חוֹמָה

1. usually term for wall of city Deut 28:52; Josh 2:15; Josh 6:5; Josh 6:20 (all J E), 1Sam 31:10; 1Sam 31:12; 2Sam 11:20; 2Sam 11:21 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 18:26; 2Kgs 18:27 = Isa 36:11; Isa 36:12; Isa 1:10; Isa 1:14; Isa 20:10; Isa 20:11; Isa 25:12; Nah 2:6; Nah 3:8; +, Jer 1:15 +, Joel 2:7; Joel 2:9 בֵּין הַחֹמֹתַיִם (of Jerusalem) i.e. between the two walls of the Ophel and the southwest hill respectively, of a reservoir Isa 22:11, a gate 2Kgs 25:4 = Jer 34:4 = Jer 52:7 symbol of Israel, Amos 7:7; 2Chr 8:5; 2Chr 14:6; 2Chr 25:23; 2Chr 26:6 (3 t. in verse); Ps 51:20; Neh 1:3 + 31 t. in Nehemiah; חוֺמַת אֲנָךְ Amos 7:7 (literally wall of a plummet) is of doubtful meaning: a wall built plumb, or by means of a plumb-line ? We thinks unintelligible; עִיר חוֺמָה = walled city, Lev 25:29, ׳עִיר אשׁר לֹא ח vLev 25:30 (לֹא = לוֺ), opposed to ׳הַחֲצֵרִים אשׁר אין להם ח vLev 25:31 (all H); more elaborately גְבֹהָה דְּלָתַיִם וּבְרִ֑יחַ ׳עָרִים בְּצֻרֹת ח Deut 3:5, compare 2Chr 8:5 גְּדֹלוֺת חוֺמָה וּבְרִיחַ נְחשֶׁת ׳ע 1Kgs 4:13 ׳בְצוּרָה ח Isa 2:15 ׳ח singular of wall of Jerusalem 1Kgs 3:1 + often; contempt. חוֺמַת אַבְנֵיהֶם Neh 3:35 less often plural Neh 2:13 +; of specific portions of wall הָעֹפֶל ׳ח 2Chr 27:3; Neh 3:27 בְּרֵבַת הַשֶּׁלַח ׳ח Neh 3:15 ׳הַח הָֽרְחָבָה Neh 3:8; Neh 12:38 also (generally) of Babylon Jer 51:58. — Men build, בנה, the ׳ח 1Kgs 9:15 +, especially (of rebuilding), Neh 2:17 +; fortify it בִּצֵּר Isa 22:10 it is joined together קשׁר Neh 3:38 is repaired ׳עָֽלְתָה אֲרוּכָה לְח Neh 4:1 it falls נפל Josh 6:5; Josh 6:20; 1Kgs 20:30; Ezek 38:20 the enemy makes it fall הִפִּיל 2Sam 20:15 (preceded by מַשְׁחִית si vera lectio, see Dr); destroys it הִשְׁחִית Lam 2:8 שִׁהֵת Ezek 26:4 makes a breach in it ׳פָּרַץ בּ 2Kgs 14:13 = 2Chr 25:23, compare פרץ with accusative 2Chr 26:6; Neh 3:35, and ׳וֶיִּבֶן אֶתכֿלהֿח הַפְּרוּצָה 2Chr 32:5 also (in simile) ׳עִיר פְּרוּצָה ואין ח Prov 25:28 and Punic participle מְפֹרָ֑צֶת Neh 1:3 one breakes it down נָתַץ 2Kgs 25:10; 2Chr 36:19; Jer 39:8; Jer 52:14 tears it down הָרַס Ezek 26:12, compare passive Jer 50:15 Amos predicts that ׳י will send fire into wall (of Gaza, etc.): ׳וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי אֵשׁ בְּח Amos 1:7; Amos 1:10 or kindle fire in ׳וְהִצַּתִּי אֵשׁ בְּח vAmos 1:14, so Jer 49:27.

2. wall of a building:
  a. citadel, fortress; ארמנותיה ׳ח Lam 2:7.
  b. surrounding new temple Ezek 40:5; Ezek 42:20.

3. figurative of waters of Red Sea Exod 14:22; Exod 14:29 (P), compare Nah 3:8 of David's men as protectors of Nabal's shepherds 1Sam 25:16 of prophet as object of assault חוֺמַת נְחשֶׁת Jer 1:18 נחשׁת בְּצוּרָה ׳ח Jer 15:20 of strong, virtuous woman Song 8:9; Song 8:10 of salvation, יְשׁוּעָה, as defence Isa 26:1 (|| חֵל); of ׳י himself ׳ח אֵשׁ Zech 2:9 a dangerous political scheme is called breach in נִשְׁגָּבָה ׳ח Isa 30:13 נִשְׂגָּבָה ׳ח in simile of wealth Prov 18:11 (|| קִרְיַת עֻזּוֺ); a reckless man is ׳עִיר פְּרוּצָה אֵין ח Prov 25:28.