חֵ֫לֶק

From the study of Ecclesiastes 5:19

Range of meaning

Portion, share, allotment: a share of land in a division (Josh 18:5–9), a share of spoil (1 Sam 30:24), a share of offerings. Figuratively, one's lot in life (Ps 16:5, 'YHWH is my portion'; Num 18:20). In Qoheleth it is the share of good a person can actually have from life and toil (2:10; 3:22; 5:18–19; 9:6, 9).

Against the English

KJV/WEB 'portion', YLT 'portion', BSB/NIV/ESV 'lot'. 'Portion' keeps the image of a share being handed out. 'Lot' in modern English often sounds like fate, something one puts up with.

How it drifted

'Accept one's lot' has become an English idiom of resignation ("that's my lot in life"). Cheleq is a positive term: something allotted to you, and yours.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common across the Hebrew Bible for land shares and spoil. In Qoheleth, 2:10: 'my heart rejoiced in all my toil, and this was my portion from all my toil.' And 9:6: the dead have 'no portion forever' in what happens under the sun, so the portion belongs to this life only.

From the study of Ecclesiastes 9:9

Range of meaning

A share or allotted portion: a share of land (Josh 18:7), of plunder (Gen 14:24), of an inheritance; also a person's lot or destiny ('the LORD is my portion', Ps 16:5).

Against the English

'Portion' (KJV, BSB, ESV) is accurate, though 'portion' can sound like a serving of food. NIV's 'lot' brings out the sense of something assigned to you.

Used elsewhere in the period

This is a key term for Qoheleth (2:10, 21; 3:22; 5:18–19; 9:6). In 9:6 the dead 'no longer have a portion in anything done under the sun'. It is set against 'yitron', the lasting profit or gain that Qoheleth says no one gets (1:3).

From the study of Ecclesiastes 11:2

Range of meaning

A share or allotment. It can be a share of plunder (Gen 14:24), a share of inherited land (Josh 18:7), a share of food or offerings (Lev 6:17; Deut 18:8), and, by extension, a person's lot in life (Ps 16:5, "the LORD is my portion"). Ecclesiastes uses it almost as a technical term for what a person actually gets to keep and enjoy from their work under the sun (2:10, 21; 3:22; 5:18–19; 9:6, 9).

Against the English

"Portion" is accurate, but modern readers may hear only a serving of food. BSB and NASB write "your portion" and ESV keeps "a portion". NIV and NLT drop the word and speak of investments or ventures.

How it drifted

No real drift in the word itself. Versions that write "your portion" or "investments" are interpreting what the share is. The Hebrew does not say.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common across the Hebrew Bible. In Ecclesiastes it appears eight times and is always tied to the theme of what a person receives. The Septuagint translates it with meris, "share".