חֹב
𐤇𐤁
chôb
H2243 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cherished or intimate place; specifically, the bosom or chest, used both in a literal sense for the part of the body that holds and embraces, and in a figurative sense to denote intimacy, protection, or close relationship.
Semantic Range
bosom, chest (part of the body), place of intimacy or closeness, site of embrace, cherished place
Root / Etymology
Root: חבב. The root meaning is 'to love, cherish, hold dear.' The noun חֹב (chôb) is formed from this root, reflecting something or someone that is cherished, the place of closeness or embrace, i.e., the bosom. The form is a contraction from the verb and is rare in the Hebrew Bible.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֹב (chôb) is an extremely rare term, attested only in poetic or archaic biblical passages, notably in Deuteronomy 13:6 (English 13:7). Its primary sense is physical—the chest or bosom, i.e., the part of the body where another is hugged or held close. This literal image is often extended elsewhere in biblical literature to the sense of intimacy and protection, but the Hebrew usage of חֹב remains concrete and specific. Standard English translations typically render this word as 'bosom,' which accurately reflects the basic meaning, but the underlying Hebrew notion includes the sense of cherished closeness derived from the root. In later Hebrew, derived or related forms are more commonly used (e.g., חֵיק cheq). The use of חֹב appears almost exclusively in early Israelite poetry and is not common in later Hebrew; its use marks the text in which it appears as archaic or poetic. In post-biblical Hebrew, other terms replace חֹב. There is no evidence that the term connoted any specific social or religious category in the historical context of its biblical use.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
by contraction from חָבַב; properly, a cherisher, i.e. the bosom; bosom.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חבב (ḥ-b-b) — love, cherish, hold dear
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2243-01 |
בְּ/חֻבִּ֣/י | bechubi | HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
in my bosom | in my cherished bosom | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2243-01 |
Job 31:33 | בְּ/חֻבִּ֣/י | bechubi | HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
in my bosom | in my cherished bosom |