What does חָגַג (ḥāgag) mean in the Bible?
חָגַג (ḥāgag): Circular motion ritualized: to celebrate festivals through sacred processions marking covenant community identity
Hebrew · H2287
חָגַג
Properly, to move in a circle , i.e. (specifically) to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; by implication, to be giddy
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חָגַגH2287
Pronunciationḥāgag
What does חָגַג (ḥāgag) mean in the Bible?
חָגַג (ḥāgag): Circular motion ritualized: to celebrate festivals through sacred processions marking covenant community identity
Full entry for חָגַג (H2287) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2287?
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include you are to celebrate (3), to celebrate (2), - (1), and celebrating (1), and to celebrate (1).
Where does חָגַג (ḥāgag) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 5:1. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (4), Leviticus (3), Zechariah (3), Psalms (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ityou are to celebrate3×Leviticus 23:39, Leviticus 23:41
to celebrate2×Zechariah 14:18, Zechariah 14:19
-1×Exodus 12:14
and celebrating1×1 Samuel 30:16
and to celebrate1×Zechariah 14:16
and you are to celebrate1×Exodus 12:14
and you shall observe1×Numbers 29:12
Celebrate1×Nahum 1:15
procession1×Psalms 42:4
so that they may hold a feast1×Exodus 5:1
They reeled1×Psalms 107:27
you are to celebrate a feast1×Exodus 23:14
you shall celebrate a feast1×Deuteronomy 16:15
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 5:1וְיָחֹ֥גּוּtoso that they may hold a feastConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralExodus 12:14וְחַגֹּתֶ֥םtoand you are to celebrateConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralExodus 12:14תְּחָגֻּֽהוּ׃to-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | third person masculine singularExodus 23:14תָּחֹ֥גtoyou are to celebrate a feastVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularLeviticus 23:39תָּחֹ֥גּוּtoyou are to celebrateVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralLeviticus 23:41וְחַגֹּתֶ֤םtoYou are to celebrateConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralLeviticus 23:41תָּחֹ֥גּוּtoyou are to celebrateVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralNumbers 29:12וְחַגֹּתֶ֥םtoand you shall observeConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 16:15תָּחֹג֙toyou shall celebrate a feastVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular1 Samuel 30:16וְחֹ֣גְגִ֔יםtoand celebratingConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 5:1
Aligned rows16
Books represented8
Exodus4Leviticus3Numbers1Deuteronomy11 Samuel1Psalms2Nahum1Zechariah3
Source forms
וְחַגֹּתֶ֥ם2xwə·ḥag·gō·ṯemExodus 12:14, Numbers 29:12
לָחֹ֖ג2xlā·ḥōḡZechariah 14:18, Zechariah 14:19
תָּחֹ֥גּוּ2xtā·ḥōg·gūLeviticus 23:39, Leviticus 23:41
וְחֹ֣גְגִ֔ים1xwə·ḥō·ḡə·ḡîm1 Samuel 30:16
וְחַגֹּתֶ֤ם1xwə·ḥag·gō·ṯemLeviticus 23:41
וְיָחֹ֥גּוּ1xwə·yā·ḥōg·gūExodus 5:1
וְלָחֹ֖ג1xwə·lā·ḥōḡZechariah 14:16
חָגִּ֧י1xḥāg·gîNahum 1:15
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural3xExodus 12:14, Leviticus 23:41, Numbers 29:12
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct2xZechariah 14:18, Zechariah 14:19
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural2xLeviticus 23:39, Leviticus 23:41
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular2xExodus 23:14, Deuteronomy 16:15
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xExodus 5:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural1x1 Samuel 30:16
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1xZechariah 14:16
Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular1xNahum 1:15
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Circular motion ritualized: to celebrate festivals through sacred processions marking covenant community identity
Source Gloss
properly, to move in a circle , i.e. (specifically) to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; by implication, to be giddy
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Circular motion ritualized: to celebrate festivals through sacred processions marking covenant community identity
properly, to move in a circle, i.e. (specifically) to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; by implication, to be giddy BDB: make a pilgrimage Usage: celebrate, dance, (keep, hold) a (solemn) feast (holiday), reel to and fro.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms7
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense7×
ImperfectDeut 16:15 · Exod 23:14 · Lev 23:39 · Lev 23:41 · Ps 107:275×
Sequential imperfectNah 2:11×
Participle activePs 42:51×
Word Origins
חָגַג is built from these roots:
חָגָאH2283
חוּגH2328