חוֹמָה

𐤇𐤅𐤌𐤄

chôwmâh

H2346 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חום to join, to unite (root idea), to enclose (derivative sense)

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

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Root 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