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כֹּתֶל

𐤊𐤕𐤋

kôthel

H3796 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain to bind together (uncertain), to compact (uncertain)

Definition

A vertical structure serving as a wall, typically in reference to the side of a building or enclosure. Can designate both interior and exterior walls, with primary semantic reference to physical boundaries or partitions made of stone, brick, or comparable materials.

Semantic Range

wall (of a house or enclosure), partition wall, inner wall, physical boundary structure

Root / Etymology

Root/etymology uncertain. Although the form suggests derivation from a root meaning 'to compact' or 'to bind together,' no such root is attested in Biblical Hebrew. The nominal form כֹּתֶל (kôthel) likely reflects a native Northwest Semitic formation for 'wall.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Usage of כֹּתֶל (kôthel) is relatively rare in the Hebrew Bible, most often found in reference to architectural features such as the sides of buildings or enclosures (e.g., the 'wall of the house'). The more common term for a city or fortification wall is חוֹמָה (ḥomah), which typically denotes large fortressed walls, often for cities. כֹּתֶל, by contrast, refers to structural or partition walls, not necessarily bearing fortification connotations. In later Hebrew, כֹּתֶל becomes especially associated with the Western Wall (Kotel) of the Jerusalem Temple—an association not present in the biblical period. Modern translations typically render כֹּתֶל as 'wall,' but some early or traditional readings may overlook distinctions between this and other terms for wall in Hebrew (e.g., גָּדֵר, חוֹמָה, שׁוּר). No direct ethnic or religious terminology is entailed in the word's biblical usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to compact; a wall (as gathering inmates); wall.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כתל (k-t-l) — wall, boundary structure, partition

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3797 כְּתַל in the enclosing walls

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3796-01 כָּתְלֵ֔/נוּ katelenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our wall our wall 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3796-01 Song of Songs 2:9 כָּתְלֵ֔/נוּ katelenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp our wall our wall
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