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חוּר

𐤇𐤅𐤓

chûwr

H2352 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חור to bore, to pierce, to perforate

Definition

An opening, perforation, or hole in a solid surface; used in reference to physical apertures, such as the crevice in which a serpent might reside or the cavity of a prison cell. In biblical contexts, it refers primarily to a recess, cleft, or smaller defined hole, with usage determined by the surrounding nouns (e.g., 'the crevice of a serpent'). The term denotes a literal physical space or opening rather than an abstract concept.

Semantic Range

hole, crevice, opening, cavity, prison cell (as a small confining space); physical aperture (esp. a hiding place for animals such as a serpent)

Root / Etymology

Root: חור. Likely derives from a verbal root meaning 'to bore' or 'to perforate.' Although the specific verb form is unattested in the Hebrew Bible, related Semitic roots (e.g., Ugaritic ḥwr 'hole, aperture') support the sense of hollowing out or creating a hole. The noun ύוּר thus developed the concrete meaning of a physical hole or hollow space.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The noun חוּר appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible (cf. Amos 5:19), where it is used to designate a crevice or hole, typically one associated with confinement or habitation, such as the lair of a serpent. In all attested usages, it denotes a small physical opening rather than a large cavity or chamber. Later Hebrew and cognate languages preserve this sense as 'hole' or 'aperture.' English translations vary (e.g., 'hole,' 'crevice,' 'den'), sometimes extending the notion to a prison cell, but the base meaning remains a literal opening. The meaning does not carry metaphoric or abstract senses and should be distinguished from terms like בּוֹר (bor, 'pit, cistern'), which denotes a much larger cavity or constructed pit.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (shortened) חֻר; from an unused root probably meaning to bore; the crevice of a serpent; the cell of aprison; hole.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חור (ḥ-w-r) — to bore, to pierce, to perforate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1032 בֵּית חוֹרוֹן Horon
H1133 בֶּן־חוּר Chur
H2353 חוּר Chur
H2354 חוּר Chur
H2355 חוֹר pierced opening

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2352-02 חֻ֣ר chur HNcmsc hole Chur 1
H2352-01 בַּֽ/חוּרִים֙ bachurim HRd/Ncmpa in holes Holes 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2352-02 Isaiah 11:8 חֻ֣ר chur HNcmsc hole Chur
H2352-01 Isaiah 42:22 בַּֽ/חוּרִים֙ bachurim HRd/Ncmpa in holes Holes
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