2489. chelekah
Lexical Summary
chelekah: Portion, tract, plot, territory

Original Word: חֵלְכָא
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: chelka'
Pronunciation: kheh-leh-kah
Phonetic Spelling: (khay-lek-aw')
KJV: poor
NASB: unfortunate
Word Origin: [apparently from an unused root probably meaning to be dark or (figuratively) unhappy]

1. a wretch, i.e. unfortunate

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
poor

Or chelkah {khay-lek-aw'}; apparently from an unused root probably meaning to be dark or (figuratively) unhappy; a wretch, i.e. Unfortunate -- poor.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
hapless, unfortunate
NASB Translation
unfortunate (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
ֵ˜חלְכָה read חַלְכֶּה, חֶלְכֶּה, or חָלְכֶּה,

adjective helpless, unfortunate, only as substantive hapless, luckless one(s)לְֵ˜חלְכָה Psalm 10:8, ᵐ5 εἰς τὸν πένητα, ᵑ6 ᵑ7; חֵלֶ֑כָה Psalm 10:14 ᵐ5 ὁ πτωχός; חלכאים Psalm 10:10 Kt, read plural חַלְכָּאִים (׳חֶל, ׳חָל); Qr חֵל כָּאִים ᵐ5 τῶν πενήτων. In all text and meaning dubious (ᵑ0 reads חֵלְכָה = חֵילְךָ thine army; and חֵל כָּאִים Psalm 10:10 army of dejected ones, but this against usage of חֵל, and no such figurative sense of חַיִל, see O1 Hup De Bae Che, and critical note)

[כָּאֶה] adjective cowed, Psalm 10:10 Qr חֵל כָּאִים; host of cowed ones, but read Kt חלכאים.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of the Term

חֵלְכָא occurs only three times, all within Psalm 10 (verses 8, 10, 14), describing those the wicked prey upon—people who are powerless to defend themselves. The term therefore paints a vivid picture of the “helpless” or “victim,” an image that threads through Scripture and invites reflection on God’s heart for the oppressed.

Context in Psalm 10

Psalm 10 offers a lament against the arrogance of the wicked. Each occurrence of חֵלְכָא underscores the plight of the defenseless:

Psalm 10:8: “His eyes lurk in secret places toward the helpless.”
Psalm 10:10: “He crouches, he lies low, that the helpless may fall by his might.”
Psalm 10:14: “The victim entrusts himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.”

The psalmist exposes the predatory schemes of the wicked, contrasts them with divine justice, and places ultimate hope in the LORD who sees, remembers, and acts.

Portrait of the Helpless in Scripture

1. Old Testament parallels—The same vulnerable profile appears in passages such as Deuteronomy 10:18; Proverbs 22:22–23; and Isaiah 10:1–2, where God condemns exploitation of the poor, widow, orphan, and resident alien.
2. Covenantal concern—Israel’s law safeguarded the powerless (Exodus 22:22–24) so that the nation would reflect the character of the God who delivered them from Egypt.
3. Prophetic rebuke—Prophets often indict leaders for trampling the weak (Amos 2:6–7), echoing the Psalm 10 indictment.

God’s Concern for the Helpless

Scripture consistently presents God as the defender of those identified by חֵלְכָא:
• He “raises the poor from the dust” (Psalm 113:7).
• He promises to “judge the afflicted of the people” with righteousness (Psalm 72:2).
• In Psalm 10 itself He “has heard the desire of the humble” (verse 17).

God’s character is at stake in how the weak are treated; mistreatment provokes His judgment, while protection and advocacy align with His will.

Messianic and New Testament Echoes

The Messiah embodies God’s compassion for the helpless:
Isaiah 42:3 foretells, “A bruised reed He will not break.”
• Jesus proclaims “good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18) and invites the weary to come to Him (Matthew 11:28).
• The early church demonstrates this posture, ensuring “there was not a needy person among them” (Acts 4:34).
James 1:27 defines “pure and undefiled religion” as care for orphans and widows, an outworking of the Psalm 10 theme.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Advocacy—Believers imitate God by defending the powerless, opposing systems or individuals who mimic the predator of Psalm 10.
2. Relief—Practical aid (food, shelter, medical care) upholds the dignity of the helpless.
3. Gospel witness—Serving the vulnerable adorns the gospel, helping the world see the character of Christ’s kingdom.
4. Prayer—Like the psalmist, intercession for the exploited launches divine intervention and shapes the intercessor’s priorities.

Theological Implications

• Divine sovereignty and human responsibility intertwine: God sees and will judge, yet He appoints His people as instruments of justice.
• Suffering does not escape God’s notice; His timing may seem delayed, but His verdict is certain.
• The presence of the helpless exposes the moral state of a community; how they are treated is a litmus test of covenant faithfulness.

Historical and Liturgical Significance

Psalm 10 has long served in Jewish and Christian worship as a voice for the oppressed. In monastic tradition it frames intercession for persecuted believers. In modern missions it undergirds ministries combating human trafficking, poverty, and injustice, proving that the ancient cry of חֵלְכָא still resonates wherever victims need deliverance.

Summary

חֵלְכָא crystallizes the biblical theme of God’s special concern for the weak. Psalm 10 situates the helpless at the center of a cosmic drama: predators plot, victims suffer, and the righteous Judge intervenes. Every generation of believers is summoned to align with God’s perspective—seeing, serving, and shielding the helpless until He finally banishes all oppression and wipes away every tear.

Forms and Transliterations
חֵלֶ֑כָה חלכה כָּאִֽים׃ כאים׃ לְֽחֵלְכָ֥ה לחלכה cheLechah ḥê·le·ḵāh ḥêleḵāh kā’îm kā·’îm kaIm lə·ḥê·lə·ḵāh lecheleChah ləḥêləḵāh
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Psalm 10:8
HEB: נָקִ֑י עֵ֝ינָ֗יו לְֽחֵלְכָ֥ה יִצְפֹּֽנוּ׃
NAS: stealthily watch for the unfortunate.
KJV: are privily set against the poor.
INT: the innocent his eyes the unfortunate stealthily

Psalm 10:10
HEB: (חֵ֣יל ק) (כָּאִֽים׃ ק)
NAS: he bows down, And the unfortunate fall
INT: fall his mighty poor

Psalm 10:14
HEB: עָ֭לֶיךָ יַעֲזֹ֣ב חֵלֶ֑כָה יָ֝ת֗וֹם אַתָּ֤ה ׀
NAS: it into Your hand. The unfortunate commits
KJV: [it] with thy hand: the poor committeth
INT: and commits the unfortunate of the orphan You

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2489
3 Occurrences


ḥê·le·ḵāh — 1 Occ.
kā·’îm — 1 Occ.
lə·ḥê·lə·ḵāh — 1 Occ.

2488
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