Original Word: חָצֵר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chatser
Pronunciation: khaw-tsare'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-tsare')
KJV: court, tower, village
Word Origin: [from H2690 (חָצַר חֲצוֹצֵר חֲצוֹרֵר - blew) in its original sense]

1. a yard (as inclosed by a fence)
2. also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)

court, tower, village

(masculine and feminine); from chatsar in its original sense; a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls) -- court, tower, village.

see HEBREW chatsar

I. חָצֵר₁₄₅ noun masculine^{Ezekiel 40:23} and (oftener) feminine^{1Kings 6:36} enclosure, court — absolute ׳ח 1 Kings 7:8 +, חָצֵרָה Jeremiah 36:20; construct חֲצַר Exodus 27:9 +; suffix חֲצֵרוֺ 2 Samuel 17:18; חֲצֵרוֺת Exodus 8:9 4t.; construct חַצְרֵי Nehemiah 13:7, הַצְרוֺת 2 Kings 21:5 10t.; suffix חֲצֵרָ֑י Isaiah 1:12; Zechariah 3:7; חֲצֵרֶיךָ Psalm 65:5; Psalm 84:11; חֲצֵרוֺתָ֑י 1 Chronicles 28:6; חֲצֵרֹתָיו Psalm 100:4, לְחַצְרוֺתָ֑יו Psalm 96:8, וּבְחַצְרֹתֵיהֶם Nehemiah 8:16; —

1 enclosures (in Egypt),perhaps court-yards, or cattle-yards, distinct from houses and from fields Exodus 8:9 (J).

2 court of private house 2 Samuel 17:18 (containing well), compare Nehemiah 8:16; of a palace, חָצֵר הָאַחֶרֶת 1 Kings 7:8 the other court, immediately surrounding palace, so called in distinct. from הַגְּדוֺלָה ׳(הֶ)ח 1 Kings 7:9; 1 Kings 7:12 the great court, including ׳הא ׳ח and הַמְּנִימִית ׳הֶח of temple (see

3b) in one great enclosure (see Sta^{Salomos Bauten, ZAW 1883. 152 f.}); 2 Kings 20:4 (Qr Vrss The Kmp Klo and others; Kt Ke and others הָעִיר), Jeremiah 36:20; Esther 1:5; Esther 2:11; Esther 4:11; Esther 5:1,2; Esther 6:4 (twice in verse); Esther 6:5; מַטָּרָה ׳ח court of guard, place of (honourable) confinement Jeremiah 32:2 (in king's house), Jeremiah 32:8; Jeremiah 32:12; Jeremiah 33:1; Jeremiah 37:21 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 38:6,13,28; Jeremiah 39:14,15. Especially

3. a. court of tabernacle חֲצַר הַמִּשְׁכָּן Exodus 27:9, compare Exodus 27:9; Exodus 27:12; Exodus 27:13 24t. Exodus (all P; ׳שַׁעַר הֶח gate of the court Exodus 35:17; Exodus 38:15,18,31; Exodus 39:40; Exodus 40:8,33); Leviticus 6:9; Leviticus 6:19; Numbers 3:26 (twice in verse) (מֶּתַח ׳הֶח), Numbers 3:37; Numbers 4:26 (twice in verse) (׳מֶּתַח שַׁעַר הֶח), Numbers 4:32; courts of house of ׳י 1 Chronicles 23:28.

b. court(s) of Solomon's temple, inner with הַמְּנִימִית ׳הֶח 1 Kings 6:36; 1 Kings 7:12 (but on text see Sta^{l. c}.) Ezekiel 8:16; Ezekiel 10:3 compare Ezekiel 10:4; = upper with הָעֶלְיוֺן ׳הֶח Jeremiah 36:10 (see Gf), and הַכֹּהֲנִים ׳ח2Chronicles 4:9 (where also הָעֲזָרָה הַגְּדוֺלָה, as often Ezek., also דְּלָתוֺת לָעֲזָרָה); outer court ׳הֶח הַחִיצֹנָה Ezekiel 10:5 = הַחֲדָשָׁה ׳הֶח2Chronicles 20:5; see further 1 Kings 8:64 2Chronicles 7:7; 24:21; 29:16; Jeremiah 19:14; Jeremiah 26:2; Ezekiel 8:7; two courts 2 Kings 21:5 2Chronicles 33:5; 2 Kings 23:12; courts Ezekiel 9:7; 1 Chronicles 28:12; 2Chronicles 23:5; Nehemiah 8:1,6; Nehemiah 13:7; often in poetry, courts of ׳י Isaiah 1:12; Isaiah 62:9 (קדשׁי ׳ח), Zechariah 3:7; Psalm 65:5; Psalm 84:3; Psalm 84:11; Psalm 96:8; Psalm 100:4; Psalm 116:19; Psalm 135:2

c. courts of Ezekiel's temple Ezekiel 40:14 38t. Ezekiel 40-46 (of these read הַשַּׁעַר for החצר Ezekiel 40:19,32 with ᵐ5 Hi Co; and החיצון for החצר Ezekiel 41:15 with ᵐ5 Ew Co). **Ezekiel 42:6 הַחִיצֹנוֺת for הַחֲצֵרוֺת.

II. חצר (√ of following; compare Arabic be present, settle or dwell, see Lag^{BN 47 f.}; Sabean חצֿר fixed abode Os (Levy)^{ZMG 1865, 185} CIS^{iv, 1. 2, No. 79. 82}).

II. [חָצֵר]₄₆ noun masculine^{Nehemiah 11:25} settled abode, settlement, village (Lag^{l. c}.) — always plural, absolute חֲצֵרִים Joshua 19:8 5t.; construct חַצְרֵי 1 Chronicles 9:16; Nehemiah 12:28; suffix חֲצֵרֶיהָ Joshua 21:12 4t.; חַצְרֵיהֶם 1 Chronicles 4:33 6t.; חַצְרֵיהֶן Joshua 13:23 24t. Joshua; —

a. settlements of Ishmaelites Genesis 25:16 (P; "" טִירוֺת circles of tents); of עַוִּים Deuteronomy 2:23; of Kedar Isaiah 42:11 ("" עָרִים); בָּתֵּי הַחֲצֵרִים אֲשֶׁר אֵיןלָֿהֶם חֹמָה סָבִיב Leviticus 25:31 (H), houses of the villages which have no wall about them; מַאֲרַב חֲצֵרִים Psalm 10:8 lurking-place(s) of villages (i.e. where oppressor, as a wild beast, watches his opportunity to attack the defenceless). Usu.

b. as dependencies of cities Joshua 15:46, with בְּנֹתֶיהָ (see above בַּת

4 p. 123) Joshua 15:45,47 (twice in verse) (all J E ?); אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבוֺת הֶעָרִים ׳וְכָלהַֿח Joshua 19:8 (P), also Joshua 21:12 (P), = 1 Chronicles 6:41; Nehemiah 12:29; also Joshua 13:23,28; Joshua 15:32 23t. Joshua (all P), Nehemiah 11:25,30 ("" בָּנוֺת Nehemiah 11:25; Nehemiah 11:27 etc.), Nehemiah 12:28.

c. villages, not contrasted with cities (compare Isaiah 42:11 above) 1 Chronicles 9:16,22,25 (all of Levites).

d. ׳ח apparently including all settlements outside of Jerusalem ׳הַח בִּשְׂדֹתָם Nehemiah 11:25. — ׳ח in proper name, of a location see below (and see Bla on Joshua 15:20-32).

Overview of Biblical Usage

חָצֵר (chatser) designates an enclosed open area—most often a courtyard associated with a dwelling, sanctuary, palace, fortress, or village cluster. Across roughly one-hundred-eighty-nine Old Testament occurrences the term paints a portrait of life lived in ordered spaces, moving from nomadic tents to the settled courts of the Tabernacle, Temple, and royal residences.

Courtyards of the Tabernacle

From the wilderness forward, the courtyard framed Israel’s public approach to God. “You are to make the courtyard of the Tabernacle” (Exodus 27:9). Here sacrificial blood was shed (Leviticus 1:3-5), priests were consecrated (Exodus 29:4), and the nation gathered for feasts (Leviticus 23:2). The court embodied separation—linen hangings fenced it off—yet also invitation, since any Israelite could enter with an offering. The spatial theology is clear: God is holy, yet graciously near.

Transition to Temple Courts

Solomon retained the two-zone design—inner sanctuary/outer court—when he built the First Temple. “He built the inner courtyard with three rows of dressed stone” (1 Kings 6:36). The larger “outer court” (2 Chronicles 4:9) accommodated throngs at Passover and other appointed times, while the more restricted inner court received priests at the altar of burnt offering (2 Chronicles 7:7). Ezekiel’s visionary temple expands the idea, depicting concentric courts leading ultimately to God’s glory (Ezekiel 40–44).

Royal and Civic Courtyards

חָצֵר describes the central spaces of palatial complexes—settings for judgment, governance, and celebration. “The king of Israel was sitting on his throne in a courtyard at the entrance of the gate of Samaria” (1 Kings 22:10). In Persia, Esther risked her life in “the inner courtyard of the palace, in front of the king’s quarters” (Esther 5:1). Administrative power and covenant worship thus share a common architectural vocabulary, underscoring accountability of rulers before God.

Military Enclosures and Fortified Villages

The term also labels fortified outposts or hamlet-courts in Canaanite and later Judean territories. Numbers 32:41 describes “towns and their surrounding villages,” and Joshua 13:23–28 lists Gadite settlements, many called chatser. These small enclosures reflect Israel’s gradual occupation of the land, offering agricultural protection and community life outside walled cities.

Prophetic Oracles Against the Courts

The prophets pronounce judgment on these very enclosures when covenant infidelity corrupts them. “Her cities will become desolate, an uninhabited wilderness, a parched land and its villages” (Jeremiah 48:18-24). Isaiah pictures abandoned courts overrun by thorns (Isaiah 32:13-14), while Zephaniah sees them emptied so that “flocks and all kinds of beasts will lie down in her courtyards” (Zephaniah 2:14). The once-ordered space turns chaotic, signaling divine displeasure.

Courts in Restoration Hope

Yet prophetic hope reclaims the courtyard. “Those who are planted in the house of the LORD will flourish in the courts of our God” (Psalm 92:13). Zechariah prophesies the Branch who “will rebuild the temple of the LORD… and will rule on His throne” (Zechariah 6:12-13), presupposing renewed sacred courts. Ezekiel 46:1-3 envisions princes and people worshiping together in the inner court gate on Sabbaths and New Moons, foreshadowing Messianic harmony.

Worship Language in Psalms

The Psalter frequently employs חָצֵר as a poetic setting for praise:
• “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4).
• “How lovely are Your tabernacle courts, O LORD of Hosts” (Psalm 84:1-2).

The courtyard becomes a spiritual metaphor for direct, public, joy-filled access to God, anticipating New Testament exhortations to “draw near with a sincere heart” (Hebrews 10:22).

Symbolism and Typology

1. Separation and Access: Linen screens affirm God’s transcendence; the open sky above the court proclaims His immanence.
2. Corporate Identity: The court gathers tribes into one worshiping nation, prefiguring the Church as “a holy priesthood.”
3. Progressive Nearness: Outer court → Holy Place → Most Holy Place points to the once-for-all work of Christ who opened the true and living way (Hebrews 10:19-20).

Practical Ministry Insights

• Hospitality: The courtyard motif encourages creating welcoming spaces where believers can assemble for prayer and outreach.
• Reverence: Though accessible, the courts were not casual; ministry today likewise balances openness with holiness.
• Community Formation: Rural “villages and their courts” model small-group fellowship anchored to a larger covenant community.

Geographical Distribution

Occurrences span the Torah, Former Prophets, Writings, and latter Prophets, illustrating continuity of covenant life. Notable clusters: Leviticus (over thirty), Chronicles (approx. forty), and Jeremiah (over twenty). The term’s consistent presence affirms unified authorship themes across Scripture.

Eschatological Fulfillment

Revelation exchanges earthly courts for the New Jerusalem where “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Revelation 21:22). Yet even there, the notion of an ordered, inclusive space endures—“the nations will walk in its light” (21:24). The temporal courtyard thus foreshadows eternal communion.

Summary

חָצֵר traces a redemptive arc from Sinai’s linen-walled enclosure to Zion’s anticipated glory, teaching God’s people about ordered worship, covenant fellowship, righteous governance, and future hope. Whether in Israel’s village clusters, Solomon’s splendor, or prophetic visions, the courtyard remains a living witness to the God who dwells among His people and invites them into His presence.

בְּ֝חַצְר֗וֹת בְּחַצְר֖וֹת בְּחַצְר֤וֹת ׀ בְּחַצְר֥וֹת בְּחַצְרֵ֖י בְּחַצְרֵ֥י בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֖ם בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֜ם בְחַצְרֵיהֶם֙ בֶּֽחָצֵ֔ר בֶּחָצֵ֑ר בֶּחָצֵ֣ר בֶּחָצֵ֤ר בֶחָצֵ֑ר בַּחֲצֵר֖וֹ בַּחֲצֵרֶ֗יךָ בַּחֲצַ֕ר בַּחֲצַ֖ר בַּחֲצַ֣ר בַּחֲצַ֤ר בַּחֲצַ֥ר בחצר בחצרו בחצרות בחצרי בחצריהם בחצריך הֶֽחָצֵ֑ר הֶֽחָצֵ֔ר הֶֽחָצֵ֖ר הֶֽחָצֵ֗ר הֶֽחָצֵ֜ר הֶֽחָצֵ֤ר הֶֽחָצֵר֙ הֶֽחָצֵר֩ הֶחָצֵ֑ר הֶחָצֵ֔ר הֶחָצֵ֖ר הֶחָצֵ֗ר הֶחָצֵ֛ר הֶחָצֵ֜ר הֶחָצֵ֣ר הֶחָצֵ֤ר הֶחָצֵ֥ר הֶחָצֵ֧ר הֶחָצֵ֨ר הֶחָצֵֽר׃ הֶחָצֵר֙ הַֽחֲצֵרִ֗ים הַחֲצֵר֑וֹת הַחֲצֵר֛וֹת הַחֲצֵרִ֖ים הַחֲצֵרִ֗ים הַחֲצֵרֹ֖ת הַחֲצֵרוֹת֙ החצר החצר׃ החצרות החצרים החצרת וְהֶֽחָצֵר֙ וְחַצְרֵיהֶ֑ן וְחַצְרֵיהֶ֔ם וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽם׃ וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן׃ וְחַצְרֵיהֶם֙ וְחָצֵ֨ר וְלֶחָצֵ֛ר וְלַחֲצַ֧ר וַחֲצֵרֶ֖יהָ וַחֲצֵרֶ֗יהָ וַחֲצֵרֶֽיהָ׃ וַחֲצֵרוֹתָ֑י וּבְחַצְר֖וֹת וּבְחַצְרֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם ובחצרות ובחצרתיהם והחצר וחצר וחצרותי וחצריה וחצריה׃ וחצריהם וחצריהם׃ וחצריהן וחצריהן׃ ולחצר חֲצֵ֫רֶ֥יךָ חֲצֵר֣וֹת חֲצֵרִ֖ים חֲצֵרִ֗ים חֲצֵרֶ֑יהָ חֲצֵרָ֑י חֲצֵרָֽי׃ חֲצֵרֹתָ֥יו חֲצַ֣ר חַצְר֥וֹת חַצְרֵ֖י חַצְרֵיהֶ֗ם חָצֵ֔רָה חָצֵ֖ר חָצֵ֣ר חָצֵ֥ר חָצֵר֙ חצר חצרה חצרות חצרי חצרי׃ חצריה חצריהם חצריך חצרים חצרתיו לְחַצְר֧וֹת לְחַצְר֪וֹת לְחַצְרוֹתָֽיו׃ לֶֽחָצֵר֙ לֶחָצֵ֖ר לֶחָצֵ֜ר לֶחָצֵ֣ר לֶחָצֵ֥ר לַחֲצַ֖ר לַחֲצַ֣ר לַחֲצַ֤ר לחצר לחצרות לחצרותיו׃ מֵֽהֶחָצֵ֖ר מֵחֲצַ֣ר מהחצר מחצר ba·ḥă·ṣar ba·ḥă·ṣê·re·ḵā ba·ḥă·ṣê·rōw bachaTzar bachatzeReicha bachatzeRo baḥăṣar baḥăṣêreḵā baḥăṣêrōw be·ḥā·ṣêr ḇe·ḥā·ṣêr bə·ḥaṣ·rê bə·ḥaṣ·rê·hem ḇə·ḥaṣ·rê·hem bə·ḥaṣ·rō·wṯ bechaTzer bechatzRei bechatzreiHem bechatzRot beḥāṣêr ḇeḥāṣêr bəḥaṣrê bəḥaṣrêhem ḇəḥaṣrêhem bəḥaṣrōwṯ chaTzar chaTzer chaTzerah chatzeRai chaTzeReicha chatzeReiha chatzeRim chatzeRot chatzeroTav chatzRei chatzreiHem chatzRot ha·ḥă·ṣê·rîm ha·ḥă·ṣê·rō·wṯ ha·ḥă·ṣê·rōṯ ḥă·ṣar ḥā·ṣê·rāh ḥă·ṣê·rāy ḥă·ṣê·re·hā ḥă·ṣê·re·ḵā ḥă·ṣê·rîm ḥă·ṣê·rō·ṯāw ḥă·ṣê·rō·wṯ ḥā·ṣêr hachatzeRim hachatzeRot haḥăṣêrîm haḥăṣêrōṯ haḥăṣêrōwṯ ḥaṣ·rê ḥaṣ·rê·hem ḥaṣ·rō·wṯ ḥăṣar ḥāṣêr ḥāṣêrāh ḥăṣêrāy ḥăṣêrehā ḥăṣêreḵā ḥăṣêrîm ḥăṣêrōṯāw ḥăṣêrōwṯ ḥaṣrê ḥaṣrêhem ḥaṣrōwṯ he·ḥā·ṣêr hechaTzer heḥāṣêr la·ḥă·ṣar lachaTzar laḥăṣar le·ḥā·ṣêr lə·ḥaṣ·rō·w·ṯāw lə·ḥaṣ·rō·wṯ lechaTzer lechatzRot lechatzroTav leḥāṣêr ləḥaṣrōwṯ ləḥaṣrōwṯāw mê·ḥă·ṣar mê·he·ḥā·ṣêr mechaTzar mêḥăṣar mehechaTzer mêheḥāṣêr ū·ḇə·ḥaṣ·rō·ṯê·hem ū·ḇə·ḥaṣ·rō·wṯ ūḇəḥaṣrōṯêhem ūḇəḥaṣrōwṯ uvechatzRot uvechatzRoteiHem vachatzeReiha vachatzeroTai vechaTzer vechatzreiHem vechatzreiHen vehechaTzer velachaTzar velechaTzer wa·ḥă·ṣê·re·hā wa·ḥă·ṣê·rō·w·ṯāy waḥăṣêrehā waḥăṣêrōwṯāy wə·ḥā·ṣêr wə·ḥaṣ·rê·hem wə·ḥaṣ·rê·hen wə·he·ḥā·ṣêr wə·la·ḥă·ṣar wə·le·ḥā·ṣêr wəḥāṣêr wəḥaṣrêhem wəḥaṣrêhen wəheḥāṣêr wəlaḥăṣar wəleḥāṣêrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts