Lexical Summary chanuth: Shop, Store, or Market Original Word: חָנוּת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cabin From chanah; properly, a vault or cell (with an arch); by implication, a prison -- cabin. see HEBREW chanah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chanah Definition a cell, vault NASB Translation vaulted cell (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חָנוּת] noun feminine cell (as having curved or vaulted roof, arched; see Thes Gf, and compare Aramaic ![]() Topical Lexicon Definition and Conceptual Scope חָנוּת refers to a vaulted cell, an underground storage-like chamber within an ancient prison compound. It denotes a confined, arched space designed not merely for detention but for restricting light, movement, and fresh air, intensifying the punitive experience. Scriptural Usage Jeremiah 37:16 records the single canonical occurrence: “So Jeremiah entered the dungeon, that is, the vaulted cell, and he remained there a long time”. The prophet is first beaten (Jeremiah 37:15) and then lowered into this חָנוּת, highlighting a deliberate escalation from public humiliation to prolonged isolation. Historical Background 1. Location: The “house of Jonathan the scribe” (Jeremiah 37:15) likely occupied a prominent spot near the royal complex in Jerusalem, functioning both as an administrative center and an improvised prison. Theological Significance 1. Suffering of the Righteous: The prophet’s descent into the cell typifies the pattern seen in Joseph’s pit (Genesis 37:24), David’s cave (1 Samuel 22:1), and ultimately the tomb of Christ (Matthew 27:60). God’s servants are often enclosed before being vindicated. Pastoral and Homiletical Applications • Encouragement amid Isolation: Modern believers facing hospital rooms, prisons, or social ostracism may take courage from Jeremiah’s endurance. Christological and Redemptive Foreshadowing The vaulted cell points forward to the burial chamber of Jesus. Both settings involve stone, darkness, and watchful guards; both are temporary, for the Lord delivers His servant (Jeremiah 38:13) and raises His Son (Matthew 28:6), declaring triumph over human injustice and death itself. Related Terms and Images • בּוֹר (“pit”) – a broader term often paired with חָנוּת in Jeremiah 37:16. Summary חָנוּת embodies more than an architectural niche; it encapsulates a theology of suffering, endurance, and deliverance. In the single verse where it appears, the word anchors a rich narrative of prophetic faithfulness that reverberates through the entire sweep of redemption history. Forms and Transliterations הַֽחֲנֻ֑יוֹת החניות ha·ḥă·nu·yō·wṯ hachaNuyot haḥănuyōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 37:16 HEB: הַבּ֖וֹר וְאֶל־ הַֽחֲנֻ֑יוֹת וַיֵּֽשֶׁב־ שָׁ֥ם NAS: into the dungeon, that is, the vaulted cell; and Jeremiah KJV: into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah INT: cistern about is the vaulted stayed there 1 Occurrence |