חוֹמָה
𐤇𐤅𐤌𐤄
chôwmâh
H2346 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A structure of stone, brick, or other material raised to enclose, protect, or separate an area, most commonly referring to the defensive walls of a city or fortification. The term can also denote any large, dividing wall, including those of houses, vineyards, or enclosures. Sometimes used metaphorically for protection or separation.
Semantic Range
city wall, defensive wall, external fortification, large enclosing wall (of a vineyard, house, sheepfold), symbolic barrier or protection
Root / Etymology
Root: חוּם (uncertain/unused), possibly related to a root meaning 'to join' or 'be joined together.' The root itself is not attested outside derivatives such as חוֹמָה, and its formation as a substantive (n. feminine) from a hypothesized participial form suggests an original sense of 'joined (structure),' i.e., something built by joining stones or materials.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In ancient Israelite society during the monarchy, חוֹמָה was especially associated with the fortified walls of cities (e.g., Jericho, Jerusalem), whose presence signified both security and political status. Non-walled villages distinguished from 'fortified' (חוֹמָה) towns in legal and narrative texts (cf. Leviticus 25:29-31). Occasionally the word is used metaphorically (e.g., Proverbs 18:11: 'a high wall in his own imagination') to denote psychological or social boundaries. In post-exilic texts (e.g., Nehemiah), rebuilding the חוֹמָה of Jerusalem became a symbol of renewed security and identity for the Judean community. While English 'wall' is generally an accurate translation, חוֹמָה nearly always refers to significant, protective masonry, not interior or partition walls (for which קִיר is more common). Some English translations use the word 'walled' adjectivally to describe towns with חוֹמָה; the biblical text distinguishes between unwalled and walled settlements for purposes such as redemption law. The meaning has remained consistent throughout the biblical corpus. Later translations sometimes render חוֹמָה in contexts of later urban fortifications, but readers should avoid importing associations with medieval or modern city walls.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine active participle of an unused root apparently meaning to join; a wall of protection; wall, walled.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חום (ḥ-w-m) — to join, to unite; to enclose
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2345 | חוּם | sun-darkened |
| H2524 | חָם | her father-in-law |
| H2573 | חֵמֶת | your skin-bottle |
Word Forms
28 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2346-13 |
הַֽ/חוֹמָ֔ה | hachomah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the wall | the enclosing wall | 35 |
H2346-06 |
חֹמָ֔ה | chomah | HNcfsa |
wall | enclosing wall | 19 |
H2346-07 |
חוֹמַ֤ת | chomat | HNcfsc |
wall | enclosing wall of | 17 |
H2346-09 |
חוֹמֹ֥ת | chomot | HNcfpc |
walls | enclosing walls of | 10 |
H2346-10 |
חוֹמֹתַ֥יִ/ךְ | chomotayikhe | HNcfpc/Sp2fs |
your walls | your enclosing walls | 8 |
H2346-03 |
בְּ/חוֹמַ֖ת | bechomat | HR/Ncfsc |
in-wall-of | in the enclosing-wall of | 7 |
H2346-16 |
לַֽ/חוֹמָ֑ה | lachomah | HRd/Ncfsa |
to-the-wall | to the enclosing wall | 5 |
H2346-01 |
בַּֽ/חוֹמָה֙ | bachomah | HRd/Ncfsa |
the wall | in the enclosing wall | 5 |
H2346-15 |
הַ/חֹמֹתַ֗יִם | hachomotayim | HTd/Ncfda |
the two walls | the two enclosing-walls | 4 |
H2346-11 |
חוֹמֹתֶ֨י/הָ֙ | chomoteyha | HNcfpc/Sp3fs |
her walls | her enclosing walls | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
133 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2346-06 |
Exodus 14:22 | חֹמָ֔ה | chomah | HNcfsa |
a wall | enclosing wall |
H2346-06 |
Exodus 14:29 | חֹמָ֔ה | chomah | HNcfsa |
a wall | enclosing wall |
H2346-06 |
Leviticus 25:29 | חוֹמָ֔ה | chomah | HNcfsa |
walled | enclosing wall |
H2346-06 |
Leviticus 25:30 | חֹמָ֗ה | chomah | HNcfsa |
wall | enclosing wall |
H2346-06 |
Leviticus 25:31 | חֹמָה֙ | chomah | HNcfsa |
wall | enclosing wall |
H2346-06 |
Deuteronomy 3:5 | חוֹמָ֥ה | chomah | HNcfsa |
walls | enclosing wall |
H2346-12 |
Deuteronomy 28:52 | חֹמֹתֶ֨י/ךָ֙ | chomoteykha | HNcfpc/Sp2ms |
your-walls | your enclosing walls |
H2346-13 |
Joshua 2:15 | הַֽ/חוֹמָ֔ה | hachomah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the wall | the enclosing wall |
H2346-24 |
Joshua 2:15 | וּ/בַֽ/חוֹמָ֖ה | uvachomah | HC/Rd/Ncfsa |
and in the wall | and in the enclosing wall |
H2346-07 |
Joshua 6:5 | חוֹמַ֤ת | chomat | HNcfsc |
wall | enclosing wall of |