Lexical Summary challaq: To divide, to share, to apportion, to distribute Original Word: חַלָּק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance smooth From chalaq; smooth -- smooth. see HEBREW chalaq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as chalaq, q.v. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Imagery חַלָּק evokes the idea of polished smoothness—an outward surface free of rugged edges. In Isaiah 57:6 the word specifically describes “smooth stones of the valley,” an image that combines beauty with stealth: stones worn sleek by water and weather, fitting into the hand of an idol-worshiper or slipping beneath the foot of an unsuspecting pilgrim. The term therefore carries connotations of both aesthetic attraction and spiritual danger, hinting at seduction that lures the heart from the Lord. Biblical Usage Isaiah 57:6 is the only occurrence: “Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings and presented grain offerings. Should I be appeased by these things?” The prophet places the “smooth stones” at the center of a rebuke against Judah’s syncretism. Those stones, once inert elements of creation, had become the objects and locations of sacrificial worship. They stood in direct contrast to the prescribed worship at the temple, where the altar stones were rough and unhewn (Exodus 20:25), lest human artistry suggest that divine favor could be fashioned by human skill. Historical Context Cultic use of river-washed stones was common in Canaanite religion. Valleys such as Hinnom and Kidron supplied stones that were thought to possess fertility or protective powers. By Isaiah’s day, Judah’s elites had merged that practice with Yahwistic ritual terminology—“drink offerings” and “grain offerings”—blurring the boundary between covenant worship and pagan rites. Isaiah’s condemnation therefore targets not only idol objects but also the false security that smooth, appealing substitutes offered to covenant breakers. Theological Themes 1. Idolatry’s Deceptive Attraction: The polish of the stones mirrors the flattering allure of sin (cf. Proverbs 5:3). What glitters in the valley cannot replace the rock of salvation (Psalm 18:2). Connections within Scripture • Contrast with David’s use of smooth stones for righteous battle (1 Samuel 17:40). David’s five stones were means to vindicate the Lord’s name, whereas Isaiah’s stones facilitate rebellion. Practical Ministry Insights • Examine “smooth stones” in contemporary life: culturally polished idols—comfort, technology, image—that entice the church away from wholehearted devotion. Summary חַלָּק serves as a vivid, single-word warning: spiritual seduction often arrives smooth, attractive, and comfortably situated “in the valley.” Isaiah’s lone deployment of the term confronts every age with the question, “Where is your portion?” Turning from polished idols to the unshakeable Cornerstone restores the covenant joy for which God’s people were created. Forms and Transliterations בְּחַלְּקֵי־ בחלקי־ bə·ḥal·lə·qê- bechallekei bəḥalləqê-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 57:6 HEB: בְּחַלְּקֵי־ נַ֣חַל חֶלְקֵ֔ךְ KJV: Among the smooth [stones] of the stream INT: the smooth the ravine is your portion 1 Occurrence |
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