כֹּ֫תֶל (ko.tel)
ko.tel
wall
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun koṯel refers specifically to the wall of a house. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Song of Solomon 2:9, where it describes the beloved standing behind a wall, peering through the windows and looking through the lattice.
This single occurrence highlights its concrete, architectural sense. Unlike general terms for fortifications or city barriers, koṯel denotes the structural boundary of a dwelling. The image captures a moment of intimate connection across a physical divide, emphasizing both separation and the desire to bridge it.
Its Aramaic equivalent is keṯal (H3797). The rarity of the word in Hebrew suggests it may have been a common term in everyday speech or dialect, preserved here for its precise descriptive power. Translators typically render it simply as "wall," reflecting its straightforward meaning without additional metaphorical weight.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word koṯel refers specifically to the wall of a house. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Song of Solomon 2:9. Here it describes the beloved standing behind a wall, peering through windows and looking through a lattice. This single occurrence highlights its concrete, architectural sense. Unlike general terms for fortifications or city barriers, koṯel denotes the structural boundary of a dwelling.
The image captures a moment of intimate connection across a physical divide. It emphasizes both separation and the desire to bridge it. Translators typically render it simply as "wall," reflecting its straightforward meaning without additional metaphorical weight. Its rarity in Hebrew suggests it may have been a common term in everyday speech or dialect, preserved here for its precise descriptive power.
This word invites us to consider how God meets us in the ordinary spaces of life. The wall is not just a barrier but a place where love seeks connection. It reminds us that intimacy often happens across small divides, through open windows and lattices. We are invited to trust that God sees us and draws near, even when distance seems present.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wall/ our1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כָּתְלֵ֔/נוּ1×
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.
This verse uniquely uses koṯel to depict the beloved standing behind a house wall, emphasizing intimate connection across a physical boundary rather than military defense.