Lexical Summary chek: Palate, roof of the mouth, taste Original Word: חֵךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance roof of the mouth, taste Probably from chanak in the sense of tasting; properly, the palate or inside of the mouth; hence, the mouth itself (as the organ of speech, taste and kissing) -- (roof of the) mouth, taste. see HEBREW chanak NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition palate, roof of the mouth, gums NASB Translation lips (1), mouth (6), palate (4), roof of its mouth (1), roof of my mouth (1), roof of your mouth (1), speech (1), taste (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֵךְ noun masculine palate, roof of mouth, gums (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic  חִכָּא Arabic  palate, roof of mouth, jaws, lower part of mouth, lower jaw of horse, mouth, etc. Lane659 Dozyi. 332); — absolute ׳ח Job 12:11; Job 34:3; suffix חִכִּי Proverbs 8:7 6t., חִכְּךָ Hosea 8:1, חִכֶּ֑ךָ Ezekiel 3:26; Proverbs 24:13; chiefly in poetry, especially Wisdom Literature: — חִכֵךְ Cant 7:10, חִכּוֺ Lamentations 4:4 2t., חִכָּהּ Proverbs 5:3, חִכָּם Job 29:10; — palate, roof of mouth: a. אֶלחִֿכְּךָ שֹׁפָר Hosea 8:1 a trumpet to thy palate! (or gums; as in English, to thy lips); often with לָשׁוֺן, tongue clings (דבק) to חך, expression for speechlessness Ezekiel 3:26; Job 29:10, as imprecation Psalm 137:6; for the parching of extreme thirst Lamentations 4:4 (בַּצָּמָא), compare Psalm 22:16 ᵑ0 יָבֵּשׁ כַּחֶרֶשׂ כֹּחִי read חִכִּי for כחי see Checritical note ("" לְשׁוֺנִי מֻדְבָּק מַלְקוֺחָ֑י). b. as organ of speech Proverbs 5:3; Proverbs 8:7 (both "" שְׂפָתַיִם), Job 31:30; Job 33:2 דִּבְּרָה לְשׁוֺנִי בְחִכִּי ("" מָּתַחְתִּי פִי). c. as organ of taste Job 12:11; Job 34:3, מִּרְיוֺ מָתוֺק לְחִכִּי Songs 2:3 his fruit was sweet to my palate, Proverbs 24:13 (implied simile of wisdom as sweet to the soul); figurative of God's words as sweet ׳לְח Psalm 119:103 ("" מִּי); of taste as distinguishing misfortunes Job 6:30 ("" לָשׁוֺן; > others of speech); of keeping wickedness ׳בְּתוֺךְ ח Job 20:18 ("" תַּחַת לָשׁוֺן), i.e. delighting in and prolonging the taste of it. d. nearly = mouth, as an element in personal sweetness and beauty Songs 5:16; Songs 7:10. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Range of Usage חֵךְ most commonly denotes the palate or roof of the mouth, yet Scripture extends the term to cover the inner surfaces of the mouth, the organ of taste, and, by metonymy, speech itself. In each setting the word touches on sensory discernment—what is ingested, savored, rejected, or uttered. Discernment of Speech and Truth Job repeatedly employs חֵךְ to portray the testing of words: “Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?” (Job 12:11). The same analogy undergirds Elihu’s plea, “For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food” (Job 34:3). Here the mouth’s ability to distinguish flavors pictures the believer’s responsibility to weigh counsel, doctrine, and circumstance with spiritual discrimination. Ministry application: teachers and hearers alike must cultivate a refined “palate” that quickly detects error and delights in sound doctrine. Sweetness of God’s Word Psalm 119:103 elevates the term: “How sweet are Your words to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth!” The psalmist’s comparison presents Scripture as nourishment surpassing the choicest delicacies. Proverbs likewise invites the believer to receive wisdom with delight: “My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate” (Proverbs 24:13). Preachers and disciplers may draw from these images when exhorting believers to daily intake of the Word, not from duty alone but from desire awakened by its sweetness. Warnings against Deceptive Flattery The seductive voice of folly is described with the same organ. “For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil” (Proverbs 5:3). What tastes pleasant at first proves deadly. Proverbs 8:7, in contrast, assigns righteous speech to Lady Wisdom: “For my mouth speaks truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.” The palate motif underscores that every believer’s speech feeds others; it will nourish or poison. Scenes of Intimacy and Delight Song of Songs develops חֵךְ in poetic celebration of marital love: Here the palate becomes an emblem of delight, satisfaction, and covenant intimacy—imagery often echoed in preaching on Christ’s love for His Church. Dryness, Silence, and Judgment Where sweetness and speech mark blessing, loss of function signals distress. Lamentations 4:4 laments the siege of Jerusalem: “The tongue of the infant clings to the roof of its mouth for thirst.” Ezekiel experiences imposed silence as prophetic sign: “I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, and you will be mute” (Ezekiel 3:26). Hosea 8:1 warns of imminent judgment with a trumpet set to the prophet’s palate, ready to sound alarm. Ministry insight: spiritual drought and restrained proclamation are evidences of divine displeasure; conversely, free, life-giving speech accompanies blessing. Christological and New-Covenant Implications Though חֵךְ never appears in the New Testament, its themes prepare for the incarnation of the Word. Jesus Christ, the perfect embodiment of wisdom, speaks only what the Father commands (John 12:49). His words prove sweeter than honey, yet His palate also tasted gall (Matthew 27:34), fulfilling lament and providing atonement. The believer’s participation in the Lord’s Supper echoes the palate’s role, reminding the Church to “taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8). Practical Ministry Applications 1. Cultivate biblical discernment—train the spiritual palate through continual exposure to Scripture. Summary חֵךְ links physical taste, moral discernment, verbal expression, and covenant joy. Throughout the Old Testament it instructs believers to savor truth, reject deceit, speak life, and find ultimate satisfaction in the sweetness of the LORD. Forms and Transliterations בְחִכִּֽי׃ בחכי׃ וְ֝חֵ֗ךְ וְחִכֵּ֕ךְ וחך וחכך חִ֝כִּ֗י חִכְּךָ֣ חִכִּ֑י חִכֶּ֔ךָ חִכֶּֽךָ׃ חִכָּֽהּ׃ חִכּ֖וֹ חִכּֽוֹ׃ חִכּוֹ֙ חכה׃ חכו חכו׃ חכי חכך חכך׃ לְ֭חִכִּי לְחִכִּֽי׃ לְחִכִּי֮ לְחִכָּ֥ם לחכי לחכי׃ לחכם ḇə·ḥik·kî ḇəḥikkî chikKah chikKecha chikKi chikKo ḥik·kāh ḥik·ke·ḵā ḥik·kə·ḵā ḥik·kî ḥik·kōw ḥikkāh ḥikkeḵā ḥikkəḵā ḥikkî ḥikkōw lə·ḥik·kām lə·ḥik·kî lechikKam Lechikki ləḥikkām ləḥikkî veChech vechikKech vechikKi wə·ḥêḵ wə·ḥik·kêḵ wəḥêḵ wəḥikkêḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 6:30 HEB: עַוְלָ֑ה אִם־ חִ֝כִּ֗י לֹא־ יָבִ֥ין NAS: Cannot my palate discern KJV: in my tongue? cannot my taste discern INT: iniquity lo my palate not discern Job 12:11 Job 20:13 Job 29:10 Job 31:30 Job 33:2 Job 34:3 Psalm 119:103 Psalm 137:6 Proverbs 5:3 Proverbs 8:7 Proverbs 24:13 Songs 2:3 Songs 5:16 Songs 7:9 Lamentations 4:4 Ezekiel 3:26 Hosea 8:1 18 Occurrences |
    |