חָגָב
𐤇𐤂𐤁
Chagav
H2285 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
(1) A species of locust, particularly a large, migratory grasshopper considered a clean insect in the Israelite dietary code; (2) Chagab, a personal name occurring among the Nethinim returnees listed in post-exilic genealogies. The primary sense denotes a type of grasshopper, with literary and metaphorical usage indicating swarms of locusts or, figuratively, smallness or insignificance in comparison with larger entities; as a personal name, its etymological connotations may be symbolic or honorific.
Semantic Range
locust, grasshopper species, insignificant/small creature (figurative), personal name (Chagab)
Root / Etymology
From the root חגב (חָגָב), likely related to the core sense of 'to be high, to leap' based on similar Semitic roots, referring to the insect’s jumping ability. Direct noun formation from the root, denoting the insect itself. As a personal name, probably derived from or identical in form to the noun.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, חָגָב designates one of several species of edible locusts listed among permitted foods (Lev 11:22), distinguished from other locust or grasshopper terms (e.g., אַרְבֶּה, גָּזָם, יַלְקָה), each perhaps denoting different species or forms. The usage in Numbers 13:33 (“we were in our own sight as grasshoppers”) illustrates its idiomatic sense: connoting the humble stature or perceived insignificance of the observers. The identity of the precise species remains debated, but ancient translations typically render it as locust or grasshopper. As a personal name (Chagab, Ezra 2:46, Neh 7:48), it appears among the ‘Nethinim’, a temple-servant class in the post-exilic community. Later translation tradition (notably in the KJV) sometimes blends transliteration with translated meanings; note that the term 'locust' is broader in English and may not correspond precisely to the biblical taxonomic scheme. Usage of the name Chagab is restricted to genealogical contexts and is not attested with wider narrative development.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as חָגָב; locust; Chagab, one of the Nethinim; Hagab.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חגב (ḥ-g-b) — to leap, to spring, grasshopper/locust
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2285-01 |
חָגָ֥ב | chagav | HNp |
Hagab | Chagab | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2285-01 |
Ezra 2:46 | חָגָ֥ב | chagav | HNp |
Hagab | Chagab |