Lexical Summary cheled: World, lifetime, age Original Word: חֶלֶד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance age, short time, world From an unused root apparently meaning to glide swiftly; life (as a fleeting portion of time); hence, the world (as transient) -- age, short time, world. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition duration, world NASB Translation life (1), lifetime (1), span of life (1), world (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֶ֫לֶד noun [masculine]Job 11:17 duration, world (= αιὤν) (Arabic  perpetual duration, eternity) — absolute ׳ח Psalm 17:14; חָ֑לֶד Job 11:17 2t. + Isaiah 38:11 Che De, followed by Manuscript Babylonian etc. (Baer חָ֑דֶל); suffix חֶלְדִּי Psalm 39:6; = duration of life Job 11:17; Psalm 39:6 ("" יָמַי), זְכֹר אֲנִי מֶהחָֿ֑לֶד Psalm 89:48 of what duration I am Dr§ 189. 2, or (אדני for אני) what is life (?) Hi Ew Now and others; world (= αιὤν, not Κόσμος) Psalm 17:14; Psalm 49:2 (׳ישׁבי ח "" כלעֿמים), compare Isaiah 38:11 (see above; "" אֶרֶץ הַחַיִּים). II. חלד (√ of following; compare Late Hebrew חלד dig, or hollow out, Aramaic Topical Lexicon Overview The Hebrew noun חֶלֶד (cheled) gathers together the ideas of earthly life, the present world-order, and the span of mortal existence. Its five appearances in the Old Testament cluster in poetic and wisdom contexts, each time placing human life in tension with God’s eternity. Cheled is never used for eternal or spiritual life; it invariably points to the temporality and vulnerability of the human condition. Canonical Distribution • Job 11:17 These occurrences are confined to books that meditate on suffering, worship, and wisdom—settings where reflections on the brevity of life deepen reliance upon the Lord. Semantic Range and Contextual Nuances 1. Duration of one’s earthly span (Psalm 39:5; Psalm 89:47). While English versions render cheled variously as “life,” “lifetime,” “world,” or “duration,” each context stresses finitude. Humanity is pictured as bounded by time, contrasted with God who is unbounded. Themes in Wisdom Literature and Psalms 1. Human Frailty Psalm 39:5: “You, indeed, have made my days short in length, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Surely every mortal man is but a vapor.” The psalmist’s confession of vapor-like existence leads directly to hope in the Lord (Psalm 39:7). Cheled thus exposes pride and presses the reader toward humility. 2. Worldly Portion versus Eternal Portion Psalm 17:14 contrasts “men of the world whose portion is in this life” with God’s “treasured ones.” Earth-bound abundance is temporary; covenant fellowship endures. 3. Universality of the Message Psalm 49:1 opens a wisdom psalm addressed to “all inhabitants of the world.” The call is universal because mortality is universal; riches cannot redeem a soul (Psalm 49:7-9). 4. Prayer for Mercy Amid Vanishing Days Psalm 89:47: “Remember how short is my lifespan.” Ethan the Ezrahite appeals to the Lord’s steadfast love on the basis of man’s fleeting days and God’s enduring covenant. 5. Hope of Restoration Job 11:17 holds forth conditional promise: “Your life will be brighter than noonday.” Even within lament, God can fill mortal days with renewed light. Historical Background of the Passages • Job 11 is part of Zophar’s first speech during patriarchal times, reflecting ancient Near-Eastern grappling with suffering. Liturgical and Devotional Use Jewish and Christian worship have long employed these passages in funerals, penitential seasons, and readings that invite reflection on mortality. By invoking cheled, worshipers reckon honestly with death while grounding their hope in the living God. Ministry and Pastoral Application 1. Preaching on Stewardship of Time Cheled underscores that ministry opportunities are momentary (Ephesians 5:15-16). Believers are urged to redeem their limited days for eternal fruit. 2. Comfort in Bereavement The acknowledgment of life’s brevity opens the way to comfort rooted in the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Pastors can read Psalm 39 or Psalm 89 alongside John 11:25-26. 3. Evangelistic Appeal Cheled exposes the folly of seeking fulfillment in temporal possessions (Psalm 49). Evangelists may pair it with Jesus’ parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21). Typological and Christological Insights Cheled points forward to the incarnate Christ, who entered our brief mortal frame (“The Word became flesh,” John 1:14) yet triumphed over its limitations through resurrection. In Him, the temporal gives way to the eternal (2 Timothy 1:10). Eschatological Perspective The Old Testament tension between fleeting life and eternal covenant is resolved when Revelation depicts a new heaven and new earth where time-bound woes are abolished (Revelation 21:4). Until then, cheled reminds believers to live with eternity in view, praying like Moses, “Teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Forms and Transliterations וְחֶלְדִּ֣י וחלדי חָ֑לֶד חָֽלֶד׃ חלד חלד׃ מֵחֶ֗לֶד מחלד Chaled ḥā·leḏ ḥāleḏ mê·ḥe·leḏ meCheled mêḥeleḏ vechelDi wə·ḥel·dî wəḥeldîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 11:17 HEB: וּֽ֭מִצָּהֳרַיִם יָק֣וּם חָ֑לֶד תָּ֝עֻ֗פָה כַּבֹּ֥קֶר NAS: Your life would be brighter than KJV: And [thine] age shall be clearer INT: noonday would be brighter your life forth the morning Psalm 17:14 Psalm 39:5 Psalm 49:1 Psalm 89:47 5 Occurrences |
    |
creep, crawl).