### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **chôwr**, represented by `{{H2356}}`, refers to a **cavity, socket, den; cave, hole**. It appears **7 times** across **7 unique verses** in the Bible. This term is used to describe a range of physical openings, from natural formations in the earth to man-made apertures.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H2356}}` describes various types of cavities. It is used for natural shelters, such as the **caves** of the earth where people dwell [[Job 30:6]] and the **holes** where Hebrews hid themselves from the Philistines [[1 Samuel 14:11]]. The term also applies to animal lairs, like the lion's **holes** filled with prey [[Nahum 2:12]]. In man-made contexts, it can be a **hole** bored in the lid of a chest [[2 Kings 12:9]], a **hole** in a wall seen in a vision [[Ezekiel 8:7]], or the **hole** of a door [[Song of Solomon 5:4]]. In a striking anatomical reference, it denotes the eye sockets during a description of a divine plague [[Zechariah 14:12]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context of dwelling and terrain:
* `{{H4585}}` **mᵉʻôwnâh** (den, habitation, dwelling place, refuge): This word for an abode or lair is used in parallel with `{{H2356}}` in [[Nahum 2:12]], where a lion fills his **holes** and his **dens** with prey, emphasizing a place of secured dwelling.
* `{{H6178}}` **ʻârûwts** (cliffs): Defined as a horrible place or chasm, this word appears alongside `{{H2356}}` to describe the harsh environment where afflicted people are forced to dwell, in the **clifts** of the valleys and in **caves** of the earth [[Job 30:6]].
### Theological Significance
The meaning of `{{H2356}}` often carries significant contextual weight, illustrating broader themes:
* **Refuge and Hiding:** The word frequently denotes a place of shelter or concealment. Hebrews are described as coming out of the **holes** where they had hidden themselves [[1 Samuel 14:11]], and in Job's lament, the destitute dwell in **caves** of the earth [[Job 30:6]].
* **Divine Judgment and Access to Sin:** In a prophetic context, `{{H2356}}` can signify a point of vulnerability or corruption. The "eyes consuming away in their **holes**" is a graphic image of God's plague against Jerusalem's enemies [[Zechariah 14:12]]. Similarly, the **hole** in the wall in Ezekiel's vision serves as a secret entrance to witness the idolatry within the court [[Ezekiel 8:7]].
* **Points of Passage:** The term can simply mark an opening for interaction, such as the **hole** in a chest lid for depositing money for the temple [[2 Kings 12:9]] or the **hole** of the door through which a beloved reaches [[Song of Solomon 5:4]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2356}}` is a versatile term whose meaning is defined by its context. It is more than a generic word for "hole," serving to illustrate concepts of shelter and desperation [[1 Samuel 14:11]], the lairs of powerful creatures [[Nahum 2:12]], and the consequences of divine judgment [[Zechariah 14:12]]. From a natural cave to a man-made opening or even an eye socket, **chôwr** points to a specific cavity that can be a place of hiding, a point of passage, or a site of decay.
TRV