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H2351 · Hebrew · Old Testament
חוּץ
Chuts
Noun, masculine / Adverb
Outside / Street

Definition

Chuts means the outside, the open space, or the street — the area beyond a building or city wall. It functions both as a noun ("the street," "the open field") and an adverb ("outside," "without"). Appearing about 164 times, it is often used in the phrase ba-chuts ("in the street/outside") to contrast interior sacred or domestic space with the public realm.

Usage & Theological Significance

In biblical theology, the outside (chuts) can be a place of exposure, shame, and danger (Proverbs 22:13), but also a place of bold proclamation. Wisdom cries out in the streets (Proverbs 1:20). Jesus suffered "outside the gate" (Hebrews 13:12–13), bearing the shame of the excluded. This inverts the inside/outside dynamic: the Holy One went to the chuts so the outcast could come in.

Key Bible Verses

Proverbs 1:20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square [chuts].
Proverbs 22:13 The sluggard says, 'There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the public square!'
Lamentations 4:14 Now they grope through the streets [chuts] as if they were blind.
Jeremiah 9:21 Death has climbed in through our windows and has entered our fortresses; it has removed the children from the streets [chuts].
Proverbs 7:12 Now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.

Related Words

External Resources

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