Original Word: חָקַק
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chaqaq
Pronunciation: khaw-kak'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-kak')
Definition: To inscribe, decree, carve, engrave, set
Meaning: to hack, engrave, to enact, prescribe

appoint, decree, governor, grave, lawgiver, note, portray, print,

A primitive root; properly, to hack, i.e. Engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication, to enact (laws being cut in stone or metal tablets in primitive times) or (gen.) Prescribe -- appoint, decree, governor, grave, lawgiver, note, pourtray, print, set.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to cut in, inscribe, decree
NASB Translation
carve (1), commanders (2), decree (1), decreed (1), enact (1), inscribe (2), inscribed (3), lawgiver (1), marked (1), portrayed (1), ruler's (1), ruler's staff (1), scepter (3).

[חָקַק] verb cut in, inscribe, decree (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic חֲקַק, Zinjirli חקק; Phoenician id. Participle Hiph`il; Arabic be just, right, obligatory, also make or decide to be just, etc.; justness, truth, necessity, obligation; Ethiopic adjective moderate, sufficient; compare also חקה) —

Qal וְחַקּוֺתָ֫ Ezekiel 4:1; suffix חַקֹּתִיךְ Isaiah 49:16; Infinitive suffix בְּחֻקּוֺ Proverbs 8:27; בְּחוּקוֺ Proverbs 8:29 (assimilated to בְּשׂוּמוֺ); חֻקָּהּ Isaiah 30:8; Participle חֹקְקִי Isaiah 22:16 (archaic case ending Ges^{§ 90}. 3 a); plural חֹקְקִים Isaiah 10:1; construct חוֺקְקֵי Judges 5:9 (possibly Po`el = מחוקקי with מְ omitted, see Ges^{§ 52} (2), note 6); Participle Pass. plural חֲקֻקִֿים Ezekiel 23:14 (Co חקוקים); —

1 cut in, with בְּ, Isaiah 22:16, of a dwelling-place = tomb, in a rock.

2 cut in or on, upon, engrave, inscribe, with על on roll of a book Isaiah 30:8; representation of city on brick (as in Babylonia) Ezekiel 4:1; images on a wall Ezekiel 23:14; figurative of Zion's walls on palms of ׳י Isaiah 49:16.

3 trace, mark out, a circle, with על over the face of deep Proverbs 8:27; with accusative, foundations of earth Proverbs 8:29.

4 of a law, engrave, inscribe (on a tablet), figurative for enact, decree חקקים חקקי און Isaiah 10:1 ("" כתב עמל); חוֺקקֵי ישׂראל poetic = commanders (see Po`el) Judges 5:9 ("" מחקקים Judges 5:14).

Po`el Imperfect יְחוֺקְקוּ Proverbs 8:15; Participle מְחֹקֵק Genesis 49:10; Numbers 21:18; Deuteronomy 33:21; suffix מְחֹקְקִי Psalm 60:9; Psalm 108:9; מְחֹקְקֵנוּ Isaiah 33:22; plural מְחֹקְקִים Judges 5:14; — inscribe (as a law), enact (poetry): with accusative צֶדֶק Proverbs 8:15 elsewhere participle

a. prescriber of laws, hence (as sovereign authority in a warlike clan) commander Deuteronomy 33:21 (of warlike tribe of Gad), Judges 5:14; Isaiah 33:22 (of ׳י; "" שֹׁפְטֵנוּ, מַלְכֵּנוּ).

b. commander's staff Genesis 49:10 ("" שֵׁבֶט), Numbers 21:18 (both poetry), Psalm 60:9 = Psalm 108:9.

Pu`al Participle מְחֻקָּק that which is decreed Proverbs 31:5 (late).

Hoph`al Imperfect יֻחָ֑קֿוּ Job 19:23 inscribed in (בְּ) a book.

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G758 (archōn) • ruler, leader
• G873 (aphorizō) • to separate, set apart
• G935 (basileus) • king
• G1125 (graphō) • to write
• G1299 (diatassō) • to arrange, appoint
• G2045 (ereunaō) • to search, examine
• G2233 (hēgeomai) • to lead, consider
• G2478 (ischuō) • to be strong, able

These Greek entries reflect various aspects of authority, writing, and enactment, paralleling the Hebrew concept of חָקַק in terms of establishing and inscribing laws or decrees.

Usage: • The verb חָקַק (chaqaq) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe the act of engraving or inscribing, often in the context of laws or decrees. It can also refer to the act of enacting or prescribing laws or statutes.

Context: • The Hebrew verb חָקַק (chaqaq) appears in various contexts within the Old Testament, primarily associated with the idea of inscribing or engraving, which metaphorically extends to the establishment of laws or decrees. This term is often used in legal and covenantal contexts, where it signifies the formalization and perpetuation of divine or royal decrees.
• In Isaiah 10:1, the term is used to describe those who "enact" unjust statutes: "Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees" (BSB). Here, חָקַק conveys the idea of establishing laws that are contrary to divine justice.
• In Judges 5:9, the term is used in a more literal sense, referring to the leaders who "enact" or "engrave" decisions: "My heart is with the princes of Israel, with the volunteers among the people. Bless the LORD!" (BSB). This reflects the role of leaders in setting forth decrees or judgments.
• The concept of engraving is also seen in the context of physical inscriptions, such as those on tablets or stones, which serve as permanent records of laws or covenants.
• The use of חָקַק underscores the permanence and authority of the decrees, whether divine or human, and highlights the importance of adherence to these established statutes.

בְּ֝חוּק֗וֹ בְּח֥וּקוֹ בִּמְחֹקֵ֖ק בחוקו במחקק הַחֹֽקְקִ֖ים החקקים וְחַקּוֹתָ֥ וְיֻחָֽקוּ׃ וּמְחֹקֵ֖ק וחקות ויחקו׃ ומחקק חֲקֻקִ֖ים חַקֹּתִ֑יךְ חֹקְקִ֥י חֻקָּ֑הּ חקה חקקי חקקים חקתיך יְחֹ֣קְקוּ יחקקו לְחוֹקְקֵ֣י לחוקקי מְחֹ֣קְקִ֔ים מְחֹֽקְקִי׃ מְחֹקְקִֽי׃ מְחֹקְקֵ֑נוּ מְחֹקֵ֖ק מְחֻקָּ֑ק מחקק מחקקי׃ מחקקים מחקקנו bə·ḥū·qōw bechuKo beChukov bəḥūqōw bim·ḥō·qêq bimchoKek bimḥōqêq chakkoTich chakuKim chokeKi chukKah ha·ḥō·qə·qîm ḥă·qu·qîm hachokeKim haḥōqəqîm ḥaq·qō·ṯîḵ ḥaqqōṯîḵ ḥăquqîm ḥō·qə·qî ḥōqəqî ḥuq·qāh ḥuqqāh lə·ḥō·wq·qê lechokKei ləḥōwqqê mə·ḥō·qə·qê·nū mə·ḥō·qə·qî mə·ḥō·qə·qîm mə·ḥō·qêq mə·ḥuq·qāq mechoKek mechokeKenu meChokeki meChokeKim mechukKak məḥōqêq məḥōqəqênū məḥōqəqî məḥōqəqîm məḥuqqāq ū·mə·ḥō·qêq umechoKek ūməḥōqêq vechakkoTa veyuChaku wə·ḥaq·qō·w·ṯā wə·yu·ḥā·qū wəḥaqqōwṯā wəyuḥāqū yə·ḥō·qə·qū yeChokeku yəḥōqəqūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts