חִתּוּל
𐤇𐤕𐤅𐤋
chittûwl
H2848 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cloth strip or band used for wrapping, particularly for swaddling infants or as a bandage. The term denotes a piece of fabric or wrapping that is wound around the body or a limb, commonly in the context of care or protection.
Semantic Range
swaddling band, bandage, strip of cloth for wrapping, cloth used for binding or covering
Root / Etymology
From the root חָתַל (ḥāṭal), which primarily means 'to wrap, swaddle, bind.' The noun חִתּוּל (chittûwl) derives from this root and denotes the object resulting from the action—namely, a swaddling band or cloth used for binding.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חִתּוּל appears in Hebrew biblical texts in contexts related both to the swaddling of infants (as in Ezekiel 16:4, describing the exposed condition of an abandoned child, and noting the absence of swaddling bands) and more generally to the binding or wrapping of limbs or bodies, as in medical or caring situations. Its use centers on physical wrapping for containment or protection rather than for ceremonial or ritual purposes. Modern English translations frequently use 'swaddling bands' or 'bands,' but the semantic range encompasses not only those for infants but also any cloth strips used for wrapping or bandaging. In Biblical Hebrew, related terms (such as חָתֶל) may function as verbs, but חִתּוּל specifically refers to the object. The concept of wrapping an infant in bands is culturally specific to the ancient Near Eastern world, and such practices continued in later Jewish and Middle Eastern cultures. The translation 'roller' reflects the act of rolling the band around the body but is not the primary sense of the noun itself. There is no ritual or cultic connotation attached to this term.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָתַל; swathed, i.e. a bandage; roller.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חתל (ḥ-ṭ-l) — wrap, bind, swaddle
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2853 | חָתַל | you were swaddled |
| H2854 | חֲתֻלָּה | his swaddling-cloth |
| H2855 | חֶתְלֹן | Chethlon |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2848-01 |
חִתּ֛וּל | chitul | HNcmsa |
bandage | swaddling band | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2848-01 |
Ezekiel 30:21 | חִתּ֛וּל | chitul | HNcmsa |
bandage | swaddling band |