H2511 H2511
smooth stones (of a brook-bed)
This phrase refers to the smooth, rounded stones found in stream beds, polished by water action over time. Isaiah 57:6 uses it with biting irony: 'Among the smooth stones of the wadi is your portion'—meaning the Israelites worship common river rocks as if they were gods. The prophet's contempt is palpable: instead of claiming Yahweh as their inheritance, they've chosen worthless pebbles from a streambed.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Smooth, polished stones from a brook or wadi, used here in prophetic condemnation of idolatry. The smoothness comes from water erosion, making these ordinary geological features. Isaiah's sarcasm targets those who treat natural objects as worthy of worship. The multilingual evidence shows both literal translation (smooth stones, piedras lisas) and some uncertainty, reflecting the interpretive challenge of this prophetic invective. 1×
AR["بِ-مَلْسَاءِ-"]·ben["মসৃণ-পাথরের-মধ্যে"]·DE["[בחלקי]"]·EN["among-smooth-stones-of-"]·FR["[בחלקי]"]·heb["ב-חלקי-"]·HI["चिकने-पत्थरोंके-बीच"]·ID["Di-antara-batu-batu-licin"]·IT["[בחלקי]"]·jav["Ing-watu-licin-"]·KO["매끄러운-돌들-사이에-"]·PT["Em-lisura-de-"]·RU["в-гладких-"]·ES["En-las-piedras-lisas-de-"]·SW["katika-mawe-laini-ya"]·TR["Puruzsuzlerinde-"]·urd["چکنے-پتھروں-میں"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† חָלָק adj. smooth— 1. lit. אִישׁ חָלָק Gn 27:11 (J), smooth man (opp. אישׁ שָׂעִר); הָהָר הֶחָלָק Jos 11:17; 12:7 the bald mt. (both D); southern limit of Jos.’s conquest, identif. dub.; (1) white cliffs 8 m. S. of Dead Sea, and (2) Mt. Mâdara SW. from Pass es-Ṣafâ are proposed, v. Di.; as subst. חַלְּקֵי־נַחַל Is 57:6 (v. i. חֵלָק, 4) smooth (stones) of a brook-bed (ravine, wady), i.e. thou…