Lexical Summary chalaq: flattering, smooth, smoother Original Word: חָלָק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance flattering, smooth From chalaq; smooth (especially of tongue) -- flattering, smooth. see HEBREW chalaq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chalaq Definition smooth NASB Translation flattering (2), smooth (2), smoother (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חָלָק adjective smooth — 1 literal אִישׁ חָלָק Genesis 27:11 (J), smooth man (opposed to אישׁ שָׂעִר); הָהָר הֶחָלָק Joshua 11:17; Joshua 12:7 the bald mountain (both D); southern limit of Josephus' conquest, identification dubious; (1) white cliffs 8 miles south of Dead Sea, and (2) Mt. Mâdara southwest from Pass es-‚afâ are proposed, see Di.; as substantive חַלְּקֵינַֿחַל Isaiah 57:6 (see I. חֵלֶק, 4) smooth (stones) of a brook-bed (ravine, wady), i.e. thou worshippest common round stones (contempt., see Che Di). 2 figurative of mouth uttering smooth words וְחָלָק מִשֶּׁמֶן חִכָּהּ Proverbs 5:3; compare Proverbs 26:28. 3 as substantive = flattery מִקְסָם חָלָק Ezekiel 12:24 divination of flattery. Topical Lexicon Literal and Figurative Dimensions of “ḥālaq”Across its four appearances the term conveys a tangible smoothness of surface and, more often, the seductive smoothness of speech. The physical sense (Genesis 27:11) provides the concrete image from which the figurative use is drawn: what is pleasant to the touch becomes, in moral discourse, what is pleasant to the ear yet spiritually perilous. Occurrences and Narrative Contexts 1. Genesis 27:11 – Jacob calls his skin “smooth” in contrast to Esau’s hairiness. Here “ḥālaq” is morally neutral, yet the wider narrative of calculated deception foreshadows later negative connotations. Theological Themes Smoothness that deceives contrasts sharply with the biblical insistence on truth and covenant faithfulness. Scripture repeatedly equates God’s words with reliability (Psalm 12:6) and calls His people to mirror that integrity (Ephesians 4:25). “ḥālaq” speech stands as the antithesis: words engineered to persuade but devoid of truth. Wisdom Literature and the Peril of Flattery Proverbs frames flattery as a tool of seduction (Proverbs 2:16; 7:5, implicit echoes of 5:3). The sensory language (“honey,” “oil”) underlines how sin often enters not through overt hostility but through appealing softness. The book counsels discernment: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy” (Proverbs 27:6). True wisdom prizes candid rebuke over “ḥālaq” cajolery. Prophetic Condemnation of Smooth Divination Ezekiel targets prophets who announced peace when judgment loomed. Their “smooth” oracles soothed consciences yet steered Israel toward catastrophe. By promising what God had not spoken, they betrayed their vocation and provoked divine wrath. The passage anticipates Paul’s warning that “the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine…they will accumulate teachers to suit their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3). Practical Ministry Implications • Preaching: Faithful exposition resists the temptation to soften hard truths. Pastors must avoid “ḥālaq” rhetoric that entertains without transforming. Christological and New Testament Echoes Jesus embodies the antithesis of “ḥālaq” speech. Crowds marveled at His gracious words (Luke 4:22), yet He never flattered; His calls to repentance were direct (Matthew 23). The apostles followed suit: “We never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover greed” (1 Thessalonians 2:5). In Christ, speech and reality are perfectly aligned, providing the model for redeemed communication. Summary “ḥālaq” exposes the spiritual danger hidden beneath pleasant surfaces. Whether in Jacob’s tactile smoothness or the oily eloquence of seducers and false prophets, Scripture warns that what feels or sounds agreeable may conceal rebellion against God. The people of God are therefore summoned to cultivate speech marked by truth, love, and covenant fidelity, rejecting every form of deceptive smoothness. Forms and Transliterations וְחָלָ֖ק וחלק חָ֝לָ֗ק חָלָ֑ק חָלָֽק׃ חלק חלק׃ chaLak ḥā·lāq ḥālāq vechaLak wə·ḥā·lāq wəḥālāqLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 27:11 HEB: וְאָנֹכִ֖י אִ֥ישׁ חָלָֽק׃ NAS: is a hairy man and I am a smooth man. KJV: man, and I [am] a smooth man: INT: I man smooth Proverbs 5:3 Proverbs 26:28 Ezekiel 12:24 4 Occurrences |
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