מְחִלָּה
𐤌𐤇𐤋𐤄
mᵉchillâh
H4247 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An excavated or hollowed-out space in rock or earth, primarily designating a cave, cavern, or subterranean chamber. The term most often refers to natural or artificially hewn caves, often used for dwelling, refuge, storage, or burial purposes. The semantic range includes both naturally occurring caverns and man-made hollows.
Semantic Range
cave, cavern, hollow, subterranean chamber, excavation, man-made hollow, cellar, underground room
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root חָלַל (ḥ-l-l), which denotes the idea of piercing, making hollow, or boring through. The noun form מְחִלָּה arises from this root with the nuance of a space made hollow (excavation) rather than the act of hollowing itself.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מְחִלָּה (mechillâh) is attested in a limited number of biblical contexts, where it designates a subterranean chamber (as in storerooms, cisterns, or burial caves). The term is distinct from מְעָרָה (me'arâh), a more general term for cave, and often emphasizes artificial excavation rather than a purely natural formation. In certain contexts (e.g., 2 Kings 12:9, Jer 41:9), mechillâh refers to a chamber hewn into stone for storage or refuge within temple precincts or city walls. The semantic distinction between mechillâh and me'arâh is not always rigid, but mechillâh tends to imply intentional human modification. Later Hebrew usage (post-biblical) sometimes expands the term to refer more broadly to cellars or underground rooms. English translations typically render this term as 'cave,' 'cellar,' or 'chamber,' but may not always differentiate it from other subterranean spaces in the Hebrew text.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָלַל; a cavern (as if excavated); cave.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חלל (ḥ-l-l) — to pierce, to perforate, to make hollow, to bore
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2426 | חֵיל | Begin! |
| H2455 | חֹל | the common |
| H2471 | חַלָּה | perforated bread-cake |
| H2474 | חַלּוֹן | in the pierced opening |
| H2479 | חַלְחָלָה | paralyzing trembling |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4247-01 |
וּ/בִ/מְחִלּ֖וֹת | uvimechilot | HC/R/Ncfpc |
and into holes | and in hollowed-out caves of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4247-01 |
Isaiah 2:19 | וּ/בִ/מְחִלּ֖וֹת | uvimechilot | HC/R/Ncfpc |
and into holes | and in hollowed-out caves of |