I. חֵ֫לֶב noun masculine^{Exodus 29:13} fat (Late Hebrew id., fat, so Phoenician חלב (probably); Aramaic (also diaphragm in Lexicons, see PS¹²⁷⁴) originally diaphragm, midriff; Arabic , including midriff-fat, RS^{Semitic i. 360}); — ׳ח absolute Leviticus 3:16 40t.; construct Genesis 45:18 21t.; suffix חֶלְבּוֺ Leviticus 3:9 6t.; חֶלְבָּהּ Leviticus 4:31,35, חֶלְבָּם Numbers 18:17, חֶלְבָּ֫מוֺ Psalm 17:10, חֶלְבְּהֶ֫ן Leviticus 8:16,25 (read plural noun חלביהן Samaritan Di); plural הַחֲלָבִים Leviticus 8:26 7t.; construct חֶלְבֵי Leviticus 6:5 4t.; suffix חֶלְבֵהֶן Genesis 4:4 (חלביהן Samaritan Di, compare Leviticus 8:16,25 above); —

1 fat of human body Judges 3:22 (covering intestines); גִּבּוֺרִים׳ח 2 Samuel 1:22 as smearing warrior's shield; of grossness of wicked כִּסָּה מָּנָיו בְּחֶלְבּוֺ Job 15:27; fat (of midriff) figurative of unreceptive heart סָֽגְרוּ ׳ח Psalm 17:10, see also Psalm 73:7 (read מֵחֵלֶב עֲוֺנָמוֺ for מחלב עֵינֵמוֺ ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Hi Ew Ol De Che Bae and others); ׳טָפַשׁ כַּח לִבָּם Psalm 119:70 i.e. their heart is as unresponsive as the midriff-fat near it.

2 fat of beasts:

a. as rich food (poetry) Deuteronomy 32:14 and in simile Psalm 63:6 ("" דֶּשֶׁן); so ᵑ0 Ezekiel 34:3 (but read הֶחָלָב, see חָלָב), Ezekiel 39:19 (ᵑ6 Co בשׂר).

b. especially as offered in sacrifice, singular, to ׳י Exodus 23:18 (JE), 1 Samuel 2:15,16; Exodus 29:13 (twice in verse); Exodus 29:22 (3 t. in verse); Leviticus 3:3 (twice in verse); Leviticus 3:4,9 (3 t. in verse); Leviticus 3:10,14 (twice in verse); Leviticus 3:15 23t. Leviticus; Numbers 18:17 (all P), Leviticus 17:6 (H), 1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:11; Isaiah 43:24; Ezekiel 44:7,15; see Isaiah 34:6 (twice in verse); Isaiah 34:7 of fat of Edomites slaughtered by ׳י's sword (under figure of lambs, rams, and bulls); as eaten by (strange) gods Deuteronomy 32:38 (poetry), not to be eaten by men Leviticus 3:17; Leviticus 7:23,24 (twice in verse); Leviticus 7:25 (all P); also plural, fat parts or pieces Genesis 4:4 (J) Leviticus 6:5 8t. Leviticus; 1 Kings 8:64 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 7:7 (twice in verse); 2Chronicles 29:35; 35:14.

3 choicest, best part of products of land Genesis 45:18 (E), specifically of oil Numbers 18:12 and wine Numbers 18:12; of corn and oil Numbers 18:29; Numbers 18:30; Numbers 18:32; also (poetry) כִּלְיוֺת חִטָּה ׳ח Deuteronomy 32:14 kidney-fat of wheat (i.e. the very choicest, compare Isaiah 34:6), חִטָּה ׳ח Psalm 81:17, חִטִּים ׳ח Psalm 147:14.