Meaning of Chet (ח) Hebrew Letter

Chet is the eighth Hebrew letter. It represents a strong guttural sound and is traditionally associated with a fence or enclosure in pictographic teaching.

Pronunciation and form

Pronounced: KHET. Sound: ḥ / kh. A strong guttural consonant

Traditional meaning and association

Chet is traditionally associated with Fence; related teaching associations include Enclosure / Life. These traditional pictures should be distinguished from the letter’s role as a consonant in actual Hebrew words.

Biblical Hebrew word examples

חיים (Chayyim) — Life Genesis 2:9
חן (Chen) — Favor Genesis 6:8
חסד (Chesed) — Steadfast love Exodus 34:6
חכמה (Chokhmah) — Wisdom Exodus 31:3

Scripture connections and Messiah

חיים — CHAYYIM · LIFE
Chet begins chayyim, life. In John 14:6, Jesus identifies Himself as the life.
John 14:6
חסד — CHESED · STEADFAST LOVE
Chet begins chesed, steadfast love. John 1:17 places grace and truth at the center of what comes through Jesus.
John 1:17

Psalm 119 study passage

The acrostic stanza for Chet is Psalm 119:57–64. Read the first verse of this stanza in the TOC Bible reader.