲדָ֑ל חֲדָ֑לוּ חֲדָֽל׃ חִדְל֖וּ חִדְל֤וּ חַֽדַל־ חָ֣דְלוּ חָדְל֖וּ חָדְל֥וּ חָדְל֧וּ חָדְלוּ֩ חָדֵ֑לּוּ חָדַ֖ל חָדַ֜לְנוּ חָדַ֥ל חָדַ֨ל חָדַל֙ חדל חדל־ חדל׃ חדלו חדלנו יֶחְדַּ֥ל יֶחְדַּל־ יֶחְדָּ֑לוּ יֶחְדָּ֔ל יֶחְדָּ֔לוּ יֶחְדָּֽלוּ׃ יֶחְדָּל֗וּן יחדל יחדל־ יחדלו יחדלו׃ יחדלון מֵחֲדֹ֖ל מחדל נֶחְדָּ֑ל נחדל תֶחְדַּ֖ל תֶחְדָּֽל׃ תחדל תחדל׃ ’eḥ·dāl ’eḥdāl chaDal chaDalnu chaDalu chaDellu chadeLu chidLu echDal ḥă·ḏā·lū ḥă·ḏal ḥă·ḏāl ḥā·ḏal ḥa·ḏal- ḥă·ḏal- ḥā·ḏal·nū ḥā·ḏə·lū ḥā·ḏêl·lū ḥăḏal ḥăḏāl ḥāḏal ḥaḏal- ḥăḏal- ḥāḏalnū ḥăḏālū ḥāḏêllū ḥāḏəlū he·ḥo·ḏal·tî hechoDalti heḥoḏaltî ḥiḏ·lū ḥiḏlū mê·ḥă·ḏōl mechaDol mêḥăḏōl nechDal neḥ·dāl neḥdāl techDal ṯeḥ·dal ṯeḥ·dāl ṯeḥdal ṯeḥdāl vachaDal vaiyachdeLu vaiyechDal vattechDal veachdeLah vechaDal vechadalTa veyechDal wa·ḥă·ḏāl waḥăḏāl wat·teḥ·dal watteḥdal way·yaḥ·də·lū way·yeḥ·dal wayyaḥdəlū wayyeḥdal wə’aḥdəlāh wə·’aḥ·də·lāh wə·ḥā·ḏal wə·ḥā·ḏal·tā wə·yeḥ·dāl wəḥāḏal wəḥāḏaltā wəyeḥdāl yechDal yechDalu yechdaLun yeḥ·dā·lū yeḥ·dā·lūn yeḥ·dal yeḥ·dāl yeḥ·dal- yeḥdal yeḥdāl yeḥdal- yeḥdālū yeḥdālūnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 11:8 HEB: כָל־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וַֽיַּחְדְּל֖וּ לִבְנֹ֥ת הָעִֽיר׃ NAS: earth; and they stopped building KJV: of all the earth: and they left off to build INT: of the whole earth stopped building the city Genesis 18:11 Genesis 41:49 Exodus 9:29 Exodus 9:33 Exodus 9:34 Exodus 14:12 Exodus 23:5 Numbers 9:13 Deuteronomy 15:11 Deuteronomy 23:22 Judges 5:6 Judges 5:7 Judges 5:7 Judges 9:9 Judges 9:11 Judges 9:13 Judges 15:7 Judges 20:28 Ruth 1:18 1 Samuel 2:5 1 Samuel 9:5 1 Samuel 12:23 1 Samuel 23:13 1 Kings 15:21 58 Occurrences |
    |