חֲגָבָא
𐤇𐤂𐤁𐤀
Chagava
H2286 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name, most likely meaning 'locust' (from the root meaning locust or grasshopper); used in the biblical record as a female name among the Nethinim, a temple-servant class in the post-exilic community. The name is directly derived from the word for locust, indicating either a symbolic or descriptive association.
Semantic Range
locust, personal or family name, member of Nethinim group
Root / Etymology
From the root חגב (ḥ-g-b), meaning 'locust' or 'grasshopper.' חֲגָבָא (Chăgâbâʼ) is a feminine form of חָגָב (locust), created by the addition of a feminine ending. Used here as a personal name, the etymology is straightforward, based on the association with the insect.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חֲגָבָא appears only in Ezra 2:46 (variously spelled חֲגָבָה in Nehemiah 7:48), listed among the Nethinim returning from Babylonian exile along with other temple-servant families. As with many proper names in these lists, the meaning likely reflects a traditional or symbolic naming practice rather than literal description. The use of a common noun (locust) as a personal name is paralleled by similar naming patterns in post-exilic lists (compare עםֶּצֶר [grasshopper], אֶיָלָה [doe], etc.). English Bibles sometimes render the name as Hagabah or Hagaba, and at times treat it as a male name; the form and context in the Hebrew text suggest a female bearer or a feminized family group. There is no evidence for a broader range of meaning beyond its function as a personal or family name; its root meaning of 'locust' does not imply additional attributes except insofar as these may be symbolically associated with the animal (such as swiftness or migratory character). Unlike later terminology, this name is tied to a specific group in the post-exilic Jerusalem community and does not denote ethnic or religious status beyond association with the Nethinim.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or חֲגָבָה; feminine of חָגָב; locust; Chagaba or Chagabah, one of the Nethinim; Hagaba, Hagabah.
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, locust, grasshopper
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2286-01 |
חֲגָבָ֖ה | chagavah | HNp |
Hagaba | Locust-woman | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2286-01 |
Ezra 2:45 | חֲגָבָ֖ה | chagavah | HNp |
Hagabah | Locust-woman |
H2286-01 |
Nehemiah 7:48 | חֲגָבָ֖ה | chagavah | HNp |
Hagaba | Locust-woman |