### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun τεῖχος (G5038), transliterated as *teîchos*, refers to a wall, particularly a substantial one such as a city wall or the wall of a significant building. Its etymological connection to the base of τίκτω (tiktō, to beget, bring forth, produce) suggests a structure that is *formed* or *produced* to define, enclose, or protect a space. The semantic range of τεῖχος is primarily focused on such a protective or demarcating barrier, distinguishing it from less substantial partitions. It conveys a sense of solidity, permanence, and often, defensive capability.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term τεῖχος appears a limited number of times in the New Testament, but its contexts are highly significant:
* **Acts 9:25:** "But his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a basket." Here, τεῖχος refers to the literal city wall of Damascus, through which Paul (Saul) escaped, highlighting its function as a physical barrier and boundary.
* **2 Corinthians 11:33:** "but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands." This is Paul's own recounting of the same event, reinforcing the literal, physical nature of the city wall.
* **Hebrews 11:30:** "By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days." This passage powerfully employs τεῖχος to describe the formidable defensive walls of Jericho. Their collapse, brought about by faith, serves as a testament to God's power to overcome human obstacles.
* **Revelation 21:12, 14, 15, 17, 18:** The most extensive use of τεῖχος occurs in the description of the New Jerusalem.
* **Revelation 21:12:** "It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates..." The wall here signifies the city's immense security and majestic grandeur.
* **Revelation 21:14:** "The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." This detail emphasizes the apostolic foundation of the church, which is intrinsic to the city's structure.
* **Revelation 21:15:** "The one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and its wall." The measurement underscores the precise, divine design of the city.
* **Revelation 21:17:** "Its wall was 144 cubits high by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement." The immense height and perfect number (12x12) signify its divine perfection and impregnability.
* **Revelation 21:18:** "The wall was built of jasper, and the city was pure gold, like clear glass." The precious material of the wall highlights the glory and divine purity of the New Jerusalem.
In these contexts, τεῖχος transitions from a mundane physical structure to a potent symbol of divine protection, glory, and the separation of the holy from the profane.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Greek Equivalents/Related Terms:**
* `{{G3799}}` (οἰκοδομή / *oikodomē*): building, edification. While τεῖχος is a component, οἰκοδομή is the broader concept of construction.
* `{{G4341}}` (πύργος / *pyrgos*): tower. Often associated with walls for defensive purposes.
* **Hebrew Equivalents (often translated by τεῖχος in the Septuagint):**
* `{{H2346}}` (חֹמָה / *chomah*): wall, especially a city wall or fortress wall. This is the most direct Hebrew parallel, frequently found in Old Testament narratives concerning fortified cities (e.g., Nehemiah's rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls).
* `{{H1444}}` (גָּדֵר / *gader*): wall, fence, hedge. Can refer to a less substantial wall or enclosure.
* **Key Concepts:** Security, protection, defense, enclosure, boundary, separation, divine architecture, impregnability, faith overcoming obstacles.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of τεῖχος primarily revolves around its function as a barrier and a symbol.
* **Divine Protection and Security:** The most prominent theological implication, especially in the context of the New Jerusalem, is the absolute security provided by God. The "great, high wall" of the heavenly city in Revelation 21 signifies that God's dwelling place and His redeemed people are eternally secure and inviolable, protected from all evil and defilement by divine power.
* **Holiness and Separation:** The wall of the New Jerusalem also serves as a demarcation, separating the holy city and its pure inhabitants from anything unclean or unholy outside (cf. [[Revelation 21:27]], [[Revelation 22:15]]). It underscores the sanctity of God's presence and the purity required to dwell with Him.
* **Divine Design and Glory:** The detailed description of the wall in Revelation 21 (its material of jasper, its immense height, its twelve foundations) points to its divine origin, perfect design, and overwhelming glory. It is not merely functional but a manifestation of God's majesty and beauty.
* **Faith Overcoming Barriers:** The account of the fall of Jericho's walls in [[Hebrews 11:30]] provides a powerful theological lesson: no human barrier, no matter how formidable or impregnable it appears, can withstand the power of God when unleashed through obedient faith. It is a testament to God's ability to dismantle seemingly insurmountable obstacles for the fulfillment of His purposes.
* **The Church as a Protected Community:** While not directly using τεῖχος in this metaphorical sense, the concept of the Church as a divinely protected community, a "city on a hill" ([[Matthew 5:14]]), resonates with the imagery of a secure, walled enclosure, though this is a conceptual parallel rather than a direct linguistic one.
### Summary
The Greek word τεῖχος (G5038) denotes a substantial wall, often a city wall, serving as a barrier, enclosure, and defensive structure. In the New Testament, its occurrences highlight both its literal function as a physical obstacle (Acts, 2 Corinthians) and its profound symbolic weight. In [[Hebrews 11:30]], the falling walls of Jericho exemplify the triumph of divine power through faith over human strength. Most significantly, τεῖχος is a central architectural feature in the apocalyptic vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21. Here, its immense height, precious materials, and twelve foundations symbolize the absolute security, divine glory, and inviolable holiness of God's eternal dwelling place, separating it from all defilement. Thus, τεῖχος evolves from a physical structure to a potent theological symbol of God's protective presence, perfect design, and the sanctity of His redeemed community.
TRV