Lexical Summary chabaq: To embrace, to clasp, to hold Original Word: חָבַק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance embrace, fold A primitive root; to clasp (the hands or in embrace) -- embrace, fold. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to clasp, embrace NASB Translation embrace (7), embraced (3), embracing (1), folds (1), hug (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חָבַק] verb clasp, embrace (Late Hebrew id.; ᵑ7 חַבֵּק; Mandean  , NSyriac  ; Arabic  II. collect one's possessions, etc., Frey) — Qal Infinitive לַחֲבוֺק Ecclesiastes 3:5; Participle חֹבֵּק Ecclesiastes 4:5; חֹבֶקֶת 2 Kings 4:16; — embrace, with accusative בֵּן 2 Kings 4:16; יָדָיו Ecclesiastes 4:5 (said of הַכְּסִיל = fold his arms, i.e. be idle; compare חִבֻּק); no object expressed Ecclesiastes 3:5 ("" Pi`el). Pi`el Perfect חִבְּקוּ Job 24:8; Lamentations 4:5; Imperfect וַיְחַבֵּק Genesis 48:10; וַיְחַבֶּקֿ Genesis 29:13; וַיְחַבְּקֵהוּ Genesis 33:4; 3feminine singular suffix תְּחַבְּקֵ֫נִי Songs 2:6; Songs 8:3; 2masculine singular וּתְחַבֵּק Proverbs 5:20, suffix תְּחַבְּקֶ֫נָּה Proverbs 4:8; Infinitive חַבֵּק Ecclesiastes 3:5; — embrace of person, no object עת לִרְחֹק מֵחַבֵּק Ecclesiastes 3:5 ("" Qal); followed by לְ Genesis 29:13 (J), Genesis 48:10 (E); followed by suffix Genesis 33:4 (J), Proverbs 4:8; Songs 2:6; Songs 8:3; with accusative Proverbs 5:20; embrace צוּר for want of shelter Job 24:8 (of poor); embrace refuse-heaps אשׁפתות Lamentations 4:5, i.e. are outcasts. Topical Lexicon Overviewחָבַק portrays an embrace—arms drawn around another or oneself—signifying welcome, reconciliation, desire, nurture, or, in ironic contexts, privation and idleness. Its thirteen occurrences cover patriarchal narrative, prophetic lament, wisdom exhortation, and love poetry, revealing how a simple gesture embodies rich theological and pastoral meaning. Physical Greeting and Kinship When Laban saw Jacob, “he ran to meet him, embraced him, and kissed him” (Genesis 29:13). The same word frames Esau’s reconciliation with Jacob: “Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept” (Genesis 33:4). In both cases the embrace functions as covenant welcome, dissolving distance and hostility. The narrative sets a precedent for hospitality and restoration among God’s people. Generational Blessing Near death, Israel drew Joseph’s sons close: “Then Israel kissed them and embraced them” (Genesis 48:10). The act concretizes transmission of covenant blessing, underscoring that faith and promise are best handed down through intimate, loving connection rather than impersonal ritual. Maternal Aspiration Elisha promises the Shunammite woman, “About this time next year you will embrace a son” (2 Kings 4:16). The embrace here represents fulfilled longing, portraying the Lord as giver of life and restorer of hope. Compassion Versus Hardship Job laments the destitute who “embrace the rock for lack of shelter” (Job 24:8). The comforting act becomes desperate clinging to stone, highlighting society’s failure toward the vulnerable. The church is thereby called to provide the embrace others lack. Wisdom’s Invitation and Moral Boundaries “Prize her, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her” (Proverbs 4:8). Wisdom is not merely to be heard but warmly held; relationship, not mere cognition, yields honor. Conversely, “Why embrace the bosom of a stranger?” (Proverbs 5:20) warns that misplaced affection destroys covenant fidelity. The same gesture, directed wrongly, invites ruin. Seasons of Affection and Restraint “A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing” (Ecclesiastes 3:5) teaches discernment, reminding believers that godly affection honors God-given boundaries. Ecclesiastes 4:5 depicts the fool who “folds his hands”—literally embraces himself—and consumes his own flesh, revealing an inward, self-serving embrace that leads to self-destruction. Romantic Union In Song of Songs 2:6 and 8:3 the beloved exults, “His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.” The embrace epitomizes exclusive, covenantal love, foreshadowing Christ’s cherishing of His bride. National Catastrophe and Loss of Privilege Lamentations 4:5 contrasts past luxury with present disgrace: those reared in scarlet now “embrace ash heaps.” The once-privileged now cling to ruin, demonstrating that sin ultimately replaces security with shame. Theological Reflections 1. Embrace as Divine Initiative: Human embraces mirror God’s own draw toward His people (cf. Hosea 11:4). Practical Ministry Applications • Reconciliation: Encourage estranged believers to pursue face-to-face restoration modeled on Esau and Jacob. Thus chabaq traces an arc from reconciled brothers to loving spouses to a nation in ashes, yet throughout it calls God’s people to open their arms in righteous welcome until the promised, everlasting embrace of God Himself. Forms and Transliterations וַֽיְחַבְּקֵ֔הוּ וַיְחַבֵּ֥ק וַיְחַבֶּק־ וּ֝תְחַבֵּ֗ק ויחבק ויחבק־ ויחבקהו ותחבק חִבְּק֖וּ חִבְּקוּ־ חֹבֵ֣ק חֹבֶ֣קֶת חבק חבקו חבקו־ חבקת לַחֲב֔וֹק לחבוק מֵחַבֵּֽק׃ מחבק׃ תְּחַבְּקֵֽנִי׃ תְחַבְּקֶֽנָּה׃ תחבקנה׃ תחבקני׃ chibbeku choVek choVeket ḥib·bə·qū ḥib·bə·qū- ḥibbəqū ḥibbəqū- ḥō·ḇe·qeṯ ḥō·ḇêq ḥōḇêq ḥōḇeqeṯ la·ḥă·ḇō·wq lachaVok laḥăḇōwq mê·ḥab·bêq mechabBek mêḥabbêq tə·ḥab·bə·qê·nî ṯə·ḥab·bə·qen·nāh techabbeKeni techabbeKennah təḥabbəqênî ṯəḥabbəqennāh ū·ṯə·ḥab·bêq utechabBek ūṯəḥabbêq vaychabbek vaychabbeKehu way·ḥab·bə·qê·hū way·ḥab·bêq way·ḥab·beq- wayḥabbêq wayḥabbeq- wayḥabbəqêhūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 29:13 HEB: וַיָּ֤רָץ לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ וַיְחַבֶּק־ לוֹ֙ וַיְנַשֶּׁק־ NAS: to meet him, and embraced him and kissed KJV: to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed INT: ran to meet and embraced and kissed and brought Genesis 33:4 Genesis 48:10 2 Kings 4:16 Job 24:8 Proverbs 4:8 Proverbs 5:20 Ecclesiastes 3:5 Ecclesiastes 3:5 Ecclesiastes 4:5 Songs 2:6 Songs 8:3 Lamentations 4:5 13 Occurrences |
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