חֲבַקּוּק
𐤇𐤁𐤒𐤅𐤒
Chavaquq
H2265 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Chăbaqqûwq is a proper masculine noun referring to the Israelite prophet named Habakkuk. The name is understood as a personal name, most likely meaning 'embrace,' which may connote affection, acceptance, or being upheld. The word is used exclusively to refer to the prophet addressed in the book bearing his name (Book of Habakkuk), and is not attested elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible as a common noun or in non-biblical texts as a common personal name.
Semantic Range
the personal name of the prophet Habakkuk, literal meaning 'embrace'; used as a proper noun only
Root / Etymology
Derived by reduplication from the root חבק (ḥ-b-q), which means 'to embrace.' The doubling of the second and third consonant is a standard Hebrew pattern for forming some personal names and nouns. The extended form חֲבַקּוּק (Chăbaqqûwq) thus likely originated as a theophoric or expressive personal name based on the root meaning. Etymology is agreed by tradition and root form, though attestation outside of the biblical usage is lacking.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Chăbaqqûwq is uniquely the name of an Israelite prophet, appearing as the superscription of the prophetic book attributed to him (Habakkuk 1:1, 3:1). The semantic nuance of 'embrace' in personal names could suggest belovedness, acceptance, or being upheld, but the text does not provide narrative explanation for his name. The name is not used elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible. In post-biblical and translation tradition, 'Habakkuk' became a standard rendering, but early context reflects Israelite naming patterns. There is no evidence to link the prophet to the later concept of 'Jew' or 'Judaism'; those terms are anachronistic for his period. Related roots are used in names like חֲבַקּוֹק (biblical spelling) only in this instance, and it stands distinct from later Greco-Roman or Aramaic forms. Comparisons with other Israelite names based on verbs (e.g., Isaiah, 'YHWH saves') indicate a general trend of meaningful theophoric or virtue-based naming.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
by reduplication from חָבַק; embrace; Chabakkuk, the prophet; Habakkuk.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חבק (ḥ-b-q) — to embrace, to clasp, to hold close
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2265-01 |
חֲבַקּ֖וּק | chavaquq | HNp |
Habakkuk | Embrace | 1 |
H2265-02 |
לַ/חֲבַקּ֣וּק | lachavaquq | HR/Np |
of Habakkuk | to Embrace | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2265-01 |
Habakkuk 1:1 | חֲבַקּ֖וּק | chavaquq | HNp |
Habakkuk | Embrace |
H2265-02 |
Habakkuk 3:1 | לַ/חֲבַקּ֣וּק | lachavaquq | HR/Np |
of Habakkuk | to Embrace |