חֵיל
an army; also (by analogy,) an intrenchment
Definition
The Hebrew noun חֵיל (chêyl) primarily refers to a military 'army' or 'host,' as seen when the Assyrian army besieges Jerusalem in 2 Kings 18:17. By extension, it can denote the defensive fortifications of a city, such as a 'rampart,' 'wall,' or 'bulwark.' This sense is clear in Lamentations 2:8, where the Lord destroys the ramparts of Judah. In a few poetic contexts, like Psalm 122:7, the word is used metaphorically for the collective 'strength' or 'prosperity' of a community, praying for peace within its walls.
Biblical Usage
חֵיל is used almost exclusively in historical and prophetic books, often in contexts of siege warfare. It describes besieging armies (2 Samuel 20:15; 1 Kings 21:23) and the defensive walls they attack (Isaiah 26:1; Lamentations 2:8). The word appears in the accounts of the Assyrian invasion (2 Kings 18:17; Isaiah 36:2) and in a prophetic promise of restoration in Obadiah 1:20. Its use in Psalm 122:7 is a notable exception, applying the concept of 'walls' to the metaphorical peace and security of Jerusalem.
Etymology
The word חֵיל is a collateral form of the more common noun חַיִל (chayil, H2428), which broadly means 'strength,' 'might,' 'army,' or 'wealth.' This root connection highlights how military power (an army) and defensive strength (a rampart) are both expressions of might and capability. The shortened form חֵל also appears.
Semantic Range
This word connects to themes of divine protection and judgment. God is portrayed as the ultimate authority over armies and fortifications, either deploying them as instruments of judgment (Assyria in 2 Kings 18:17) or tearing them down as an act of judgment against His own people (Lamentations 2:8). The prayer for peace within Jerusalem's 'walls' (חֵיל) in Psalm 122:7 transforms a military term into a petition for God's shalom, showing that true security ultimately comes from God's presence, not human strength.
In the ancient Near East, a city's חֵיל (rampart) was its primary defense, often a massive earthen embankment or fortified wall. An attacking חֵיל (army) would build siegeworks against it. Understanding this term paints a vivid picture of warfare, where the strength of an army was measured against the strength of a city's defenses. The metaphorical use for 'prosperity' (Psalm 122:7) stems from the idea that secure walls enabled trade and community safety, which were foundations of wealth.
חַיִל (chayil, H2428) — A broader term encompassing strength, wealth, and military force; often translated 'army' or 'valiant.' צָבָא (tsaba', H6635) — Specifically a military 'host' or organized army, frequently used for the 'hosts' of heaven or Israel. גְּדוּד (gedud, H1416) — A raiding band or marauding troop, implying a smaller, mobile force.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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