Greek word · G5038

τεῖχος

teichos

wall

A city wall or fortification wall, as distinct from τοῖχος, the wall of a house.

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

τεῖχος, -ους, τό

[in LXX chiefly for חוֹמָה ;]

a wall, esp. that about a town: Acts 9:25, 2 Corinthians 11:33, Hebrews 11:30, Revelation 21:12-19 †

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Revelation 21:14

Range of meaning

A city wall or fortification wall, as distinct from τοῖχος, the wall of a house.

Against the English

English renders it accurately. What needs explaining is its function: a wall normally exists for defence, but this city has no enemies left and its gates never close (21:25).

Used elsewhere in the period

Walls were what made a settlement a 'city' in the ancient world. Isa 26:1 and 60:18 ('you shall call your walls Salvation'); Zech 2:4–5 (Jerusalem without walls, God himself a wall of fire).

From the study of Judith 1:2

Range of meaning

A city wall or fortification wall, as distinct from toichos, the wall of a house. In the plural it can mean a whole system of defences. It is the basic image of a city's security, honour and independence.

Against the English

'Wall' is accurate. What English readers may miss is how much a city's wall meant: it was the city's dignity. A city 'without walls' was exposed and shamed (Neh 1:3; 2:17).

Used elsewhere in the period

The Septuagint uses it constantly for Hebrew ḥômâ: the walls of Jericho (Josh 6), the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt by Nehemiah, and the 'broad wall of Babylon' that will be thrown down (Jer 51:58, LXX 28:58). Isaiah 2:15 puts 'every fortified wall' among the proud things the LORD will humble. Greek historians, Herodotus above all, describe the walls of eastern capitals in lavish detail.

From the study of Revelation 21:12

Range of meaning

The fortification wall around a city, as distinct from τοῖχος (house wall) or a garden fence. It stands for security, defined territory and civic identity.

Against the English

English 'wall' can be any wall at all. The Greek word points to city defences specifically.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint it often renders Hebrew חוֹמָה (ḥomah), the city wall. Rebuilding Jerusalem's walls was a sign of restoration (Neh 1–6). Isaiah 60:18 gives the restored city walls named 'Salvation' and gates named 'Praise'. Herodotus (Histories 1.178–179) describes the enormous walls of Babylon with a hundred bronze gates, and Babylon is the city Revelation 17–18 sets against the New Jerusalem.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 9:25 τείχους wall

    One night, however, his disciples took him and lowered him in a basket through a window in the wall.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 11:33 τείχους wall

    But I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his grasp.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 11:30 τείχη walls

    By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

Revelation · 6

  1. Revelation 21:12 τεῖχος a wall

    The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates.

    Here: The circuit wall of a city, not a garden fence or house wall. To an ancient hearer, a wall made a settlement a real city: bounded, protected, with a clear inside and outside.

  2. Revelation 21:14 τεῖχος wall

    The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

    Here: A city wall, the defining mark of a real city in the ancient world. Here it marks identity and security, not defence, because the gates are never shut (v. 25).

  3. Revelation 21:15 τεῖχος wall

    The angel who spoke with me had a golden measuring rod to measure the city and its gates and walls.

    Here: Singular: the single great city wall, 'great and high' (21:12). It is measured at 144 cubits in v.17. In the ancient world a city wall stood for security and a clear boundary.

  4. Revelation 21:17 τεῖχος wall

    And he measured its wall to be 144 cubits, by the human measure the angel was using.

    Here: The city wall, as opposed to the wall of a house. In the ancient world it was the thing that made a settlement a real city. It defined who was inside and who was outside.

  5. Revelation 21:18 τείχους wall

    The wall was made of jasper, and the city itself of pure gold, as pure as glass.

    Here: A city wall, the thing that marks out and protects an ancient city. Here it is a wall with twelve gates that are never shut (21:12, 25). It defines the city more than it defends it.

  6. Revelation 21:19 τείχους wall

    The foundations of the city walls were adorned with every kind of precious stone: The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,

    Here: The city's defensive wall. In the ancient world a wall marked a city as secure and complete. In this city nothing threatens anymore (its gates never shut, 21:25), so the wall now stands for holiness, boundary and glory, not defence.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.