חוּר
the crevice of a serpent; the cell of aprison
Definition
The Hebrew word חוּר (chûwr) refers to a narrow opening or confined space, specifically a hole, crevice, or cell. In its two biblical occurrences, it describes the hiding place of a venomous snake (Isaiah 11:8) and metaphorically represents a prison cell or place of confinement (Isaiah 42:22). The imagery emphasizes inaccessibility, secrecy, and imprisonment, whether for a dangerous creature or for people under oppression. While both uses share the core idea of a constricted enclosure, the context shifts from a literal animal den to a figurative representation of captivity.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the book of Isaiah. In Isaiah 11:8, it describes the specific 'hole' (crevice) of a venomous serpent (a cobra or adder), illustrating the peace and safety of the messianic age where even the most hidden dangers are neutralized. In Isaiah 42:22, it is used metaphorically as a 'cell' or dungeon, depicting God's people as plundered and trapped 'in holes' as prisoners, emphasizing their helpless state of captivity and concealment from help.
Etymology
The noun חוּר (chûwr) or its shortened form חֻר derives from an unused root probably meaning 'to bore' or 'to pierce.' This root sense suggests the creation of a narrow opening or hollowed-out space. The connection to boring or piercing fits the word's meaning of a crevice or hole, whether naturally formed or fashioned as a prison cell.
Semantic Range
Though a simple noun, חוּר carries theological weight in its prophetic contexts. In Isaiah 11:8, the serpent's hole represents the totality of the Messiah's victory over evil and danger, extending even to the most hidden recesses of creation. In Isaiah 42:22, the 'cell' imagery underscores the severity of Israel's spiritual and physical captivity due to disobedience, highlighting their need for divine rescue. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of these passages by clarifying the vivid contrast between the secure hiding place of danger and the oppressive hiding place of God's people.
In the ancient Near East, holes and crevices in rocks were common refuges for snakes and other creatures, as well as makeshift prisons or storage pits. The imagery would have been immediately familiar to an ancient audience: a serpent's hole was a place of hidden peril, while a man-made hole or cell was a place of confinement and powerlessness. This tangible imagery made the prophetic metaphors powerfully concrete.
חֹר (chor, H2356) — a more general term for a hole or crevice, often in a wall. מַחֲשָׂף (machasoph, H4380) — a crevice or cleft in a rock, often for refuge. בּוֹר (bowr, H953) — a pit, cistern, or dungeon, often used for imprisonment or as a trap.
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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