מֶחֱזָה
𐤌𐤇𐤆𐤄
mechĕzâh
H4237 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An opening in a wall or structure, specifically a window, often as an aperture for admitting light or for looking out; in some contexts, the word can refer more broadly to a place of viewing or vision, but primarily denotes a physical window.
Semantic Range
window, opening for vision, aperture for looking out, place for seeing (rare)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root חָזָה (ḥ-z-h), meaning 'to see, behold, gaze.' The noun form מֶחֱזָה (meḥĕzâh) is constructed with the mem-prefix (indicating a place or means of action), signifying 'a place for seeing' or 'an aperture through which one sees.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
מֶחֱזָה appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (Song of Songs 5:4), where it refers to a physical opening ('window') in a door, through which the protagonist's beloved looks. The root חָזָה generally pertains to seeing with the eyes, sometimes used in the sense of prophetic or visionary experience, but this noun form is concrete and architectural rather than metaphorical. Later biblical and post-biblical Hebrew use related terms (e.g., חַלּוֹן, challon) for 'window,' which are more common; מחזה reflects an older or rarer usage. English translations often render it simply as 'window,' but the nuance of a place for seeing out (rather than merely a structural aperture for light or air) is implicit. There is no evidence the term carried theological or visionary connotations in this context, and use of 'light' as a gloss represents a misreading; 'window' is the primary and proper sense in context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָזָה; a window; light.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חזה (ḥ-z-h) — to see, behold, gaze
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2306 | חֲדִי | his breast |
| H2335 | חוֹזַי | Visionary-One |
| H2370 | חֲזָא | he beheld |
| H2371 | חֲזָאֵל | El-has-seen |
| H2372 | חָזָה | in visionary seeing |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4237-01 |
מֶחֱזָ֖ה | mechezah | HNcfsa |
window | seeing-aperture | 3 |
H4237-02 |
וּ/מֶחֱזָ֥ה | umechezah | HC/Ncfsa |
and window | and viewing-window | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4237-02 |
1 Kings 7:4 | וּ/מֶחֱזָ֥ה | umechezah | HC/Ncfsa |
and window | and viewing-window |
H4237-01 |
1 Kings 7:4 | מֶחֱזָ֖ה | mechezah | HNcfsa |
window | seeing-aperture |
H4237-01 |
1 Kings 7:5 | מֶחֱזָ֛ה | mechezah | HNcfsa |
window | seeing-aperture |
H4237-01 |
1 Kings 7:5 | מֶחֱזָ֖ה | mechezah-2 | HNcfsa |
window | seeing-aperture |