חוּג
𐤇𐤅𐤂
chûwg
H2329 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A circle, disk, or round shape; specifically refers to a circular or spherical boundary, such as the horizon or vault of the heavens, and in poetic texts may connote the concept of circuit or enclosure. The word can describe both abstract circles (e.g., the celestial horizon) and concrete circular objects or drawings.
Semantic Range
circle, disk, horizon, circuit, vault (of the heavens), circular boundary, round shape
Root / Etymology
From the root חוּג, which conveys the idea of drawing a circle, encircling, or moving in a circle. The noun derives from the root action, signifying the product or result of circling or drawing a boundary.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In pre-exilic and monarchic texts (e.g., Job 22:14; Proverbs 8:27; Isaiah 40:22), חוּג often describes the 'circle of the earth' or the 'vault'—a poetic or cosmological concept referring to the perceived boundary between earth and sky or the dome-like expanse above the earth. Ancient Israelite cosmology typically envisioned the world as a flat disk with a domed firmament, and חוּג reflects this worldview. Later periods (post-exilic and Hellenistic) retained poetic usage but did not revise the term to fit emerging scientific cosmologies. The word is distinct from גָּבוּל (gāvul, 'boundary, border') which refers to defined land boundaries, or עֵגֶל ('egel, 'circle, round object'), usually for physical, tangible circles. English translations often render חוּג as 'circle,' 'circuit,' or 'vault,' but 'vault' may risk anachronistically connoting an architectural arch not present in Hebrew conceptions. The word does not connote mystical or apotropaic circles.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חוּג; a circle; circle, circuit, compass.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חוג (ḥ-w-g) — to draw a circle, to encircle, to make a circuit
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4230 | מְחוּגָה | and in the circle-inscribing tool |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2329-01 |
ח֣וּג | chug | HNcmsc |
a circle | circle-boundary of | 2 |
H2329-02 |
וְ/ח֥וּג | vechug | HC/Ncmsc |
and circle | circle-boundary of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2329-01 |
Isaiah 40:22 | ח֣וּג | chug | HNcmsc |
circle | circle-boundary of |
H2329-01 |
Proverbs 8:27 | ח֝֗וּג | chug | HNcmsa |
a circle | circle-boundary of |
H2329-02 |
Job 22:14 | וְ/ח֥וּג | vechug | HC/Ncmsc |
and circle | circle-boundary of |