τοῖχος
toîchos
G5109 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A constructed wall, typically a vertical barrier forming the side of a building, enclosure, or structure; also used more generally for any partition or dividing wall, whether interior or exterior. Can denote city walls, fortifications, or structural divisions within buildings.
Semantic Range
wall of a building, interior wall, partition, city wall (occasionally), structural barrier, dividing wall
Root / Etymology
Derived from the Greek root τοιχ-, a variant form related to τεῖχος (teîchos, 'wall, rampart'). The precise relationship with τεῖχος is debated; both likely stem from a pre-Greek substrate or common Indo-European root referring to constructed barriers. Distinct from words like φράγμα, which more broadly mean 'fence' or 'enclosure'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
τοῖχος appears in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek as a standard term for a wall, often of houses or buildings, as opposed to τεῖχος, which predominantly refers to city walls or defensive fortifications. In the Septuagint and New Testament, τοῖχος is rare compared to τεῖχος, generally referring to constructed walls in domestic or indoor contexts rather than large-scale fortifications. English translations typically render τοῖχος as 'wall', but do not always distinguish it from τεῖχος, potentially obscuring the nuance between domestic/structural and civic/defensive walls. In literary Greek, τοῖχος is frequently used in descriptions of interiors, architecture, and sometimes metaphorically for obstructions or barriers.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
another form of τεῖχος; a wall:--wall.
Root Family
τοιχ- (toîchos) — wall, partition, dividing barrier
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5109-01 |
τοῖχε | toiche | N VOC M SG |
wall | O wall | O wall | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5109-01 |
Acts 23:3 | τοῖχε | toiche | N VOC M SG |
wall | O wall | O wall |