חֵךְ (chekh)
chekh
palate
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 16 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for palate in Hebrew points to the physical roof of the mouth, yet Scripture often uses it as a metaphor for discernment. Just as your palate distinguishes between nourishing food and something harmful, your spiritual senses are called to recognize truth from deception. This imagery reminds us that faith involves more than hearing words; it requires tasting and evaluating them against the reality of God’s character.
In moments of confusion or trial, this concept invites you to seek wisdom that satisfies the soul. When life feels bitter or unclear, remember that God desires to feed you with what is good and true. The Bible compares His promises to honey, suggesting that a heart aligned with Him finds deep sweetness in His guidance. This connection between physical sensation and spiritual insight encourages a faith that is engaged, thoughtful, and grounded in experience.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 16 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ palate/ my3×
- palate/ my3×
- mouth/ his2×
- to/ palate/ their1×
- palate/ your1×
- palate/ its1×
- on/ palate/ my1×
- mouth/ your1×
- mouth/ her1×
- and/ a palate1×
- and/ [the] palate1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חִכִּ֑/י2×
- וְ֝/חֵ֗ךְ2×
- לְ֭/חִכִּ/י1×
- לְ/חִכָּ֥/ם1×
- לְ/חִכִּֽ/י\׃1×
- לְ/חִכִּ/י֮1×
- חכּ֖/וֹ1×
- חִכּֽ/וֹ\׃1×
- חִכָּֽ/הּ\׃1×
- חִכֶּֽ/ךָ\׃1×
- חִכְּ/ךָ֣1×
- חִכּ/וֹ֙1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 119:103
How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth!
This verse uses the palate metaphor to describe the intense delight found in God's promises, comparing them to honey.
-
Job 12:11
Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
Here, the palate is used to illustrate how wisdom comes through careful tasting and testing, just as we evaluate food.
-
Lamentations 4:4
The tongue of the nursing child clings to the roof of his mouth for thirst. The young children ask for bread, and no one breaks it for them.
This graphic image of a child's tongue sticking to the roof of the mouth highlights the extreme physical suffering during siege.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word for palate signify in the Bible?
Why is the palate mentioned in Psalms 119?
How does Job use the concept of taste?
Every Occurrence (16 verses across 6 books)
Job 7 verses
Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?
Job 12:11Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
Job 20:13though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth,
Job 29:10The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
Job 31:30(I have certainly not allowed my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse);
Job 33:2See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
Job 34:3For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.