What does חָצֵר (ḥāṣēr) mean in the Bible?
חָצֵר can denote a court or courtyard, an enclosure, or a settlement and its surrounding space. The local Hebrew index currently counts about 190 occurrences.
Hebrew · H2691
חָצֵר
A yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
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חָצֵר H2691
Pronunciation ḥāṣēr
What does חָצֵר (ḥāṣēr) mean in the Bible?
חָצֵר can denote a court or courtyard, an enclosure, or a settlement and its surrounding space. The local Hebrew index currently counts about 190 occurrences.
Reader summary
Full entry for חָצֵר (H2691) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2691?
The BSB source-word alignment has 190 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include court (35), along with their villages (19), of the courtyard (18), in the courtyard (15), courtyard (13).
Where does חָצֵר (ḥāṣēr) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 25:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (48), Joshua (32), Exodus (29), Jeremiah (15).
What This Word Actually Means
חָצֵר can denote a court or courtyard, an enclosure, or a settlement and its surrounding space. The local Hebrew index currently counts about 190 occurrences. In tabernacle and temple texts it refers to courts within the sanctuary complex; elsewhere it names palace courts, domestic enclosures, villages, or settlements. The word itself does not mean the divine presence, worship, or sacred space in every occurrence.
Exodus 27:9-19 specifies the tabernacle court as an enclosed area with hangings, pillars, sockets, and an entrance. The altar stood in this court, making it part of Israel’s ordered approach to the sanctuary. Psalm 84 longs for the courts of the Lord and values a place at the threshold of God’s house above dwelling in wickedness. The verse’s threshold language should not be turned into a precise temple office such as “the lowest position” unless the translation and context establish it.
Psalms 100 and 92 use the temple courts within calls to praise and images of the righteous flourishing. These poetic uses join location, worship, and longing, but they do not make the physical court a source from which divine life flows. The Lord, not the architecture, is the object of trust and praise.
For teaching, חָצֵר can help readers inhabit Israel’s sanctuary imagery and value gathered worship. Christian application should proceed through the New Testament’s explicit teaching about access to God through Christ and the church as God’s people. The church is not a lexical equivalent of the Hebrew courtyard, and a church building should not inherit the court’s holiness by analogy alone.
Lexical sourcelocal_artifactPassage contextBook contextCanonical parallelPastoral application
How the Bible Uses It
The local Hebrew index currently counts about 190 H2691 uses. The word denotes the courts of the tabernacle and temple (Exod 27:9, Ps 84:2, 10, 100:4, 92:13) — the enclosed sacred space where Israel gathered before YHWH. It also denotes villages and settlements (Josh 15:45, 1Chr 4:33). The theological weight is in the Psalms, where the chatser of YHWH is the object of intense longing (Ps 84:2), the place of highest value (Ps 84:10), the destination of worshipers entering with praise (Ps 100:4), and the location where the righteous flourish (Ps 92:13).
- Ps.84.10
For better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
The psalmist says one day in the Lord’s courts is better than a thousand elsewhere and prefers standing at the threshold of God’s house to dwelling in the tents of wickedness. The contrast expresses desire and allegiance. Translations differ over “doorkeeper” and “stand at the threshold,” so the verse should not be made to rank a specific temple office as the lowest position.
- Ps.84.2
My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Whole-person longing for the chatser: 'my soul longs, yes, faints for the courts (chatserot) of YHWH.' The longing is somatic — soul (nephesh) and body (heart and flesh) cry out together. The chatser is not an abstract spiritual destination but a specific, located place: the courts of YHWH's house. The Levite who composed Psalm 84 was probably barred by circumstance from the temple courts — and the longing of distance gives the psalm its aching intensity.
- Ps.100.4
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.
The entrance command for the chatser: 'enter his courts (chatserotav) with praise.' The worshiper does not drift into YHWH's chatser but enters deliberately, carrying praise as the required posture. The gate leads to the chatser, and the chatser leads to the sanctuary — each threshold requiring a new quality of approach. Psalm 100 is the great invitation psalm: all the earth is called to enter the courts of the God who made them (v. 3).
- Ps.92.13
Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
Psalm 92 portrays the righteous as planted in the house of the Lord and flourishing in the courts of God. The court belongs to the poem’s sanctuary imagery, while the Lord’s righteousness and sustaining faithfulness are the theological source of flourishing. The architecture itself is not presented as dispensing divine life.
- Exod.27.9
You are also to make a courtyard for the tabernacle. On the south side of the courtyard make curtains of finely spun linen, a hundred cubits long on one side,
The architectural chatser: 'you shall make the court (chatser) of the tabernacle.' The tabernacle court was the outer boundary of YHWH's dwelling — 100 by 50 cubits of linen-curtained enclosure. The altar of burnt offering stood inside it (Exod 40:29): the first encounter on entering YHWH's chatser was the place of sacrifice. The architectural precision of the chatser's specification (Exod 27:9-19) reflects the theological gravity of the space: the chatser was not incidental to the tabernacle but the site of most of Israel's priestly and festive life before YHWH.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It court 35× Esther 1:5, Esther 4:11, Esther 5:1, Esther 6:4
along with their villages 19× Joshua 15:32, Joshua 15:36, Joshua 15:41, Joshua 15:44
of the courtyard 18× Exodus 27:9, Exodus 27:12, Exodus 27:13, Exodus 27:16
in the courtyard 15× Leviticus 6:16, Leviticus 6:26, 2 Chronicles 24:21, Jeremiah 19:14
courtyard 13× Exodus 27:18, Exodus 38:20, Exodus 38:31, Exodus 40:8
and their villages 8× Joshua 19:16, Joshua 19:23, Joshua 19:31, Joshua 19:39
and villages 8× Joshua 13:23, Joshua 13:28, Joshua 15:45, Joshua 15:47
. . . 6× Exodus 38:15, Exodus 38:31, 1 Kings 7:8, Ezekiel 44:19
in the courts 5× Nehemiah 8:16, Nehemiah 13:7, Psalms 92:13, Psalms 116:19
the courtyard 5× Exodus 27:17, Exodus 38:9, Exodus 38:16, Exodus 40:33
to the courtyard 5× Exodus 38:18, Exodus 40:8, Exodus 40:33, Numbers 3:26
courtyards 3× 2 Kings 21:5, 2 Kings 23:12, 2 Chronicles 33:5
the courts 3× 1 Chronicles 23:28, Ezekiel 9:7, Ezekiel 42:6
the villages 3× Joshua 19:8, Nehemiah 11:25, Nehemiah 12:28
courts 2× Isaiah 62:9, Ezekiel 46:22
for the courts 2× 1 Chronicles 28:12, Psalms 84:2
in the court 2× Esther 5:2, Esther 6:5
in villages 2× Leviticus 25:31, Deuteronomy 2:23
in Your courts 2× Psalms 65:4, Psalms 84:10
of the outer court 2× Ezekiel 42:10, Ezekiel 46:22
the court 2× Ezekiel 40:17, Ezekiel 40:47
villages 2× 1 Chronicles 4:33, Nehemiah 12:29
[let] the villages 1× Isaiah 42:11
a courtyard 1× Exodus 27:9
a separate court 1× Ezekiel 46:21
and His courts 1× Psalms 100:4
and My courts 1× 1 Chronicles 28:6
and the court 1× Ezekiel 10:4
are to be in the courtyards 1× 2 Chronicles 23:5
by their villages 1× Genesis 25:16
facing the court 1× Ezekiel 41:15
for the courtyard 1× Exodus 35:18
from the courtyard 1× Jeremiah 39:14
from their villages 1× 1 Chronicles 9:25
His courts 1× Psalms 96:8
in each of its 1× Ezekiel 46:21
in his courtyard 1× 2 Samuel 17:18
in the villages 1× 1 Chronicles 9:16
in their courtyards 1× Nehemiah 8:16
in their villages 1× 1 Chronicles 9:22
is in the court 1× Esther 6:4
its 1× Ezekiel 46:21
My courts 1× Zechariah 3:7
near the courtyard 1× Nehemiah 3:25
near the villages 1× Psalms 10:8
of My courts 1× Isaiah 1:12
of the court 1× Esther 2:11
the courtyards 1× Exodus 8:13
to the court 1× Ezekiel 8:7
was in the courtyard 1× Jeremiah 38:6
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 25:16 בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֖ם to by their villages Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine plural Exodus 8:13 הַחֲצֵרֹ֖ת to the courtyards Article | Noun - common plural Exodus 27:9 חֲצַ֣ר to a courtyard Noun - common singular construct Exodus 27:9 לֶחָצֵ֜ר to of the courtyard Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular Exodus 27:12 הֶֽחָצֵר֙ to of the courtyard Article | Noun - common singular Exodus 27:13 הֶֽחָצֵ֗ר to of the courtyard Article | Noun - common singular Exodus 27:16 הֶֽחָצֵ֜ר to of the courtyard Article | Noun - common singular Exodus 27:17 הֶֽחָצֵ֤ר to the courtyard Article | Noun - common singular Exodus 27:18 הֶֽחָצֵר֩ to courtyard Article | Noun - common singular Exodus 27:19 הֶחָצֵ֖ר to of the courtyard Article | Noun - common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 25:16
Aligned rows 190
Books represented 18
Genesis 1 Exodus 29 Leviticus 3 Numbers 6 Deuteronomy 1 Joshua 32 2 Samuel 1 1 Kings 6 2 Kings 2 1 Chronicles 9 2 Chronicles 7 Nehemiah 9 Esther 8 Psalms 9 Isaiah 3 Jeremiah 15 Ezekiel 48 Zechariah 1
Source forms
וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן׃ 15x wə·ḥaṣ·rê·hen Joshua 15:36, Joshua 15:44, Joshua 15:46, Joshua 15:51
הֶֽחָצֵר֙ 8x he·ḥā·ṣêr Exodus 27:12, Exodus 38:9, Exodus 38:31, 2 Chronicles 7:7
הֶחָצֵ֥ר 8x he·ḥā·ṣêr 1 Kings 7:9, 2 Chronicles 20:5, Ezekiel 40:32, Ezekiel 42:7
בַּחֲצַ֣ר 6x ba·ḥă·ṣar Jeremiah 19:14, Jeremiah 26:2, Jeremiah 32:2, Jeremiah 37:21
הֶחָצֵ֖ר 6x he·ḥā·ṣêr Exodus 27:19, Exodus 35:18, Exodus 38:31, Exodus 40:8
הֶחָצֵֽר׃ 6x he·ḥā·ṣêr Exodus 35:17, Exodus 38:17, Exodus 38:18, Exodus 40:8
וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן׃פ 6x wə·ḥaṣ·rê·hen Joshua 13:23, Joshua 19:16, Joshua 19:23, Joshua 19:31
חֲצַ֣ר 5x ḥă·ṣar Exodus 27:9, 2 Chronicles 4:9, Esther 2:11, Jeremiah 32:8
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - common singular 65x Exodus 27:12, Exodus 27:13, Exodus 27:16, Exodus 27:17
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common plural construct | third person feminine plural 26x Joshua 13:23, Joshua 15:32, Joshua 15:36, Joshua 15:41
Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct 16x Leviticus 6:16, Leviticus 6:26, 2 Chronicles 24:21, Esther 1:5
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular 10x Exodus 27:9, Ezekiel 40:17, Ezekiel 40:20, Ezekiel 40:23
Article | Noun - common plural 7x Exodus 8:13, Leviticus 25:31, Joshua 19:8, 1 Chronicles 23:28
Preposition-b | Noun - common plural construct 7x 1 Chronicles 9:16, 2 Chronicles 23:5, Nehemiah 13:7, Psalms 92:13
Noun - common singular 5x 1 Kings 7:8, Ezekiel 40:28, Ezekiel 40:31, Ezekiel 46:21
Noun - common singular construct 5x Exodus 27:9, 2 Chronicles 4:9, Esther 2:11, Jeremiah 32:8
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Psalm 84's longing for the courts of the Lord is a model for genuine desire for God's presence — but the NT shifts the location of that presence from a physical temple to Christ and his community. Apply the devotional posture, not the architectural specifics.
- The access regulations for the temple courts communicated holiness and God's terms for approach — the NT fulfillment in Christ (who opened the way) should shape your understanding of what it means that 'we have access.'
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that building impressive church facilities fulfills the chatser (court) concept — the NT relocates God's dwelling to Christ, believers, and the new creation.
- Do not use Ezekiel's visionary temple courts as a detailed blueprint for a literal future temple building without engaging the wide interpretive diversity about Ezekiel 40-48 among orthodox scholars.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Enclosed space—literal (courtyard) or collective (village)—defined by protective boundary, not mere size.
Source Gloss
a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Enclosed space—literal (courtyard) or collective (village)—defined by protective boundary, not mere size.
a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls) BDB: settled abode Usage: court, tower, village.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
The temple court or courtyard as an enclosed sacred space where people gather
The prison court where the prophet is confined, a guarded enclosed area
The court of the guard or prison courtyard where Jeremiah is held in custody
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 190 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חָצֵר is built from this root:
חָצַר H2690
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.
For the Preacher and Teacher
חָצֵר gives concrete form to Israel’s courts and enclosures. In sanctuary texts it marks an ordered space around the tabernacle or temple; in other texts it can name a palace court, village, or settlement. Psalm 84 turns the temple courts into an object of longing because the worshiper desires the living God, not because the noun itself carries a quality of presence.
Teachers can use Psalm 84 to examine what believers value and Psalm 100 to commend thankful praise. The arithmetic of “one day” and “a thousand” is poetic comparison, not a formula for measuring weekly attendance. Hebrews 10:25 explicitly urges Christians not to neglect gathering, but that command is not a lexical continuation in which the congregation becomes חָצֵר.
Hebrews 10:19-22 provides the stronger Christian bridge by announcing confident access to God through Jesus’ blood. Revelation 21:22 says the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the city’s temple. These texts fulfill and transform sanctuary hopes, yet Scripture does not call the whole New Jerusalem a courtyard. The connection should remain canonical rather than lexical.
Anchor passage
Ps.84.10
Doctrinal connections
- Ps 84:10 — a day in your courts is better than a thousand; the chatser's supreme value
- Ps 84:2 — soul-longing for the courts of YHWH; whole-person desire for the presence
- Ps 100:4 — enter his courts with praise; the worship-entrance command
- Ps 92:13 — flourishing in YHWH's courts; the righteous planted in his presence
- Exod 27:9 — the architectural chatser: the outer boundary of YHWH's dwelling
- H935 Bo — to come/enter; the verb of entering the chatser
חָצֵר denotes an enclosure, court, courtyard, village, or settlement depending on context. In sanctuary descriptions it is distinct from the inner tent or temple building, while in geographic lists it can identify settlements and their associated spaces. Etymological proposals connecting the noun with enclosure may help describe the range, but the attested uses should govern.
Greek temple vocabulary distinguishes the larger ἱερόν complex from the inner ναός, yet neither term is a one-to-one equivalent for every H2691 occurrence.
From Old to New Testament
Hebrews 10:19-22 announces access to the holy places through Jesus and calls believers to draw near, supplying an explicit New Testament development of sanctuary access. John 2:13-17 presents Jesus cleansing the temple and cites Psalm 69:9 concerning zeal for God’s house. Revelation 21:22 says the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of the New Jerusalem.
These passages transform temple and access themes, but they do not identify the gathered church or the whole city as חָצֵר. Psalm 84’s longing can inform Christian worship only through those explicit canonical developments.
Lexical sourcePassage contextCanonical parallelPastoral applicationEditorial synthesis
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain