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חִבֻּק

𐤇𐤁𐤒

chibbuq

H2264 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חבק to embrace, to clasp, to hold closely

Definition

Embrace; the act of clasping or folding the arms, typically around someone or something. The term denotes a physical gesture of wrapping one's arms around, as in an embrace, often conveying affection, greeting, comfort, or familial connection. In contexts referring to the 'folding of hands,' it carries a metaphorical sense of idleness or rest.

Semantic Range

embrace, physical clasping or hugging, folding of the hands (especially in idleness), comforting embrace, affectionate gesture, gesture or posture indicating rest or inactivity

Root / Etymology

From the root חבק, meaning 'to embrace, hold closely.' חִבֻּק is a nominal form denoting the act or result of embracing. The word is built from the root with the nominal pattern typically expressing an action or result.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חִבֻּק appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Proverbs 6:10; 24:33), where it is used in a figurative sense, 'the folding of the hands,' as a gesture signifying laziness or inaction. The core idea is the bringing together of the arms, whether literally (in an embrace) or figuratively (resting or folding hands in idleness). In later periods — rabbinic and modern Hebrew — חיבוק becomes a standard term for a hug or embrace, focusing on an affectionate physical gesture. The biblical usage retains a more nuanced, metaphorical meaning, especially regarding physical posture and its connotations rather than emotional intent. Greek and English translations sometimes render the term narrowly as 'folding of the hands,' which misses its broader, embodied sense rooted in the action of embracing or clasping. It contrasts with related Hebrew terms for 'touch,' 'grasp,' or 'hold,' in that it specifically involves the arms encircling or enveloping.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָבַק; a clasping of the hands (in idleness); fold.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חבק (ḥ-b-q) — embrace, clasp, hold closely

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2263 חָבַק they tightly embraced
H2265 חֲבַקּוּק Embrace

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2264-01 חִבֻּ֖ק chibuq HNcmsc folding embrace of 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2264-01 Proverbs 6:10 חִבֻּ֖ק chibuq HNcmsc folding embrace of
H2264-01 Proverbs 24:33 חִבֻּ֖ק chibuq HNcmsc folding embrace of
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