Original Word: חוֹף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chowph
Pronunciation: khof
Phonetic Spelling: (khofe)
KJV: coast (of the sea), haven, shore, (sea-)side
NASB: coast, haven
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to cover]

1. a cove (as a sheltered bay)

coast of the sea, haven, shore, seaside

From an unused root meaning to cover; a cove (as a sheltered bay) -- coast (of the sea), haven, shore, (sea-)side.

Word Origin
from chaphaph
Definition
shore, coast
NASB Translation
coast (1), haven (1), seacoast* (3), seashore* (2).

חוֺף noun [masculine] shore, coast (as surrounding, enclosing) — ׳ח only construct Genesis 49:13 (twice in verse) + 5 t.: — shore of sea הַיָּם ׳ח Deuteronomy 1:7; Joshua 9:1 (both D), Judges 5:17; Jeremiah 47:7; Ezekiel 25:16; יַמִּים ׳ח Genesis 49:13 (poem); ׳ח אֳנִיּוֺת Genesis 49:13 the shore of ships, i.e. to which ships come.

Geographical Scope

חֹוף designates the narrow strip where land meets sea—especially the Mediterranean “Great Sea.” The word gathers within it ideas of shoreline, harbor, and landing-place. Each of its seven inspired occurrences marks that liminal zone where tribes settled, merchants launched, invaders landed, and prophets pronounced judgment.

Occurrences at a Glance

1. Genesis 49:13 (twice) – Zebulun’s blessing.
2. Deuteronomy 1:7 – Moses’ survey of the promised territory.
3. Joshua 9:1 – Report of Canaanite kings along the coast.
4. Judges 5:17 – Song of Deborah concerning Asher.
5. Jeremiah 47:7 – Oracle against Philistia.
6. Ezekiel 25:16 – Judgment on the Philistine coast.

Tribal Blessing and Settlement

Genesis 49:13: “Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore and become a harbor for ships; his border shall extend toward Sidon.”

Jacob foresees a maritime identity for Zebulun. Although Zebulun’s allotment (Joshua 19:10-16) did not touch the Mediterranean directly, it lay close enough to benefit from Phoenician ports such as Sidon. The blessing anticipates commercial opportunity, cultural exchange, and—in later prophetic perspective—missionary reach (compare Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:13-15).

Judges 5:17 adds Asher to the coastal picture: “Asher remained at the seashore and stayed in his harbors.” The tribe’s hesitation in the Deborah-Barak campaign illustrates the lure of coastal security and commerce when decisive warfare was required. The shoreline can tempt God’s people to comfort rather than courage.

Israel’s Borders and the Mandate to Possess

Deuteronomy 1:7 surveys the whole land: hill country, Arabah, Negev, and “along the coast.” The shore is part of the covenant grant; Israel’s mandate was comprehensive. Joshua 9:1 shows how the kings “in all the region of the Great Sea coast toward Lebanon” united against Israel’s advance, underscoring the strategic value of the coastline and the resistance it provoked.

Prophetic Judgments on the Coastland

Jeremiah 47:7: “How can you rest when the LORD has commanded it? He has assigned it against Ashkelon and the shore of its coastland.”

Ezekiel 25:16: “I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the coastland.”

Philistia’s strip of shoreline, once fortressed by maritime trade and foreign alliances (Amos 1:6-8; Zephaniah 2:5-7), comes under divine retribution. The very harbor that promised security becomes the front line of judgment. The sword of the LORD does not stop at the water’s edge; His sovereignty extends over every boundary.

Commercial and Military Imagery

Ships, harbors, and coastal strongholds appear whenever חֹוף is mentioned. The term evokes:

• Commerce and wealth (Zebulun’s “harbor for ships”).
• Strategic gateways for invasion or defense (Canaanite kings; Philistine fortresses).
• Points of cultural exchange, for good or ill (Phoenician idolatry versus potential missionary contact).

Theological Themes

1. Divine Ownership of Boundaries – God draws and redraws coastlines (Psalm 74:17). His covenant people inherit, defend, or surrender territory in direct response to their obedience.
2. Opportunity and Responsibility – Harbors invite prosperity and connection; they also demand vigilance lest material ease dull spiritual fervor (cf. Judges 5:17).
3. Universal Reach of Judgment and Grace – Prophetic blows fall on coastal nations, yet the same shoreline will one day hear messianic praise: “Sing to the LORD a new song… you islands, and all who dwell in them” (Isaiah 42:10).

Ministry Significance

• Missionary Vision: Coastal regions are natural gateways for the gospel. Acts 9-10 shows Peter lodging “by the sea” in Joppa when he receives the vision that opens the door to Gentiles. The physical harbor mirrors the spiritual harbor offered in Christ.
• Stewardship of Prosperity: Like Zebulun, believers blessed with commercial access must hold wealth loosely, channeling it toward kingdom purposes (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
• Watchfulness in Comfort Zones: Asher’s passivity warns ministries situated in affluent, connected locales not to neglect frontline obedience and sacrificial engagement.

Summary

חֹוף traces a thematic arc from promised blessing, through contested possession, to prophetic reckoning. The shoreline is never a neutral strip; it is a theater where God tests His people’s obedience, confronts the nations’ pride, and stages the advance of His redemptive plan—until every island and coast resounds with His glory.

וּבְח֣וֹף ובחוף ח֚וֹף ח֥וֹף חוף לְח֣וֹף לְח֥וֹף לחוף Chof ḥō·wp̄ ḥōwp̄ lə·ḥō·wp̄ leChof ləḥōwp̄ ū·ḇə·ḥō·wp̄ ūḇəḥōwp̄ uveChofInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts