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חָזֶה

𐤇𐤆𐤄

châzeh

H2373 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חזה to see, gaze, perceive

Definition

The breast or chest, especially the front part of the torso between the neck and the abdomen, chiefly of animals (often used in cultic and ritual contexts regarding sacrificial portions), and at times of humans. In priestly and sacrificial legislation, specifically denotes the part of the animal offered to priests or presented as a ceremonial portion.

Semantic Range

breast (of an animal, esp. in sacrificial ritual); priest's portion; front chest

Root / Etymology

From the root חזה ('to see, gaze, perceive'), the word חָזֶה likely refers to the breast as the most prominent and visible part of the front torso. The derivation illustrates how body part terms often develop from visual characteristics. The root meaning centers on perception or seeing, while the noun denotes a body part defined by its placement.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, חָזֶה is primarily found in priestly texts (notably Leviticus 7:30-34; 8:29; 9:20-21; 10:14-15; Numbers 6:20, 18:18) as the specific term for the breast of a sacrificial animal. According to the sacrificial system, the breast was one of the priestly portions designated as food or presented as a 'wave offering' (תְּנוּפָה) to YHWH and then given to the priests and their families. There is no evidence that חָזֶה refers generically to the human breast, chest, or torso in other contexts; its usage is almost exclusively cultic. The more general term for 'chest' or 'bosom' is חֵיק (cheq). English translations often use 'breast' or 'chest,' but the ritual specification is lost in non-cultic renderings. Over time, the term's use remains within the domain of temple ritual and priestly portions; it does not acquire broader anatomical or metaphorical extensions. Later biblical and post-biblical Hebrew prefer other terms for anatomical reference.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָזָה; the breast (as most seen in front); breast.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חזה (ḥ-z-h) — see, gaze, perceive

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2306 חֲדִי his breast
H2335 חוֹזַי Visionary-One
H2370 חֲזָא he beheld
H2371 חֲזָאֵל El-has-seen
H2372 חָזָה in visionary seeing

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2373-02 הֶֽ/חָזֶ֗ה hechazeh HTd/Ncmsa the breast the front chest 5
H2373-01 חֲזֵ֣ה chazeh HNcmsc breast front breast 4
H2373-03 הֶ/חָז֑וֹת hechazot HTd/Ncmpa the breasts breasts 2
H2373-05 וַ/חֲזֵ֣ה vachazeh HC/Ncmsc and the breast and breast of 1
H2373-04 כַּ/חֲזֵ֧ה kachazeh HR/Ncmsc like-the-breast like the breast of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

13 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2373-02 Exodus 29:26 הֶֽ/חָזֶ֗ה hechazeh HTd/Ncmsa the breast the front chest
H2373-01 Exodus 29:27 חֲזֵ֣ה chazeh HNcmsc the breast front breast
H2373-02 Leviticus 7:30 הֶֽ/חָזֶה֙ hechazeh HTd/Ncmsa the breast the front chest
H2373-02 Leviticus 7:30 הֶ/חָזֶ֗ה hechazeh-2 HTd/Ncmsa breast the front chest
H2373-02 Leviticus 7:31 הֶֽ/חָזֶ֔ה hechazeh HTd/Ncmsa the breast the front chest
H2373-01 Leviticus 7:34 חֲזֵ֨ה chazeh HNcmsc breast front breast
H2373-02 Leviticus 8:29 הֶ֣/חָזֶ֔ה hechazeh HTd/Ncmsa breast the front chest
H2373-03 Leviticus 9:20 הֶ/חָז֑וֹת hechazot HTd/Ncmpa the breasts breasts
H2373-03 Leviticus 9:21 הֶ/חָז֗וֹת hechazot HTd/Ncmpa breasts breasts
H2373-01 Leviticus 10:14 חֲזֵ֨ה chazeh HNcmsc breast front breast
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