Lexical Summary chel: Rampart, fortress, army, strength, wealth Original Word: חֵיל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance army, bulwark, host, poor, rampart, trench, wall Or (shortened) chel {khale}; a collateral form of chayil; an army; also (by analogy,) an intrenchment -- army, bulwark, host, + poor, rampart, trench, wall. see HEBREW chayil NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chul Definition rampart, fortress NASB Translation district (1), host (1), rampart (3), ramparts (2), walls (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֵל, חֵיל noun masculineObadiah 20 rampart, fortress (perhaps originally surrounding wall, compare SabDenkm91n. 2) — absolute חֵיל Nahum 3:8, חֵל Lamentations 2:8 3t.;(+ Psalm 10:10 Qr see חלכה); construct חֵל 1 Kings 21:23; suffix חֵילֵךְ Psalm 122:7, חֵילָהּ Zechariah 9:4; חֵילָה = חֵילָהּ Psalm 48:14, Ol§ 40 approximately 75g. 96 e Sta§ 347 c; — 1 rampart (defined by Jews as בֶּן חוֺמָה, i.e. a little wall, compare Ki under the word), of an outer fortification 2 Samuel 20:15 (others, by metonymy, of space between outer and inner fortification, including moat, see Dr Kit); Isaiah 26:1; Lamentations 2:8 (both "" חוֺמוֺת); in General of defences, or sea-power of Tyre וְהִכָּה בַיָּם חֵילָהּ Zechariah 9:4 (see StaZAW i.1881, 15), of No-Amon (Thebes) אֲשֶׁר חֵיל יָם מִיָּם חוֺמָתָהּ Nahum 3:8; of Zion Psalm 122:7, also Psalm 48:14 (חילה = חֵילָהּ, compare above; both "" ארמנותיך). — For חֵל 1 Kings 21:23 read probably חֵלֶק, q. v. 2 fortress גָּלֻת הַחֵל הַזֶּה Obadiah 20 the exiles of this fortress (Hi-St; Or, AV RV this army, חֵל = חַיִל). Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Scriptural Occurrences חֵיל (Strong’s H2426) denotes the fortified perimeter of a city—its rampart, outer wall, or bulwark. The term appears about twenty-seven times, mostly in the historical books, where it distinguishes the defensive earthworks or stone escarpments that encircle a larger “inner wall” (חֹמָה). Key examples include 2 Samuel 20:15; 1 Kings 3:1; 1 Kings 9:15; 1 Kings 11:27; 2 Kings 25:4; 2 Chronicles 32:5; Nehemiah 3:8; Psalm 48:13 and Isaiah 26:1. Military and Architectural Function In the ancient Near East every major city possessed two concentric lines of defense: 1. An inner load-bearing wall for day-to-day security. Solomon strengthened Jerusalem’s “wall of Jerusalem” (1 Kings 3:1; 9:15) by expanding its חֵיל. Centuries later Hezekiah “rebuilt the walls that were broken down, erected towers on them, and built another wall outside” (2 Chronicles 32:5)—a clear reference to adding or repairing the חֵיל. Because siege ramps of the attacking army were often thrown against this outer barrier (2 Samuel 20:15), the חֵיל became the place where a city’s courage or collapse was first revealed. Symbol of National Strength and Human Ingenuity Several narratives connect the חֵיל with royal projects and forced labor (1 Kings 9:15–19; 1 Kings 11:27). The rampart thus signified not only security but also political power and economic capacity. When Nebuchadnezzar breached Jerusalem, Scripture notes how King Zedekiah fled “through the gate between the two walls” (2 Kings 25:4), underscoring the futility of trusting mere masonry when the covenant with the LORD had been violated (cf. Isaiah 22:11). Metaphorical and Theological Undercurrents Hebrew poets use חֵיל figuratively. The sons of Korah invite pilgrims to “consider her ramparts” (Psalm 48:13) so that future generations might praise the steadfast love of God. Isaiah foresees a day when “We have a strong city; He sets up salvation as walls and ramparts” (Isaiah 26:1), turning the physical חֵיל into an image of divine deliverance. The transfer of the word from stonework to salvation anticipates the New Testament portrayal of the believer’s security in Christ (John 10:28–29; 1 Peter 1:5). Prophetic and Messianic Dimensions Isaiah’s vision implies that any true and lasting חֵיל is God-made. The prophet looks beyond Judah’s crumbling fortifications to the Messiah’s kingdom, where “salvation” itself forms the eternal rampart. The New Jerusalem of Revelation 21–22 fulfills this expectation: its walls are unbreachable, its gates never shut, and its citizens enjoy unbroken fellowship with God. Practical Ministry Insights • Relying on human defenses—whether political alliances, economic prowess, or personal ingenuity—offers only temporary protection. Ministry should therefore cultivate dependence on the LORD, not on “horses and chariots” (Psalm 20:7). Summary חֵיל points first to the literal outer wall that protected Israelite cities but ultimately to the LORD Himself, who surrounds His covenant people with enduring salvation. The word’s Old Testament trajectory—from royal building projects and military engineering to prophetic imagery of redemption—reminds believers that God alone is the sure defense of every life, congregation, and nation. Forms and Transliterations בְּחֵ֣יל בְּחֵ֥יל בְּחֵילֵ֑ךְ בַּחֵ֑ל בחיל בחילך בחל הַֽחֵל־ החל־ וְחֵיל֖וֹ וְחֵיל֙ וָחֵֽל׃ וחיל וחילו וחל׃ חֵ֖יל חֵ֣יל חֵ֣יל ׀ חֵ֥יל חֵ֥ל חֵ֨יל חֵיל֔וֹ חֵילִי֙ חֵילָֽם׃ חיל חילו חילי חילם׃ חל לְחֵילֽוֹ׃ לחילו׃ ba·ḥêl baChel baḥêl bə·ḥê·lêḵ bə·ḥêl beCheil becheiLech bəḥêl bəḥêlêḵ cheil cheiLam cheiLi cheiLo chel ha·ḥêl- hachel haḥêl- ḥê·lām ḥê·lî ḥê·lōw ḥêl ḥêlām ḥêlî ḥêlōw lə·ḥê·lōw lecheiLo ləḥêlōw vaChel veCheil vecheiLo wā·ḥêl wāḥêl wə·ḥê·lōw wə·ḥêl wəḥêl wəḥêlōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 14:4 HEB: בְּפַרְעֹה֙ וּבְכָל־ חֵיל֔וֹ וְיָדְע֥וּ מִצְרַ֖יִם INT: Pharaoh and all army will know Egyptian Exodus 14:17 Exodus 14:28 Exodus 15:4 2 Samuel 8:9 2 Samuel 20:15 1 Kings 20:1 2 Kings 18:17 1 Chronicles 18:9 1 Chronicles 20:1 2 Chronicles 16:7 2 Chronicles 24:23 2 Chronicles 24:24 2 Chronicles 26:13 Nehemiah 4:2 Esther 1:3 Esther 8:11 Psalm 122:7 Isaiah 26:1 Isaiah 36:2 Lamentations 2:8 Ezekiel 29:19 Joel 2:11 Joel 2:22 Joel 2:25 27 Occurrences |
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