חָרְגֹּל
𐤇𐤓𐤂𐤋
chârᵉgôl
H2728 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of leaping insect; specifically, a kind of locust or grasshopper, possibly denoting a particular species within the general class of edible, leaping insects. In biblical usage, it represents an insect permitted for consumption under Israelite dietary laws.
Semantic Range
leaping insect, locust, grasshopper; possibly, a specific species or type of edible, leaping orthopteran
Root / Etymology
Root: חרגל, from חרג, possibly meaning 'to leap, to bound'. The word חָרְגֹּל appears to be a diminutive or derivative noun formed to denote an insect characterized by leaping, such as certain species of locusts or grasshoppers. The root-level sense of agile movement is preserved in the derived noun. Etymology uncertain beyond possible relation to motion.
Historical & Contextual Notes
חָרְגֹּל occurs in Leviticus 11:22 in a list of permitted insects under Israelite dietary law, alongside other leaping insects. While older translations (including the KJV) sometimes render it 'beetle,' the textual and zoological context points toward a leaping orthopteran, such as a locust or grasshopper. Modern scholarship generally excludes beetles, as these do not leap in the manner described in the biblical text nor match dietary contexts. The term is functionally semantically distinct from other words for locust (e.g. אַרְבֶּה, גָּב, סָלְעָם), which are also listed in Leviticus 11:22, perhaps indicating either different species within the same family or varying regional or morphological types. The exact species identification is uncertain, but the word would have been understood by ancient Israelites and is associated with clean, edible, swarming insects. The meaning did not significantly shift in later periods, but translation traditions sometimes took liberties, leading to less specific or erroneous interpretations in English.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָרַג; the leaping insect, i.e. a locust; beetle.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חרג (ḥ-r-g) — to leap, to bound
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H2727 | חָרַג | and they will spring up |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2728-01 |
הַ/חַרְגֹּ֣ל | hacharegol | HTd/Ncmsa |
the cricket | the leaping locust | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2728-01 |
Leviticus 11:22 | הַ/חַרְגֹּ֣ל | hacharegol | HTd/Ncmsa |
the cricket | the leaping locust |