Lexical Summary
chomah: Wall
Original Word:חוֹמָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:chowmah
Pronunciation:kho-maw'
Phonetic Spelling:(kho-maw')
KJV: wall, walled
NASB:wall, walls, walled, two walls
Word Origin:[feminine active participle of an unused root apparently meaning to join]
1. a wall of protection
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
wall, walled
Feminine active participle of an unused root apparently meaning to join; a wall of protection -- wall, walled.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
chamDefinitiona wall
NASB Translationtwo walls (1), Wall (2), wall (93), walled (2), walls (36).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
133 (as
protection; construct MI
21; 21) — absolute
Leviticus 25:29 59t. (including
Nehemiah 12:38);
Exodus 14:29 8t.; construct
Joshua 6:5 28t.; suffix
Nahum 2:6;
Nahum 3:8; pl, absolute 2Chronicles 8:5;
Isaiah 26:1;
Songs 5:7; construct
Psalm 51:20;
2 Kings 25:10 9t.; suffix
Isaiah 56:5;
Deuteronomy 28:52;
Isaiah 25:12;
Ezekiel 26:10,12;
Ezekiel 27:11 (twice in verse);
Isaiah 49:16 2t.;
Isaiah 60:10;
Ezekiel 26:9;
Jeremiah 50:15;
Psalm 55:11;
Jeremiah 1:15; dual
Isaiah 22:11;
2 Kings 25:4 =
Jeremiah 52:7;
Jeremiah 39:4 (on form see Ol
§ 113 a); —
usually term forwall of cityDeuteronomy 28:52;Joshua 2:15;Joshua 6:5,20 (all J E),1 Samuel 31:10,12;2 Samuel 11:20,21 (twice in verse);2 Kings 18:26,27 =Isaiah 36:11;Isaiah 36:12;Amos 1:7;Amos 1:10;Amos 1:14;Isaiah 2:15;Isaiah 20:10;Isaiah 20:11;Isaiah 25:12;Nahum 2:6;Nahum 3:8;Ezekiel 26:9 +,Jeremiah 1:15 +,Joel 2:7,9; (of Jerusalem) i.e.between the two walls of the Ophel and the southwest hill respectively, of a reservoirIsaiah 22:11, a gate2 Kings 25:4 =Jeremiah 34:4 =Jeremiah 52:7; symbol of Israel,Amos 7:7; 2Chronicles 8:5; 2 Chronicles 14:6; 2 Chronicles 25:23; 26:6 (3 t. in verse);Psalm 51:20;Nehemiah 1:3 31t. in Nehemiah;Amos 7:7 (literallywall of a plummet) is of doubtful meaning:a wall built plumb, orby means of a plumb-line ? We thinks unintelligible; =walled city,Leviticus 25:29,Leviticus 25:30 ( = ), opposed toLeviticus 25:31 (all H); more elaboratelyDeuteronomy 3:5, compare 2Chronicles 8:5;1 Kings 4:13;Isaiah 2:15; singular of wall of Jerusalem1 Kings 3:1 + often; contempt.Nehemiah 3:35; less often pluralNehemiah 2:13 +; of specific portions of wall 2Chronicles 27:3;Nehemiah 3:27;Nehemiah 3:15;Nehemiah 3:8;Nehemiah 12:38; also (generally) of BabylonJeremiah 51:58. — Menbuild, , the1 Kings 9:15 +, especially (of rebuilding),Nehemiah 2:17 +; fortify itIsaiah 22:10; it isjoined togetherNehemiah 3:38; isrepairedNehemiah 4:1; itfallsJoshua 6:5,20;1 Kings 20:30;Ezekiel 38:20; the enemymakes it fall2 Samuel 20:15 (preceded by si vera lectio, see Dr);destroys itLamentations 2:8;Ezekiel 26:4;makes a breach in it2 Kings 14:13 2Chronicles 25:23, compare with accusative 2 Chronicles 26:6;Nehemiah 3:35, and 2Chronicles 32:5; also (in simile)Proverbs 25:28; and Punic participleNehemiah 1:3; onebreakes it down2 Kings 25:10; 2Chronicles 36:19;Jeremiah 39:8;Jeremiah 52:14;tears it downEzekiel 26:12, compare passiveJeremiah 50:15; Amos predicts that willsend fire into wall (of Gaza, etc.):Amos 1:7,10; orkindle fire in vAmos 1:14, soJeremiah 49:27.
wall of a building:
;Lamentations 2:7.
Ezekiel 40:5;Ezekiel 42:20.
figurative of waters of Red SeaExodus 14:22,29 (P), compareNahum 3:8; of David's men as protectors of Nabal's shepherds1 Samuel 25:16; of prophet as object of assaultJeremiah 1:18;Jeremiah 15:20; of strong, virtuous womanSongs 8:9,10; of salvation, , as defenceIsaiah 26:1 ("" ); of himselfZechariah 2:9; a dangerous political scheme is called breach inIsaiah 30:13; in simile of wealthProverbs 18:11 ("" ); a reckless man isProverbs 25:28.
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scopeחוֹמָה is the ordinary Hebrew term for a wall, whether of stone, mud-brick, or other material. In Scripture it ranges from the monumental fortifications of cities to vineyard fences, interior partitions, and metaphorical barriers that express protection, separation, or judgment. Roughly 133 occurrences span Torah, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and Prophets, giving a broad canonical testimony to the concept of “walls.”
Physical Function in Ancient Israel
1. City Defense. Walls secured population centers such as Jericho (Joshua 6), Samaria (1 Kings 20:30), and Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:10). Archaeology confirms the thickness and height implied by biblical narratives.
2. Royal and Civic Identity. Massive fortifications proclaimed a kingdom’s glory (2 Chronicles 32:5). Walls framed public space, regulated commerce at gates, and provided elevated watchpoints.
3. Domestic and Agricultural Use. Vineyards and sheepfolds employed walls as boundaries (Numbers 22:24;Proverbs 24:31), reminding Israel of property stewardship under covenant law.
Symbolic and Theological Significance
1. Divine Protection. “I will be a wall of fire around her,” declares the LORD concerning Zion (Zechariah 2:5). Salvation itself is poetically called a wall (Isaiah 26:1).
2. Human Vulnerability. Breaches speak of moral collapse: “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man without self-control” (Proverbs 25:28).
3. Separation from Sin. The rebuilt wall under Nehemiah became a public statement of repentance and renewed covenant (Nehemiah 12:27-43).
4. Eschatological Hope. The New Jerusalem descends “with a great, high wall” (Revelation 21:12), echoing prophetic promises of ultimate security.
Key Old Testament Passages
•Joshua 6:20 – Jericho’s walls fall after Israel’s obedience, showcasing God’s supremacy over human fortifications.
•1 Samuel 25:16 – David’s men “were a wall around us,” portraying protective companionship.
•2 Kings 20:6 – Hezekiah receives years of life and promise that the LORD “will defend this city” as by an invisible wall.
•Nehemiah 4:6 – “So we rebuilt the wall,” illustrating cooperative covenant faith.
•Psalm 51:18 – “Build the walls of Jerusalem,” intertwining spiritual renewal with physical restoration.
•Isaiah 60:18 – “You will call your walls Salvation,” merging material and redemptive realities.
•Ezekiel 22:30 – The LORD seeks a man to “stand in the gap in the wall,” underscoring intercessory ministry.
• Song of Songs 8:10 – The Shulammite, “I am a wall,” evokes purity and strength in covenant love.
Prophetic and Eschatological Use
Prophets employ חוֹמָה to dramatize impending judgment (Isaiah 2:15), expose false security (Ezekiel 13:10-15), and predict restoration (Amos 9:11). In apocalyptic vision Ezekiel measures a temple city with walls of exact depth (Ezekiel 40–48), prefiguring perfect holiness. Zechariah’s “wall of fire” renews hope for exiles, whileIsaiah 54:12 promises jeweled walls, anticipating the consummated Kingdom.
New Testament Allusions
Though Greek τειχος takes over, the theological backdrop persists. Paul proclaims that Christ “has broken down the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14), dissolving Jew-Gentile separation foreshadowed by temple architecture. Revelation’s vision of the New Jerusalem unites Mosaic, prophetic, and apostolic witness to covenant continuity.
Ministry and Pastoral Application
1. Intercession. Like Nehemiah and Ezekiel’s unnamed watchman, believers are summoned to repair spiritual breaches through prayer and obedience.
2. Personal Discipline.Proverbs 25:28 guides counseling on self-control, addiction, and moral boundaries.
3. Church Protection.Titus 1:9 charges elders to guard doctrine, functioning as theological walls that exclude error while sheltering truth.
4. Evangelism and Mercy. Jericho’s collapse warns against misplaced trust, yet Rahab found refuge within that very wall, showcasing grace for repentant outsiders.
Christological and Redemptive Insights
The physical walls of Jerusalem, ultimately insufficient, drive anticipation toward Messiah, who embodies perfect security. He is both the Cornerstone (Psalm 118:22) and the encircling stronghold (Psalm 18:2). At the cross the curtain-wall of separation tears, and at Pentecost the Spirit becomes the believer’s internal rampart. The final city’s radiant walls crown the metanarrative: God dwelling with a protected, purified people.
See Also
Gate; Fortress; Watchtower; Hedge; Cornerstone.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּח֣וֹמַת בְּחֹֽמוֹתָ֑יִךְ בְּחוֹמַ֖ת בְּחוֹמַ֣ת בְּחוֹמַ֨ת בְּחוֹמָ֣ה בְּחוֹמֹ֤ת בַּֽחוֹמָה֙ בַּחוֹמָ֑ה בַּחוֹמָ֔ה בַּחוֹמָ֛ה בַּחוֹמָֽה׃ בחומה בחומה׃ בחומת בחמותיך הַ֣חֹמָ֔ה הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה הַֽחוֹמָ֑ה הַֽחוֹמָ֔ה הַֽחוֹמָ֜ה הַֽחוֹמָה֙ הַחֹ֣מֹתַ֔יִם הַחֹמָ֑ה הַחֹמָֽה׃ הַחֹמֹתַ֗יִם הַחֹמֹתַ֙יִם֙ הַחֹמֹתָ֑יִם הַחֹמֽוֹת׃ הַחוֹמָ֑ה הַחוֹמָ֔ה הַחוֹמָ֖ה הַחוֹמָ֣ה הַחוֹמָ֤ה הַחוֹמָ֥ה הַחוֹמָ֨ה הַחוֹמָֽה׃ החומה החומה׃ החמה החמה׃ החמות׃ החמתים וְחוֹמַ֤ת וְחוֹמָ֖ה וּבְחֽוֹמֹתַי֙ וּבְחוֹמַ֥ת וּבַֽחוֹמָ֖ה וּכְחוֹמָ֥ה וּלְחֹמ֥וֹת וּלְחוֹמַ֣ת ובחומה ובחומת ובחומתי וחומה וחומת וכחומה ולחומת ולחמות ח֣וֹמַת ח֤וֹמָה ח֥וֹמַת חֹ֠מוֹת חֹמ֣וֹת חֹמ֥וֹת חֹמָ֔ה חֹמָ֗ה חֹמָה֙ חֹמֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ חֹמֹתַ֔יִךְ חֽוֹמָתָ֔הּ חֽוֹמוֹתֶ֑יהָ חֽוֹמוֹתַ֔יִךְ חוֹמ֖וֹת חוֹמ֥וֹת חוֹמַ֞ת חוֹמַ֣ת חוֹמַ֤ת חוֹמַ֥ת חוֹמָ֑ה חוֹמָ֔ה חוֹמָ֖ה חוֹמָ֛ה חוֹמָ֣ה חוֹמָ֥ה חוֹמָה֙ חוֹמָתָֽהּ׃ חוֹמֹ֖ת חוֹמֹ֥ת חוֹמֹ֨ת חוֹמֹתֶ֑יהָ חוֹמֹתֶ֗יךָ חוֹמֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ חוֹמֹתַ֔יִךְ חוֹמֹתַ֣יִךְ חוֹמֹתַ֥יִךְ חוֹמוֹתַ֔יִךְ חוֹמוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ חומה חומות חומותיה חומותיך חומת חומתה חומתה׃ חומתיה חומתיך חמה חמות חמתיך לְהַחוֹמָ֗ה לְחֹמ֣וֹת לְחוֹמַ֤ת לַֽחוֹמָ֑ה לַחוֹמָ֑ה לַחוֹמָ֔ה לַחוֹמָ֖ה להחומה לחומה לחומת לחמות מֵחוֹמַ֖ת מחומת ba·ḥō·w·māh bachoMah baḥōwmāh bə·ḥō·mō·w·ṯā·yiḵ bə·ḥō·w·māh bə·ḥō·w·maṯ bə·ḥō·w·mōṯ bechoMah bechoMat bechoMot bechomoTayich bəḥōmōwṯāyiḵ bəḥōwmāh bəḥōwmaṯ bəḥōwmōṯ choMah choMat chomaTah choMot chomoTayich chomoTeicha chomoTeiha ha·ḥō·māh ha·ḥō·mō·ṯa·yim ha·ḥō·mō·ṯā·yim ha·ḥō·mō·wṯ ha·ḥō·w·māh hachoMah hachoMot hachomoTayim haḥōmāh haḥōmōṯayim haḥōmōṯāyim haḥōmōwṯ haḥōwmāh ḥō·māh ḥō·mō·ṯa·yiḵ ḥō·mō·ṯe·ḵā ḥō·mō·wṯ ḥō·w·mā·ṯāh ḥō·w·māh ḥō·w·maṯ ḥō·w·mō·ṯa·yiḵ ḥō·w·mō·ṯe·hā ḥō·w·mō·ṯe·ḵā ḥō·w·mō·w·ṯa·yiḵ ḥō·w·mō·w·ṯe·hā ḥō·w·mō·wṯ ḥō·w·mōṯ ḥōmāh ḥōmōṯayiḵ ḥōmōṯeḵā ḥōmōwṯ ḥōwmāh ḥōwmaṯ ḥōwmāṯāh ḥōwmōṯ ḥōwmōṯayiḵ ḥōwmōṯehā ḥōwmōṯeḵā ḥōwmōwṯ ḥōwmōwṯayiḵ ḥōwmōwṯehā la·ḥō·w·māh lachoMah laḥōwmāh lə·ha·ḥō·w·māh lə·ḥō·mō·wṯ lə·ḥō·w·maṯ lechoMat lechoMot lehachoMah ləhaḥōwmāh ləḥōmōwṯ ləḥōwmaṯ mê·ḥō·w·maṯ mechoMat mêḥōwmaṯ ū·ḇa·ḥō·w·māh ū·ḇə·ḥō·w·maṯ ū·ḇə·ḥō·w·mō·ṯay ū·ḵə·ḥō·w·māh ū·lə·ḥō·mō·wṯ ū·lə·ḥō·w·maṯ ūḇaḥōwmāh ūḇəḥōwmaṯ ūḇəḥōwmōṯay uchechoMah ūḵəḥōwmāh ulechoMat ulechoMot ūləḥōmōwṯ ūləḥōwmaṯ uvachoMah uvechoMat uvechomoTai vechoMah vechoMat wə·ḥō·w·māh wə·ḥō·w·maṯ wəḥōwmāh wəḥōwmaṯ
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