חָנוּת (cha.nut)
cha.nut
vault
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun chanut refers to a cell or vaulted room, specifically one characterized by a curved or arched roof. Its meaning is rooted in its physical structure, describing an enclosed space that offers privacy and separation from the outside world.
This word appears only once in the Bible, in Jeremiah 37:16. The prophet Jeremiah is thrown into this chamber, which serves as a dungeon within the royal palace of Judah. The architectural detail of the vaulted ceiling emphasizes the confinement and isolation he experiences while imprisoned for delivering God’s message.
Because the term highlights the curved roof, it distinguishes these cells from simple open pits or unroofed holding areas. It points to a constructed, permanent space designed to hold individuals securely, reflecting the serious nature of Jeremiah’s detention by King Zedekiah’s officials.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chanut describes a vaulted cell, an enclosed space with a curved roof designed for secure confinement. In Jeremiah 37:16, this term identifies the dungeon where the prophet was held after delivering God’s difficult message to King Zedekiah. The architecture of the vault emphasizes isolation and permanence, distinguishing it from open pits or temporary holding areas.
When we feel trapped by circumstances that seem permanent, this image reminds us that even the most confined spaces are known to God. Jeremiah’s experience shows that physical restriction does not limit spiritual witness or divine presence. His time in the vaulted cell was not a sign of abandonment but part of a larger story of faithfulness under pressure.
This word invites us to consider how God meets us in our own places of confinement. Whether literal imprisonment or emotional isolation, the same God who sustained Jeremiah is present in our darkest hours. We are never truly alone, even when surrounded by walls.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ cell1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַֽ/חֲנֻ֑יוֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 37:16
When Jeremiah had come into the dungeon house and into the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days,
This verse uses chanut to specify the vaulted dungeon where Jeremiah was imprisoned for many days, highlighting the severity and permanence of his confinement by royal officials.