χόος (G5522) — Greek Lexicon

χόος

chóos

G5522 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A heap, particularly of loose matter; in context, an accumulation of soil, earth, or refuse, often associated with rubbish, debris, or dust. The term primarily denotes a quantity of poured-out or loose material and can connote a mound of dirt or refuse depending on situational use. It may also carry, by metonymy, the broader sense of 'dust' or soil in general.

Semantic Range

heap, mound, accumulation of loose matter, pile of rubbish, earth, soil, dust, refuse

Root / Etymology

From the same base as χειμάρρους (meaning 'torrent', itself from χέω, 'to pour'), indicating something poured out or heaped up.

Historical & Contextual Notes

χόος is a rare term in extant Greek literature, appearing primarily in Hellenistic and later sources rather than in classical usage. In the Septuagint and other Koine texts, it refers to mounds of earth or debris—often refuse heaped up outside settlements or used in construction. The semantic field overlaps with words like κονιορτός (dust), although χόος emphasizes the idea of a heap or mass, rather than scattered particles. In later Greek, the word sometimes extends to refer to burial mounds or heaps of spoil. English Bible translations sometimes render the term as 'dust', 'rubbish', or 'heap', but such renderings often do not capture the nuance of gathered or poured-out matter, which is central to the Greek term. The base verb χέω ('to pour') provides the imagery of material gathered in a pile by pouring or accumulation. The connection to χειμών is via the concept of pouring or washing down, as in a flood depositing debris and earth into heaps.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the base of χειμών; a heap (as poured out), i.e. rubbish; loose dirt:--dust.

Root Family

χέω- (chóos) — to pour, to heap up, to accumulate

Root χέω- to pour, to heap up, to accumulate

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5522-01`	χοῦν	choun	`N ACC M SG`	dust	a heap of loose earth	a heap of loose earth	2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5522-01`	Mark 6:11	χοῦν	choun	`N ACC M SG`	dust	a heap of loose earth	dust
`G5522-01`	Revelation 18:19	χοῦν	choun	`N ACC M SG`	dust	a heap of loose earth	a heap of loose earth

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