or חָג; from חָגַג; a festival, or a victim therefor; (solemn) feast (day), sacrifice, solemnity.
Transliteration:chag
Pronunciation:khag
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word חַג (chag, `{{H2282}}`) is primarily a noun derived from the verb חָגַג (chagag, `{{H2287}}`), which means "to keep a pilgrim feast," "to reel," "to stagger," or "to dance." This etymological root suggests a dynamic, often joyful, movement or procession associated with religious observance. The noun חַג itself carries a core meaning of "festival" or "feast." Its semantic range encompasses:
* A specific religious festival or holy day, particularly one requiring pilgrimage.
* The act or celebration of observing such a festival.
* Metonymically, the sacrifice offered during a festival.
* A more general sense of a "solemn assembly" or "solemnity."
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term חַג (chag) appears frequently in the Old Testament, predominantly in reference to the three annual pilgrim festivals commanded by Yahweh for the people of Israel:
* **The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover):** Often called חַג הַמַּצּוֹת (Chag HaMatzot), this feast commemorated the Exodus from Egypt and the haste with which Israel left, not having time for bread to rise. It is commanded in texts such as [[Exodus 23:15]] and [[Deuteronomy 16:16]].
* **The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost):** Known as חַג הַקָּצִיר (Chag HaKatzir), the Feast of Harvest, or חַג שָׁבֻעוֹת (Chag Shavuot), the Feast of Weeks, this festival celebrated the firstfruits of the wheat harvest and, by tradition, the giving of the Torah at Sinai. References include [[Exodus 23:16]] and [[Deuteronomy 16:10]].
* **The Feast of Booths/Tabernacles (Ingathering):** Designated חַג הָאָסִיף (Chag HaAsif), the Feast of Ingathering, or simply חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת (Chag HaSukkot), this feast commemorated Israel's wandering in the wilderness and God's provision, and celebrated the final harvest. It is mentioned in [[Exodus 23:16]] and [[Deuteronomy 16:13]]. This feast was so prominent and joyful that it was sometimes simply referred to as הֶחָג (HaChag), "the Feast," as seen in accounts like [[1 Kings 8:2]] and [[2 Chronicles 7:8]] during Solomon's dedication of the Temple.
Beyond these primary associations, chag is used in broader contexts:
* To refer to a general festival or feast day, as in [[Exodus 10:9]] (Pharaoh's question about the purpose of the feast) or [[Leviticus 23:41]] (command to keep the Feast of Booths).
* Metonymically, to denote the sacrificial offering made during a feast, as in [[Psalm 118:27]]: "Bind the sacrifice (חַג) with cords to the horns of the altar."
* In prophetic contexts, chag can refer to a time of national celebration or deliverance, as in [[Nahum 1:15]] ("Keep your feasts, O Judah!"). Conversely, prophets like Amos and Isaiah used chag to critique empty ritualism when divorced from righteousness and justice ([[Amos 5:21]], [[Isaiah 1:13-14]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
The understanding of חַג (chag, `{{H2282}}`) is enriched by its relationship to other Hebrew terms and theological concepts:
* **חָגַג (chagag, `{{H2287}}`):** The root verb, emphasizing the active participation, movement, and often joyful "reeling" or "dancing" associated with the celebration of these feasts. This highlights that chag was not merely a static observance but a dynamic, embodied act of worship.
* **מוֹעֵד (mo'ed, `{{H4150}}`):** Meaning "appointed time," "appointed place," or "assembly." This is a broader category of divinely ordained gatherings or seasons, under which the chagim fall. While every chag is a mo'ed, not every mo'ed (e.g., weekly Sabbath, New Moon) is a chag requiring pilgrimage.
* **מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ (mikra kodesh, `{{H4744}}` `{{H6944}}`):** "Holy convocation" or "sacred assembly." This term denotes the mandatory gathering for worship on specific feast days, emphasizing their sacred and communal nature.
* **Concepts:** The chagim are intimately linked to core Israelite concepts such as pilgrimage, communal worship, sacrifice, covenant remembrance, national identity, agricultural cycles, and the expression of joy before the Lord.
### Theological Significance
The חַגִּים (chaggim - plural of chag) hold profound theological significance within the Old Testament:
* **Covenantal Obligation and Divine Command:** The feasts were not optional cultural traditions but divine ordinances, central to Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. They served as perpetual reminders of God's redemptive acts (Passover: deliverance from Egypt), His ongoing provision (Weeks: firstfruits), and His faithfulness in guiding and dwelling with His people (Booths: wilderness sojourn).
* **Communion and Joy:** The pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the chagim fostered national unity and provided unique opportunities for direct worship and intimate communion with God at His chosen dwelling place. These feasts, particularly Sukkot, were characterized by profound joy and rejoicing before the Lord, a joy rooted in God's goodness and abundant provision ([[Deuteronomy 16:14-15]]).
* **Historical Remembrance:** Each chag served as an annual re-enactment and remembrance of pivotal moments in Israel's history, preventing amnesia regarding God's mighty acts and reinforcing their identity as His redeemed people.
* **Prophetic Anticipation:** Many of the chagim carry a prophetic dimension, foreshadowing aspects of God's redemptive plan through the Messiah. Passover finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's atoning sacrifice ([[1 Corinthians 5:7]]), and Weeks (Pentecost) in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit ([[Acts 2:1-4]]). The Feast of Booths is often seen as a type of the future Messianic age, when God will fully tabernacle with His people.
* **Ethical Imperative:** The prophets consistently challenged the superficial observance of chagim without genuine repentance, justice, and righteousness. They emphasized that true worship and celebration of the feasts required not merely outward ritual but an inward transformation that manifested in ethical living and care for the vulnerable ([[Isaiah 1:13-17]], [[Amos 5:21-24]]).
### Summary
The Hebrew word חַג (chag, `{{H2282}}`), derived from the verb חָגַג (chagag, `{{H2287}}`) meaning "to keep a pilgrim feast" or "to dance," fundamentally signifies a "festival" or "feast" in the Old Testament. Its most prominent usage refers to the three annual pilgrim festivals (Passover/Unleavened Bread, Weeks, and Booths) which mandated the presence of all Israelite males before the Lord in Jerusalem. The semantic range of chag also encompasses the sacrificial offering made during these festivals and, more broadly, any solemn assembly. Theologically, the chagim were divinely ordained expressions of Israel's covenant with Yahweh, serving as crucial occasions for corporate worship, remembrance of God's redemptive acts, and joyful communion with Him. They underscored both God's faithfulness and Israel's unique identity, while also carrying profound prophetic significance pointing towards future messianic fulfillment. The prophets, however, consistently emphasized that genuine chag required not merely outward ritual but also inward righteousness and ethical living, highlighting God's demand for holiness alongside celebration.
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