2455. chol

Lexical Summary

chol: sand

Original Word: חֹל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chol
Pronunciation: khole
Phonetic Spelling: (khole)
KJV: common, profane (place), unholy
NASB: profane, ordinary, common use
Word Origin: [from H2490 (חָלַל - To profane)]

1. (properly) exposed
2. (hence) profane

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

common, profane place, unholy

From chalal; properly, exposed; hence, profane -- common, profane (place), unholy.

see HEBREW chalal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from chalal
Definition
profaneness, commonness
NASB Translation
common use (1), ordinary (2), profane (8).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

חֹל noun [masculine] profaneness, commonness; — לֶחֶם חֹל 1 Samuel 21:5, דֶּרֶךְ חֹל V:6; in concrete sense, opposed to קֹדֶשׁ Leviticus 10:10 (P), Ezekiel 22:26; Ezekiel 42:20; Ezekiel 44:23; Ezekiel 48:15.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

חֹל (Strong’s 2455) surfaces seven times in the Old Testament to describe what is “common,” “ordinary,” or “profane” in contrast to what is consecrated to the LORD. Each occurrence sharpens the biblical distinction between what God sets apart as holy (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh) and what remains outside that sphere. The term therefore serves as a theological marker, guiding Israel’s worship, ethics, and community life.

Distinction Between Holy and Common

• Leviticus 10:10 sets the standard for discernment in priestly ministry: “You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean”. The verse follows the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, showing that failure to respect divine boundaries can be fatal.
• Ezekiel 22:26 indicts corrupt priests who “make no distinction between the holy and the common,” exposing covenant infidelity as a root cause of national judgment.

These passages reveal that holiness is not merely ritual; it embodies obedience to God’s revealed will. Common things are not evil per se, but they cannot be substituted for the sacred without consequence.

Priestly and Liturgical Implications

The Levitical mandate required priests to:

1. Teach Israel the difference between holy and common (Ezekiel 44:23).
2. Model the separation through careful handling of offerings and sacred space.
3. Preserve the people’s covenant identity by ensuring that worship remained God-centered, thereby guarding against syncretism.

Narrative Illustration in 1 Samuel 21

When David requests bread from Ahimelech, the priest hesitates because only the consecrated Bread of the Presence is available. David replies that his men are ceremonially clean “even on an ordinary mission” (1 Samuel 21:5), highlighting two truths:
• Ceremonial purity can render “common” persons temporarily eligible to partake of holy provisions when mercy and necessity converge.
• The narrative anticipates Jesus’ appeal to this incident (Matthew 12:3–4) to show that the Law’s spirit—preserving life and honoring God—governs its letter.

Visionary Geography in Ezekiel

Three uses of חֹל shape Ezekiel’s temple vision:
• Ezekiel 42:20 describes a wall “to separate the holy from the common,” underscoring architectural holiness.
• Ezekiel 44:23 restates the priestly teaching role, promising restored order.
• Ezekiel 48:15 assigns land “for common use by the city,” indicating that even in the eschatological future a clear separation remains, yet the common realm is dignified by inclusion within God’s redeemed order.

Theological Themes

1. God’s Holiness: The contrast underlines His transcendent otherness and moral perfection.
2. Human Stewardship: Israel must steward both sacred and common spheres, acknowledging God’s ownership of each.
3. Covenant Faithfulness: Distinguishing holy from common is a tangible expression of loyalty to the covenant.
4. Mercy and Mission: The Davidic precedent anticipates the Gospel’s inclusion of the nations; what was once outside the covenant becomes holy through Christ (Acts 10:15).

Ministry Significance Today

• Worship Planning: Churches should thoughtfully set apart elements (Lord’s Table, baptisms, preaching) while recognizing that all of life belongs to God.
• Ethical Living: Believers avoid profaning God’s name by conforming daily conduct to His character, thereby bridging Sunday worship and weekday vocation.
• Discipleship: Teaching the difference between holy and common cultivates reverence without slipping into legalism, directing believers to Christ, in whom all things hold together (Colossians 1:17).

Practical Application

1. Examine personal habits—media, speech, stewardship—to ensure they honor the Lord.
2. Foster corporate reverence by preparing hearts before gathered worship.
3. Embrace missional living, remembering that Christ sanctifies ordinary work when offered in faith (Romans 12:1).

Through its limited but potent appearances, חֹל reminds God’s people that while much of life is “common,” nothing is trivial when lived before a holy God.

Forms and Transliterations

הַחֹ֑ל החל חֹ֔ל חֹ֖ל חֹֽל־ חל חל־ לְחֹ֑ל לְחֹֽל׃ לְחֹל֙ לחל לחל׃ chol ha·ḥōl haChol haḥōl ḥōl ḥōl- lə·ḥōl leChol ləḥōl

Englishman's Concordance

Leviticus 10:10
HEB: הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ וּבֵ֣ין הַחֹ֑ל וּבֵ֥ין הַטָּמֵ֖א
NAS: the holy and the profane, and between
KJV: between holy and unholy, and between unclean
INT: the holy and between and the profane between the unclean

1 Samuel 21:5
HEB: אֵֽין־ לֶ֥חֶם חֹ֖ל אֶל־ תַּ֣חַת
NAS: were holy, though it was an ordinary journey;
KJV: and [the bread is] in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified
INT: else bread an ordinary about Thahash

1 Samuel 21:6
HEB: וְהוּא֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ חֹ֔ל וְאַ֕ף כִּ֥י
INT: he along common yet its

Ezekiel 22:26
HEB: בֵּֽין־ קֹ֤דֶשׁ לְחֹל֙ לֹ֣א הִבְדִּ֔ילוּ
NAS: the holy and the profane, and they have not taught
KJV: between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed
INT: between things and the profane no have made

Ezekiel 42:20
HEB: בֵּ֥ין הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ לְחֹֽל׃
NAS: between the holy and the profane.
KJV: between the sanctuary and the profane place.
INT: between the holy and the profane

Ezekiel 44:23
HEB: בֵּ֥ין קֹ֖דֶשׁ לְחֹ֑ל וּבֵין־ טָמֵ֥א
NAS: the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern
KJV: [the difference] between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern
INT: between the holy and the profane between the unclean

Ezekiel 48:15
HEB: וְעֶשְׂרִים֙ אֶ֔לֶף חֹֽל־ ה֣וּא לָעִ֔יר
NAS: in length, shall be for common use for the city,
KJV: thousand, shall be a profane [place] for the city,
INT: and twenty thousand common he the city

7 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2455
7 Occurrences

ḥōl — 3 Occ.
ha·ḥōl — 1 Occ.
lə·ḥōl — 3 Occ.