חֹבָב
𐤇𐤁𐤁
Chovav
H2246 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'dearly loved' or 'cherished.' Used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to a Midianite individual associated with Moses, referred to as Moses' father-in-law in Numbers 10:29. The term connotes someone who is beloved, reflecting the root's idea of affectionate regard. In all instances, it functions strictly as a proper noun without extending to a common noun meaning.
Semantic Range
cherished, beloved (as a proper name), personal name of a Midianite man associated with Moses
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root חָבַב (ḥābab), which means 'to love, cherish, regard with affection.' The formation חֹבָב (Chobab) is a rare personal name built from this root, possibly a descriptive name indicating affection. The root meaning 'to cherish' is preserved in the personal name, implying belovedness or dearness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֹבָב appears in Numbers 10:29 as a prominent Midianite, traditionally identified as Moses' father-in-law or possibly his brother-in-law, depending on the interpretation of familial terms in biblical genealogies. This personal name signifies someone dearly loved or held in affection, consistent with naming patterns in the ancient Near East where names often indicated relationships or character attributes. The text does not use this term as a common noun, and its employment is strictly nominal. English translations have sometimes rendered the related term as 'Hobab,' but this is a phonetic adaptation and does not convey the semantic nuance of affection expressed in the original name. Confusion can arise between חֹבָב ('Hobab') and יתר (Yitro, 'Jethro'), as different biblical passages name Moses' father-in-law differently; some explanations consider Hobab a nephew or another close relative. Later Jewish and Christian traditions often conflate or harmonize these figures, but the Hebrew text presents them as distinct individuals. The rendering 'Jew' or 'Jewish' for this individual is anachronistic and does not reflect the ethnic or religious setting of the narrative, which predates the formation of either term or identity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָבַב; cherished; Chobab, father-in-law of Moses; Hobab.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חבב (ḥ-b-b) — to love, to cherish, to regard with affection
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2246-01 |
חֹבָ֖ב | chovav | HNp |
Hobab | Cherished-one | Chovav | 1 |
H2246-02 |
לְ֠/חֹבָב | lechovav | HR/Np |
to Hobab | to Cherished-One | to Chovav | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2246-02 |
Numbers 10:29 | לְ֠/חֹבָב | lechovav | HR/Np |
to Hobab | to Cherished-One | to Chovav |
H2246-01 |
Judges 4:11 | חֹבָ֖ב | chovav | HNp |
Hobab | Cherished-one | Chovav |