from חָגַג; festive; Chaggi, an Israelite; also (patronymically) a Chaggite, or descendant of the same; Haggi, Haggites.
Transliteration:Chaggîy
Pronunciation:khag-ghee'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma is חַגִּי (Chaggîy, `{{H2291}}`). Its base definition is "festive," stemming directly from the root verb חָגַג (chagag, `{{H2287}}`), which signifies "to keep a feast," "to celebrate," or "to make a pilgrimage." As a proper noun, חַגִּי functions as a personal name, "Chaggi" or "Haggi." When used in a patronymic sense, it refers to the descendants of Haggi, known as "Chaggite" or "Haggites." The inherent meaning of the name thus evokes a sense of celebration, pilgrimage, or festivity, deeply rooted in the concept of religious observance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The lemma חַגִּי (Chaggîy, `{{H2291}}`) appears in two key genealogical contexts within the Hebrew Bible.
1. **[[Genesis 46:16]]**: Haggi is listed as one of the sons of Gad, who descended with Jacob into Egypt. This occurrence is part of a broader enumeration of Jacob's household, emphasizing the foundational lineage of the twelve tribes of Israel. In this context, Haggi is presented as an ancestral figure, a direct progenitor within the emerging nation.
2. **[[Numbers 26:15]]**: During the census taken in the plains of Moab, the "Haggites" (הַחַגִּי) are identified as one of the clans descended from Gad, specifically from Haggi. This verse solidifies the patronymic usage, demonstrating the perpetuation of the name through a recognized tribal subdivision. The context here is the organization and counting of the Israelite tribes prior to their entry into the Promised Land, underscoring the importance of tribal and clan identity for land inheritance and military organization.
In both instances, the word serves a purely descriptive, genealogical function, identifying an individual and his descendants within the structured framework of ancient Israelite society. There is no narrative development or explicit theological commentary associated with Haggi or the Haggites beyond their presence in these vital records.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most significant related word is the verbal root חָגַג (chagag, `{{H2287}}`), from which חַגִּי (Chaggîy) is derived. This root is fundamental to understanding Israelite worship, referring specifically to the celebration of the three annual pilgrimage festivals: the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Booths (e.g., [[Exodus 12:14]], [[Leviticus 23:41]]). The noun חַג (chag, `{{H2282}}`), meaning "feast" or "festival," is also directly related. Concepts associated with these terms include:
* **Celebration and Joy**: Feasts were times of communal rejoicing before the Lord.
* **Pilgrimage**: The act of journeying to a central sanctuary (Jerusalem) for worship.
* **Divine Appointment**: The feasts were not human inventions but divinely commanded observances.
* **Covenant Remembrance**: Each feast served as a reminder of God's redemptive acts and ongoing covenant with Israel.
Thus, while Haggi himself is a minor figure, his name carries a deep conceptual link to the very core of Israelite religious life and identity, centered on these sacred, divinely ordained celebrations.
### Theological Significance
While Haggi is not a prominent figure in the biblical narrative, the etymology of his name imbues him and his lineage with subtle but profound theological significance. The name "Festive" or "Celebratory" implicitly connects Haggi to the cycle of divine feasts, which were central to Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. This connection suggests that even individuals whose lives are not detailed in Scripture were, by virtue of their names, sometimes linked to the pervasive spiritual realities of their time.
The name Haggi could reflect a hope or aspiration within his family—perhaps that he would be one who celebrated the Lord's feasts, or that his life would be marked by the joy and blessing associated with such observances. In a broader sense, the existence of a clan named "Haggites" within the tribe of Gad subtly underscores the deep integration of worship and the sacred calendar into the very fabric of Israelite identity, even down to the level of family names and tribal subdivisions. It serves as a quiet reminder that the divine appointments for worship were not merely external rituals but foundational elements shaping the identity and worldview of God's covenant people.
### Summary
The Hebrew lemma חַגִּי (Chaggîy, `{{H2291}}`) designates both an individual, Haggi, and his descendants, the Haggites. Derived from the verb חָגַג (chagag, `{{H2287}}`), meaning "to keep a feast" or "to celebrate," the name inherently signifies "festive." Biblically, Haggi is recorded as a son of Gad in [[Genesis 46:16]], and his lineage, the Haggites, is enumerated in the census of [[Numbers 26:15]]. Though Haggi is a minor genealogical figure, the etymology of his name provides a profound conceptual link to the divinely appointed feasts and celebrations that formed the bedrock of Israelite worship and covenant identity. This connection highlights how deeply the sacred calendar and the act of joyous celebration before the Lord were woven into the very fabric of ancient Israelite life, even influencing the names and identities of its people.
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