חֲרַכִּים (che.rekh)
che.rekh
lattice
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word cherakhim refers to a lattice or an opening designed for looking through. It appears only once in the entire Old Testament, found in Song of Solomon 2:9. In this verse, the beloved describes himself as leaning against a wall, peering through these openings at his friend.
This rare term captures a specific visual dynamic: separation combined with connection. The lattice acts as a barrier that does not block sight but frames it. It suggests intimacy that is partial and anticipatory, where the lovers are close enough to see each other clearly, yet separated by a physical boundary. This imagery highlights the tension between presence and distance in romantic love.
Translators typically render cherakhim as "lattice" or "window," emphasizing its function as a viewing port. The word’s singularity in Scripture gives it a unique poetic weight, anchoring the scene in Song of Solomon with a concrete detail that evokes both longing and delight. It reminds readers that love often thrives in these moments of partial revelation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word cherakhim describes a lattice or window opening that allows sight without full access. In Song of Solomon, it frames a moment where love is felt through separation. This image reminds us that connection does not always require immediate physical presence to be real and vivid.
For your faith life, this offers comfort during seasons of waiting. Even when you cannot see God’s next step clearly, the lattice allows you to glimpse His character. These partial views are enough to sustain hope and deepen trust as you move forward.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ lattices1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַֽ/חֲרַכִּֽים\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 2:9
My beloved is like a roe or a young deer. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.
The term appears here to describe the specific architectural feature through which the beloved peers, emphasizing that intimacy can exist even across a barrier.