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חָגַר

𐤇𐤂𐤓

châgar

H2296 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חגר to gird, to bind around, to fasten clothing/equipment

Definition

To gird, bind, or fasten clothing or equipment about the body, especially by tying on a belt, sash, or armor. Used both in literal senses—to refer to the act of securing garments or military gear—and in extended figurative senses, such as preparing oneself for action or strengthening oneself. The word can denote readiness, preparation for activity, or equipping for a specific task or challenge.

Semantic Range

to gird (clothing, belt, armor), to bind on, to equip or arm oneself, to prepare oneself, to be ready, to muster strength (figuratively), to encircle, be surrounded (idiomatically), to be restrained (rare or extended sense)

Root / Etymology

From the root חגר (ḥ-g-r), meaning 'to gird, enclose, bind around.' The verb derives directly from the core root sense of tying or fastening about the body. Though often used in reference to clothing or armor, the root sense is binding or securing something encircling the body.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָגַר is a common verb across biblical Hebrew, especially in contexts involving physical preparation—such as warriors girding swords (1 Samuel 17:39, 25:13), people dressing for travel or service (Jeremiah 1:17), or metaphorical uses where individuals are called to 'gird up' strength (Psalm 18:33; Job 40:7). In military settings, the term often references equipping oneself with weapons or armor, signifying readiness for conflict. In prophetic or poetic texts, the term can function metaphorically: 'girding strength' or 'girding for battle' carries the sense of mental or spiritual preparation as well as physical. While English translations sometimes render it 'be able,' 'restrain,' or 'be appointed,' these are contexts where the idea is derived from readiness accomplished by girding or preparation, not a primary semantic sense. Idiomatic uses—such as 'on every side'—arise when the verb appears with surrounding or encircling objects (e.g., Psalm 109:19). The word's range narrows in later biblical and post-biblical texts, but in pre-exilic and exilic usage, it retains the broader physical and figurative spectrum. Related roots are חבש ('to bind, bandage'), but חָגַר emphasizes the dynamic act of equipping (especially for movement or conflict), rather than static binding. English 'gird' only partially captures this sense, as 'to gird' in contemporary speech is archaic and less dynamic than the Hebrew.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to gird on (as a belt, armor, etc.); be able to put on, be afraid, appointed, gird, restrain, [idiom] on every side.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חגר (ḥ-g-r) — to gird, to bind around, to fasten clothing or equipment

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2289 חָגוֹר belted ones
H2290 חֲגוֹר his girding-belt
H4228 מַחֲגֹרֶת belt of

Word Forms

25 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2296-17 וַ/יַּחְגֹּ֤ר vayachegor HC/Vqw3ms and girded and he girded on 6
H2296-05 חָג֖וּר chagur HVqsmsa was girded girded one 5
H2296-03 חֲגֹ֣ר chagor HVqv2ms Gird up girding of 3
H2296-07 חֲגֻרִ֔ים chagurim HVqrmpa girded girding ones 3
H2296-09 חִגְר֣וּ chigeru HVqv2mp Gird on Gird yourselves 3
H2296-19 וְ/חָגְר֣וּ vechageru HC/Vqq3cp and they will gird and they girded themselves 2
H2296-16 וַֽ/יַּחְגְּרוּ֙ vayachegeru HC/Vqw3mp and they girded and they girded themselves 2
H2296-02 חָ֣גְרוּ chageru HVqp3cp have girded they girded themselves 2
H2296-10 חֹגֵ֖ר choger HVqrmsa able to bear arms one who girds on 2
H2296-24 יַחְגְּר֖וּ yachegeru HVqi3mp shall they gird they will gird on 1

Occurrences in Scripture

44 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2296-07 Exodus 12:11 חֲגֻרִ֔ים chagurim HVqrmpa girded girding ones
H2296-18 Exodus 29:9 וְ/חָגַרְתָּ֩ vechagareta HC/Vqq2ms and you shall gird and you will gird on
H2296-17 Leviticus 8:7 וַ/יַּחְגֹּ֤ר vayachegor HC/Vqw3ms and girded and he girded on
H2296-17 Leviticus 8:7 וַ/יַּחְגֹּ֣ר vayachegor-2 HC/Vqw3ms and girded and he girded on
H2296-17 Leviticus 8:13 וַ/יַּחְגֹּ֤ר vayachegor HC/Vqw3ms and-girded and he girded on
H2296-25 Leviticus 16:4 יַחְגֹּ֔ר yachegor HVqi3ms he shall gird he will gird on
H2296-15 Deuteronomy 1:41 וַֽ/תַּחְגְּר֗וּ vatachegeru HC/Vqw2mp and you girded and you girded yourselves
H2296-17 Judges 3:16 וַ/יַּחְגֹּ֤ר vayachegor HC/Vqw3ms and he girded and he girded on
H2296-05 Judges 18:11 חָג֖וּר chagur HVqsmsa armed girded one
H2296-07 Judges 18:16 חֲגוּרִים֙ chagurim HVqsmpa girded girding ones
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