What does חוֹל (chol) mean in the Bible?
חוֹל (chol): Sand as granular, shifting material: metaphor for innumerability, instability, and formlessness in biblical imagery
Hebrew · H2344
חוֹל
Sand (as round or whirling particles)
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חוֹלH2344
Pronunciationchol
What does חוֹל (chol) mean in the Bible?
חוֹל (chol): Sand as granular, shifting material: metaphor for innumerability, instability, and formlessness in biblical imagery
Full entry for חוֹל (H2344) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2344?
The BSB source-word alignment has 23 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include like the sand (7), as the sand (5), the sand (2), [and as] the sand (1), and sand (1).
Where does חוֹל (chol) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 22:17. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (3), Jeremiah (3), 1 Kings (2), Isaiah (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itlike the sand7×Genesis 32:12, Genesis 41:49, 2 Samuel 17:11, 1 Kings 4:29
as the sand5×Joshua 11:4, Judges 7:12, 1 Samuel 13:5, 1 Kings 4:20
the sand2×Job 6:3, Jeremiah 5:22
[and as] the sand1×Jeremiah 33:22
and sand1×Proverbs 27:3
and the sand1×Genesis 22:17
as [countless as] the sand1×Isaiah 48:19
in the sand1×Exodus 2:12
like sand1×Habakkuk 1:9
of the sand1×Deuteronomy 33:19
than the sand1×Jeremiah 15:8
the grains of sand1×Psalms 139:18
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 22:17וְכַח֕וֹלtoand the sandConjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singularGenesis 32:12כְּח֣וֹלtolike the sandPreposition-k | Noun - masculine singular constructGenesis 41:49כְּח֥וֹלtolike the sandPreposition-k | Noun - masculine singular constructExodus 2:12בַּחֽוֹל׃toin the sandPreposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularDeuteronomy 33:19חֽוֹל׃סtoof the sandNoun - masculine singularJoshua 11:4כַּח֛וֹלtoas the sandPreposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singularJudges 7:12כַּח֛וֹלtoas the sandPreposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular1 Samuel 13:5כַּח֛וֹלtoas the sandPreposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular2 Samuel 17:11כַּח֥וֹלtolike the sandPreposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular1 Kings 4:20כַּח֥וֹלtoas the sandPreposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 22:17
Aligned rows23
Books represented15
Genesis3Exodus1Deuteronomy1Joshua1Judges11 Samuel12 Samuel11 Kings2Job2Psalms2Proverbs1Isaiah2Jeremiah3Hosea1Habakkuk1
Source forms
כְּח֣וֹל3xkə·ḥō·wlGenesis 32:12, Isaiah 10:22, Hosea 1:10
כַּח֛וֹל3xka·ḥō·wlJoshua 11:4, Judges 7:12, 1 Samuel 13:5
מֵח֣וֹל3xmê·ḥō·wlJob 6:3, Psalms 139:18, Jeremiah 15:8
כַּח֥וֹל2xka·ḥō·wl2 Samuel 17:11, 1 Kings 4:20
בַּחֽוֹל׃1xba·ḥō·wlExodus 2:12
הַח֑וֹל1xha·ḥō·wlProverbs 27:3
וְכַח֕וֹל1xwə·ḵa·ḥō·wlGenesis 22:17
וְ֝כַח֗וֹל1xwə·ḵa·ḥō·wlJob 29:18
Parsing patterns
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular8xJoshua 11:4, Judges 7:12, 1 Samuel 13:5, 2 Samuel 17:11
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct4xGenesis 32:12, Genesis 41:49, Isaiah 10:22, Hosea 1:10
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular2xGenesis 22:17, Job 29:18
Noun - masculine singular2xDeuteronomy 33:19, Jeremiah 5:22
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct2xJob 6:3, Jeremiah 15:8
Article | Noun - masculine singular1xProverbs 27:3
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct1xPsalms 78:27
Noun - masculine singular construct1xJeremiah 33:22
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Sand as granular, shifting material: metaphor for innumerability, instability, and formlessness in biblical imagery
Source Gloss
sand (as round or whirling particles)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Sand as granular, shifting material: metaphor for innumerability, instability, and formlessness in biblical imagery
sand (as round or whirling particles) BDB: sand Usage: sand.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
sand
Showing 1 selected witness from 23 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
Why This Word Matters
Echoes Abrahamic multiplication promise.Hosea 1:10-2:1
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.