חַלּוֹן (chal.lon)
chal.lon
window
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 18 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew word chal.lon refers to a window, specifically understood as an opening or piercing cut into a wall. In the ancient world, this was not merely a hole for light but a functional aperture that connected the interior space with the outside environment. Its usage appears in eighteen verses across the Bible, with notable occurrences in Genesis, Joshua, and II Kings.
While the term simply denotes the physical structure, its context often reveals its purpose. For instance, it is the means by which Rahab lowers a rope from her house on the city wall (Joshua 2:15), serving as an escape route rather than just a source of illumination. Similarly, in Genesis 7:11 and 8:6, windows of heaven are opened, using the same word to describe a passage for rain or a dove, emphasizing its role as a conduit between two realms.
Translators typically render chal.lon straightforwardly as "window," capturing its literal sense without adding metaphorical weight unless the surrounding text demands it. The consistency of this meaning across different books highlights its practical importance in daily life and narrative action, marking it as a common architectural feature rather than a symbol with shifting interpretations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
A window is more than a hole in a wall; it is a point of connection between your private life and the wider world. In ancient homes, these openings brought light, air, and news from outside. They also created moments of observation, where someone could watch what was happening beyond their immediate surroundings. This simple architectural feature appears throughout Scripture, reminding us that our lives are lived in view of God and others.
These openings serve different purposes in the biblical narrative. Sometimes they provide an escape route for safety, as when Rahab lowered her guests from the city wall. Other times, they become places of judgment or revelation, like the windows of heaven opening to bring rain. In daily life, they might be sites of curiosity or even pride, as seen when kings and queens looked out upon their domains.
Reflecting on this word invites us to consider what we let in and what we look at. It asks whether our attention is fixed on temporary things or on eternal realities. Whether you are seeking safety, watching for signs, or simply enjoying a view, these openings remind us that God sees all and provides for His people in every season.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 18 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ window9×
- in the/ window3×
- the/ windows2×
- windows/ my1×
- windows of1×
- at/ [the] window of1×
- [the] window of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַֽ/חַלּ֑וֹן2×
- הַ/חַלּ֗וֹן2×
- בַּֽ/חַלּוֹן֙2×
- חַלּוֹנָ֔/י1×
- חַלּוֹנֵ֖י1×
- חַלּ֥וֹן1×
- הַֽ/חֲלֹּנ֔וֹת1×
- הַ֣/חַלּ֔וֹן1×
- הַ/חַלּוֹנִ֛ים1×
- הַ/חַלּֽוֹן\׃1×
- הַ/חַלּ֨וֹן1×
- הַ/חַלּ֛וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 2:15
Then she let them down by a cord through the window; for her house was on the side of the wall, and she lived on the wall.
This verse shows the window as a practical tool for rescue, highlighting how God uses ordinary means to protect those who trust Him.
-
Genesis 8:6
At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window of the ship which he had made,
Noah’s action here marks a turning point in the flood narrative, using the window to confirm that the waters had receded and new life could begin.
-
II Samuel 6:16
As Yahweh’s ark came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart.
Michal’s gaze from this window reveals her heart condition, contrasting her cold observation with David’s joyful worship before God.
-
Genesis 26:8
When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was caressing Rebekah, his wife.
Abimelech looking out from this window inadvertently exposes Isaac and Rebekah’s relationship, showing how windows can reveal truths hidden from others.