Chol (Bible)
Biblical term for phoenix or sand, debated by scholars.
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Chol (Hebrew: חוֹל ḥōl) appears in Job 29:18 of the Masoretic Hebrew Bible, where some traditions have taken it to mean "phoenix." The Leningrad Codex records the verse as: אֹמַר עִם־קִנִּ֣י אֶגְוָ֑ע וְ֝כַח֗וֹל אַרְבֶּ֥ה יָמִֽים. The Greek Septuagint, around 200 BCE, translated the Hebrew ḥōl as στέλεχος φοίνικος ("stem of a palm tree"), and the Latin Vulgate, around 400 CE, rendered it as palma ("palm tree"). The Greek word φοῖνιξ can mean either palm tree or phoenix, though the former is far more common.
Interpretations of ḥōl have long been debated. In 1971, Roelof Van den Broek argued that "sand" was the most fitting meaning, since ḥōl usually means sand in Hebrew; he saw "multiply my days like the sand" as a metaphor for a long life. In 1974, Mitchell Dahood countered in favor of "phoenix," citing parallels between Job and Ugaritic texts. Specifically, the Ugaritic phrase ḥl rḥb mknpt ("phoenix broad of wingspread") points to a Ugaritic noun ḥl meaning "phoenix"—since "sand" makes no sense in that context. Ugaritic ḥl is cognate to Hebrew ḥōl.
Rabbinic sources preserved the phoenix interpretation. The school of Rabbi Jannai taught that the ḥōl lives a thousand years, then a fire from its nest burns it down to the size of an egg, after which it regrows its limbs and lives again. Rabbi Judan ben Simon said it lives a thousand years, then its body is consumed and its wings crumble until only an egg-sized remnant remains, from which it regrows limbs and lives.
- field
- Biblical lexicography
- known_for
- Word in Job 29:18 interpreted as 'phoenix' or 'sand'
- language
- Hebrew
Lore & Background
The Leningrad Codex reads the verse as 'omar ‘im-qinni ’egva‘; vekhachol, ’arbeh yamim.' The Greek Septuagint (circa 200 BCE) rendered Hebrew ḥōl as στέλεχος φοίνικος ('stem/trunk of a palm tree'), which the Latin Vulgate (circa 400 CE) interpreted as palma ('palm tree'). The Greek term φοῖνιξ ambiguously denotes both the palm tree and the phoenix, the former being far more common.
Roelof Van den Broek (1971) believed 'sand' was the most appropriate interpretation, following the common meaning of ḥōl in Hebrew, making 'multiply my days like the sand' a metaphor for a long life. Mitchell Dahood (1974) argued for 'phoenix' based on parallels between Job and Ugaritic texts, noting the Ugaritic line ḥl rḥb mknpt 'phoenix broad of wingspread' and that Ugaritic ḥl 'phoenix' is cognate to Hebrew ḥōl.
The Rabbis preserved the original understanding of ḥōl as referring to the phoenix. The school of R. Jannai said the ḥōl lives a thousand years, then a fire issues from its nest and burns it until as much as an egg is left, after which it grows limbs again and lives. R. Judan b. Simon said it lives a thousand years, then its body is consumed and its wings crumble to pieces until as much as an egg is left, then it grows limbs again and lives.
Reader's Guide
The significance of Chol lies in its contested meaning within biblical scholarship, reflecting broader interpretive challenges in ancient texts. The word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Job 29:18, and its translation affects the understanding of the verse's metaphor for longevity. The debate between 'sand' and 'phoenix' hinges on philological evidence from Ugaritic cognates and rabbinic tradition versus the common Hebrew usage. The Septuagint and Vulgate translations introduced ambiguity through the Greek term φοῖνιξ, which could mean either palm tree or phoenix. This lexical uncertainty has persisted for centuries, with modern scholars like Van den Broek and Dahood offering opposing views. The rabbinic accounts of the phoenix's cyclical rebirth provide a mythological framework that aligns with the 'phoenix' interpretation. The entry underscores how a single word can generate diverse theological and literary interpretations, and how ancient translations and later commentaries shape the reception of biblical texts. The legacy of Chol is as a case study in textual criticism and the interplay between Hebrew, Greek, and Latin traditions.
Did You Know?
- The Greek Septuagint rendered Hebrew ḥōl as στέλεχος φοίνικος, meaning 'stem/trunk of a palm tree'.
- Mitchell Dahood (1974) argued for the interpretation 'phoenix' based on Ugaritic texts.
- The school of R. Jannai said the ḥōl lives a thousand years, then a fire burns it until only an egg-sized remnant remains, after which it regenerates.
- The Latin Vulgate interpreted the Greek term as palma, meaning 'palm tree'.
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