WG: Portion / Allotment
Overview
The Hebrew concept of "portion" involves six words distinguishing different kinds of allotted shares — by right, by lot, by inheritance, by measurement, and by ration.
Word Group Members
| Strong's |
Word |
Transliteration |
POS |
Occurrences |
Role in Concept |
Library Entry |
| H2506 |
חֵלֶק |
cheleq |
m. noun |
63 |
The general allotted share or portion |
H2506 |
| H5159 |
נַחֲלָה |
nachalah |
f. noun |
191 |
The permanent inherited estate |
TODO(need H5159 study) |
| H2513 |
חֶלְקָה |
chelqah |
f. noun |
25 |
The specific parcel of ground; field |
TODO(need H2513 study) |
| H4490 |
מָנָה |
manah |
f. noun |
14 |
The weighed-out ration or assigned share |
TODO(need H4490 study) |
| H4521 |
מְנָת |
menath |
f. noun |
7 |
The allotment by courtesy, law, or providence |
TODO(need H4521 study) |
| H2256 |
חֶבֶל |
chebel |
m. noun |
60 |
The measured territory (from "measuring cord") |
TODO(need H2256 study) |
Relationships
Shared Roots
- cheleq (H2506), chelqah (H2513) — both from root chalaq (H2505) "to divide/apportion"
- manah (H4490), menath (H4521) — both from root manah (H4487) "to count, assign"
Co-occurrence (appear in same verses)
| Word A |
Word B |
Shared Verses |
Typical Context |
| cheleq (H2506) |
nachalah (H5159) |
18 |
"no part nor inheritance" — Levitical formula and political allegiance denial |
| nachalah (H5159) |
chebel (H2256) |
7 |
"the lot of his inheritance" — land allotment by measured cord |
| cheleq (H2506) |
chebel (H2256) |
2 |
"the LORD's portion... the lot of his inheritance" (Deut 32:9) |
| cheleq (H2506) |
manah (H4490) |
1 |
Psa 16:5 — "the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup" |
LXX Overlaps
| Hebrew Words |
Shared Greek |
Notes |
| cheleq + chelqah + manah + menath + nachalah |
all → μερίς (G3310) |
Greek consolidates five distinct Hebrew "portion" words under one term |
| cheleq + nachalah + chebel |
all → κληρονομία (G2817) |
Greek conflates "allotted share," "permanent inheritance," and "measured territory" |
| nachalah + cheleq |
both → κλῆρος (G2819) |
Greek "lot" covers both inherited estate and divided share |
Roles in the Concept
- General share: cheleq (חֵלֶק) — one's allotted portion of anything (land, spoils, labor, God himself)
- Permanent inheritance: nachalah (נַחֲלָה) — inalienable family estate passed through generations
- Specific field: chelqah (חֶלְקָה) — a concrete parcel of agricultural land
- Assigned ration: manah (מָנָה) — a counted-out or weighed portion given to someone
- Providential allotment: menath (מְנָת) — share assigned by law, courtesy, or divine decree
- Measured territory: chebel (חֶבֶל) — land measured by surveyor's cord; also one's "lot" in life
Key Passages Where Multiple Group Words Appear Together
- Deut 32:9 — cheleq + nachalah + chebel: "For the LORD's portion [cheleq] is his people; Jacob is the lot [chebel] of his inheritance [nachalah]"
- Jos 19:9 — cheleq + nachalah + chebel: "Out of the portion [cheleq] of the children of Judah was the inheritance [nachalah] of the children of Simeon"
Generated from: gather_word_group_data.py, search_strongs.py
Last updated: 2026-05-05