חָגָב
𐤇𐤂𐤁
châgâb
H2284 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of locust or grasshopper, referring specifically to a species of short-horned locust noted for its swarming behavior. In the Hebrew Bible, חָגָב (châgâb) is primarily used to describe a small, hopping, flying insect as a natural phenomenon, often as a metaphor for insignificance or vulnerability. In some contexts, it is presented as a permissible food according to Israelite dietary laws (Leviticus 11:22).
Semantic Range
locust, grasshopper, edible insect, metaphor for smallness or insignificance
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. The term חָגָב has no securely established root in Biblical Hebrew. Some suggest a potential link with Arabic and related Semitic languages, possibly referring to a creature that leaps or migrates, but no consensus has been reached. It is not securely derived from any known Hebrew root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָגָב appears in lists of edible insects (e.g., Leviticus 11:22), implying a distinct species of locust recognizable to ancient Israelites, though its precise zoological identification is debated. In Numbers 13:33, it serves as part of a metaphor comparing the perceived smallness of the Israelites to the inhabitants of the land, highlighting insignificance and vulnerability. Throughout the First Temple period, the word is a term for a specific locust species. The word's semantic range does not extend to the religious or symbolic use found in later periods. English translations typically render חָגָב as 'locust,' but there is some ambiguity due to the variety of edible and inedible locust species in the region. It is distinct from other Hebrew terms for locusts, such as אַרְבֶּה ('arbeh), יֶּלֶק ('yelek), and צְלָע ('tselā'), each of which refers to different species or stages of locust development.
Translation Consistency
The Hebrew חָגָב refers to the short‑horned swarming insect commonly rendered “locust” in English. “Locust” is the natural, widely used noun that captures both the literal insect (including edible instances) and the typical metaphorical sense of smallness/insignificance; it is more fitting and idiomatic than alternatives like “grasshopper.”
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
of uncertain derivation; a locust; locust.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חגב (ḥ-g-b) — uncertain; possibly leaping, swarming
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2284-02 |
הֶ/חָגָ֖ב | hechagav | HTd/Ncmsa |
the grasshopper | the locust | the locust | 2 |
H2284-03 |
כַּֽ/חֲגָבִ֔ים | kachagavim | HR/Ncmpa |
like grasshoppers | locusts | like grasshoppers | 2 |
H2284-01 |
חָגָ֖ב | chagav | HNcmsa |
locust | short-horned locust | the locust | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2284-02 |
Leviticus 11:22 | הֶ/חָגָ֖ב | hechagav | HTd/Ncmsa |
the grasshopper | the locust | the locust |
H2284-03 |
Numbers 13:33 | כַּֽ/חֲגָבִ֔ים | kachagavim | HR/Ncmpa |
like grasshoppers | locusts | like grasshoppers |
H2284-03 |
Isaiah 40:22 | כַּ/חֲגָבִ֑ים | kachagavim | HR/Ncmpa |
like-grasshoppers | locusts | like grasshoppers |
H2284-02 |
Ecclesiastes 12:5 | הֶֽ/חָגָ֔ב | hechagav | HTd/Ncmsa |
the grasshopper | the locust | the locust |
H2284-01 |
2 Chronicles 7:13 | חָגָ֖ב | chagav | HNcmsa |
locust | short-horned locust | the locust |