חֵֽלְכָה

From the study of Psalm 10:14

Range of meaning

Hapless, unfortunate, helpless person. It is found only in Ps 10:8, 10 and 14, and its origin is uncertain. Lexicons (BDB, HALOT) give 'unfortunate, helpless' from context.

Against the English

KJV 'the poor', ESV 'the helpless', NASB 'the unfortunate', BSB 'the victim'. All are reasonable guesses from context.

Used elsewhere in the period

In v.10 the written text and the reading tradition differ (the written form has one word, the margin divides it, roughly 'a host of the dejected'). That shows the word puzzled even ancient scribes. The Septuagint renders it 'the poor man'.

From the study of Psalm 10:8

Range of meaning

Hapless, unfortunate, wretched, helpless. The meaning comes almost entirely from context, since the word appears only in Psalm 10 (verses 8 and 14, and in the written form of verse 10) and its origin is unknown.

Against the English

KJV has "the poor," YLT "the afflicted," BSB and WEB "the helpless," NASB "the unfortunate," NIV "his victims." Each is an informed guess at a rare word. "Hapless" or "helpless" best suit the setting.

How it drifted

"Poor" in the KJV follows the older tradition of the Greek (penēs) and Latin (pauper). Modern readers then hear an income level, while the context stresses having no protection.

Used elsewhere in the period

There are no sure uses outside this psalm. Verse 14 is the key parallel: the chelekhah entrusts himself to God, who is the helper of the fatherless. BDB gives "hapless, unfortunate." See debates for the medieval reading "your host."