חֵל
chel
rampart
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe word "chel" (H2426), Hebrew: חֵל, is a noun defined as a "rampart." This term appears 7 times in the Hebrew Bible, indicating its significance. A rampart is a defensive structure, typically made of walls or earthworks, designed to protect a location or settlement from external threats. The various occurrences of "chel" provide insight into its usage: it can refer to a wall of a city (Numbers 13:28), part of an enemy's defenses (Joshua 6:5), or even the natural terrain that serves as a barrier (Deuteronomy 3:5, Joshua 15:3, Numbers 24:17-18). This range of usage suggests that "chel" encompasses not only man-made walls but also natural geographical formations that can provide protection. The occurrence of "chel" emphasizes the importance of defense and protection in the Hebrew Bible. Its use in various contexts highlights the significance of a secure location and the potential dangers associated with the external world.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences across the text
Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.
Isaiah 26:1In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city. God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.
Lamentations 2:8Yahweh has purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion. He has stretched out the line. He has not withdrawn his hand from destroying; He has made the rampart and wall lament. They languish together.
Obadiah 1:20The captives of this army of the children of Israel, who are among the Canaanites, will possess even to Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, who are in Sepharad, will possess the cities of the Negev.
Nahum 3:8Are you better than No-Amon, who was situated among the rivers, who had the waters around her; whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was of the sea?
2 Samuel 20:15They came and besieged him in Abel of Beth Maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.
1 Kings 21:23Yahweh also spoke of Jezebel, saying, “The dogs will eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel.