חָגַג

châgag /khaw-gag'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root (compare חָגָא, חוּג) · properly, to move in acircle, i.e. (specifically) to march in asacred procession, to observe afestival
Meaningby implication, to be giddy
KJV usagecelebrate, dance, (keep, hold) a (solemn) feast (holiday), reel to and fro.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word châgag, represented by H2287, is a primitive root meaning to move in a circle. This can refer specifically to marching in a sacred procession and observing a festival, or by implication, to be giddy, celebrate, dance, or reel to and fro. It appears 16 times across 14 unique verses in the Bible, often translated as keeping a feast or holiday.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The word H2287 is most frequently used in the context of commanded religious observance. In Exodus, Moses and Aaron deliver God's command to Pharaoh to let the people go so "that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness" Exodus 5:1. This command establishes a pattern of prescribed holy days, such as the instruction to keep the Feast of Tabernacles Zechariah 14:16. Beyond solemn assemblies, the word can also describe physical movement, such as the jubilant dancing of those celebrating a great spoil 1 Samuel 30:16 or the disoriented state of men who reel to and fro like a drunken man Psalms 107:27.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the meaning of châgag:

  • H2282 chag (feast): The noun form directly related to H2287, meaning a festival or feast day. It is almost always used in conjunction with châgag, as seen in the command to "keep it a feast" Exodus 12:14.
  • H2708 chuqqâh (ordinance): This word means an ordinance or statute. It defines the legal and permanent nature of the feasts, establishing them as a "statute for ever" Leviticus 23:41.
  • H5128 nûwaʻ (stagger): Meaning to waver or stagger, this word is used in parallel with H2287 to vividly describe a state of confusion. In Psalms 107:27, those at their wit's end "reel to and fro" (châgag) and "stagger" (nûwaʻ).

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H2287 is rooted in its role as a commanded act of worship and remembrance.

  • Divine Command: Observing a feast is not merely a suggestion but a direct instruction from the LORD. God commands Israel, "Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year" Exodus 23:14, establishing these celebrations as a central part of their covenant relationship with Him.
  • Act of Remembrance: The feasts often serve as a memorial (zikrôwn) of God's mighty acts. The instruction in Exodus 12:14 connects the keeping of the feast directly to it being a memorial throughout their generations.
  • Joyful Worship: The act of keeping a feast is intended to be a time of joy and rejoicing. In Deuteronomy 16:15, Israel is commanded to keep a solemn feast because the LORD will bless their increase and the work of their hands, leading them to "surely rejoice" H8056.
  • Universal Obligation: In later prophecy, the command to keep the Feast of Tabernacles is extended beyond Israel to all nations, with failure to do so resulting in punishment Zechariah 14:16-19. This transforms the act into a sign of worship for the King, the LORD of hosts.

Summary

In summary, H2287 describes far more than a simple party. It is a dynamic term encompassing the sacred, commanded act of observing a feast as well as the physical expressions of dancing or reeling to and fro. Its use highlights key aspects of biblical faith, including obedience to divine ordinance, joyful worship, and the importance of remembering God's works. From a national command for Israel to a future requirement for all nations, châgag defines a fundamental act of devotion to God.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 16 occurrences, inflected in 9 grammatical forms.

  • Qal Consecutive Perfect 2nd Plural Masculine 3×
  • Qal Imperfect 2nd Plural Masculine 3×
  • Qal Infinitive Construct 3×
  • Qal Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Qal Conjunction+Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Imperative 2nd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Participle Plural Masculine Absolute 1×
  • Qal Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Imperative
A command or entreaty.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Conjunction+Imperfect
Imperfect joined by a simple "and".
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 14 verses across 8 books. Most frequent in Exodus (3 verses).

3
Exodus
2
Leviticus
1
Numbers
1
Deuteronomy
1
1 Samuel
2
Psalms
1
Nahum
3
Zechariah

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