חוֹמָה

1. usually term for wall of city 5 Mos 28,52; Jos 2,15; Jos 6,5; Jos 6,20 (all J E), 1 Sam 31,10; 1 Sam 31,12; 2 Sam 11,20; 2 Sam 11,21 (twice in verse); 2 Kong 18,26; 2 Kong 18,27 = Es 36,11; Es 36,12; Es 1,10; Es 1,14; Es 20,10; Es 20,11; Es 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 Es 22,11, a gate 2 Kong 25,4 = Jer 34,4 = Jer 52,7 symbol of Israel, Amos 7,7; 2 Kron 8,5; 2 Kron 14,6; 2 Kron 25,23; 2 Kron 26,6 (3 t. in verse); Sl 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, 3 Mos 25,29, ׳עִיר אשׁר לֹא ח v3 Mos 25,30 (לֹא = לוֺ), opposed to ׳הַחֲצֵרִים אשׁר אין להם ח v3 Mos 25,31 (all H); more elaborately גְבֹהָה דְּלָתַיִם וּבְרִ֑יחַ ׳עָרִים בְּצֻרֹת ח 5 Mos 3,5, compare 2 Kron 8,5 גְּדֹלוֺת חוֺמָה וּבְרִיחַ נְחשֶׁת ׳ע 1 Kong 4,13 ׳בְצוּרָה ח Es 2,15 ׳ח singular of wall of Jerusalem 1 Kong 3,1 + often; contempt. חוֺמַת אַבְנֵיהֶם Neh 3,35 less often plural Neh 2,13 +; of specific portions of wall הָעֹפֶל ׳ח 2 Kron 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 1 Kong 9,15 +, especially (of rebuilding), Neh 2,17 +; fortify it בִּצֵּר Es 22,10 it is joined together קשׁר Neh 3,38 is repaired ׳עָֽלְתָה אֲרוּכָה לְח Neh 4,1 it falls נפל Jos 6,5; Jos 6,20; 1 Kong 20,30; Ezk 38,20 the enemy makes it fall הִפִּיל 2 Sam 20,15 (preceded by מַשְׁחִית si vera lectio, see Dr); destroys it הִשְׁחִית Klg 2,8 שִׁהֵת Ezk 26,4 makes a breach in it ׳פָּרַץ בּ 2 Kong 14,13 = 2 Kron 25,23, compare פרץ with accusative 2 Kron 26,6; Neh 3,35, and ׳וֶיִּבֶן אֶתכֿלהֿח הַפְּרוּצָה 2 Kron 32,5 also (in simile) ׳עִיר פְּרוּצָה ואין ח Ord 25,28 and Punic participle מְפֹרָ֑צֶת Neh 1,3 one breakes it down נָתַץ 2 Kong 25,10; 2 Kron 36,19; Jer 39,8; Jer 52,14 tears it down הָרַס Ezk 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 Klg 2,7.
\ \ b. surrounding new temple Ezk 40,5; Ezk 42,20.

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