Lexical Summary chagag: To celebrate, to hold a feast, to make a pilgrimage Original Word: חָגַג Strong's Exhaustive Concordance celebrate, dance, keep, hold a solemn feast holiday, reel to and fro A primitive root (compare chagra', chuwg); properly, to move in a circle, i.e. (specifically) to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; by implication, to be giddy -- celebrate, dance, (keep, hold) a (solemn) feast (holiday), reel to and fro. see HEBREW chagra' see HEBREW chuwg NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to make a pilgrimage, keep a pilgrim feast NASB Translation celebrate (9), celebrate a feast (3), dancing (1), keeping festival (1), observe (1), reeled (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חָגַג] verb make pilgrimage, keep a pilgrim-feast (Arabic ![]() ![]() Qal Perfect2masculine plural חַגֹּתֶם Exodus 12:14 2t.; Imperfect2masculine singular תָּחֹג Exodus 23:14; Deuteronomy 16:15; 3masculine plural יָח֫וֺגּוּ Psalm 107:27 (Bö§ 1118 (2)); וְיָחֹ֫גּוּ Exodus 5:1; 2masculine plural תָּחֹ֫גּוּ Leviticus 23:39,41; suffix תְּחָגֻּ֫הוּ Exodus 12:14; Imperative feminine חָגִּי Nahum 2:1; Infinitive construct חֹג Zechariah 14:18 + 2t., Participle חוֺגֵג Psalm 42:5; plural חֹגְַגִים 1 Samuel 30:16; — 1 keep a pilgrim-feast, absolute Exodus 5:1 (JE) of one proposed by Moses; שׁלשׁ רגלים תחג לי three times shalt thou make pilgrimage unto me (in the year) Exodus 23:14 (covt. code); of pilgrim-feasts in General Nahum 2:1, the Passover Exodus 12:14 (P); elsewhere feast of Booths; all celebrated in part by sacred processions and dances; המון חוגג Psalm 42:5 multitude keeping festival (led by the Psalmist in procession); חגג חג Leviticus 23:39 (H), Numbers 29:12 (P), Nahum 2:1; Zechariah 14:16,18,19; חגג אתו חג Exodus 12:14 (P), Leviticus 23:41 (H); אתוֺ Leviticus 23:41 (H); suffix Exodus 12:14 (P). 2 behave as at a חָג 1 Samuel 30:16 (of the Amalekites when surprised by David i.e. enjoying themselves merrily, Dr; others, circling in the sacred dance). 3 reel, in giddiness on the sea Psalm 107:27 (compare חָגָּא Isaiah 19:17); this either points to an earlier meaning of v; or better, the Psalm being late, means reel as from festival excesses ("" וְיָנוּעוּ כַשִּׁכּוֺר). Topical Lexicon Core Ideaחָגַג portrays the covenant act of celebrating a pilgrimage festival—traveling to the sanctuary, engaging in joyous worship, and commemorating redemptive milestones established by the LORD. Its occurrences cluster around three spheres: the Pentateuch’s institution of Israel’s festal calendar, historical and poetic evocations of communal worship, and prophetic visions that extend the invitation to all nations. Festal Commands in the Torah • Exodus 5:1 introduces the verb in Moses’ first appeal to Pharaoh: “Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.” Together these texts depict celebration as covenant obedience, communal rejoicing, and public acknowledgment that harvest and history alike come from Yahweh. Joyful Movement and Worship The Psalter preserves personal memories of pilgrimage: “How I would go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God with joyful and thankful shouts” (Psalm 42:4). Conversely, Psalm 107:27 laments those who “reeled and staggered like drunkards,” implying the loss of ordered festal procession when rebellion replaces reverence. Narrative Glimpse In 1 Samuel 30:16 the verb colors the Philistine camp’s revelry—an ironic counterfeit of covenant joy—setting the stage for David’s divinely aided victory. The contrast warns that celebration divorced from the LORD courts judgment. Prophetic Assurance and Eschatology Nahum 1:15 announces deliverance: “Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows.” Restoration includes full freedom to keep the appointed festivals. Zechariah 14:16-19 extends Sukkot beyond Israel: all surviving nations “will go up year after year to worship the King…the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.” Refusal invites drought, underscoring the feast’s eschatological centrality and linking worship, blessing, and global submission to Messiah. Theological Themes 1. Covenant Memory: Each act of חָגַג recalls salvation history—Exodus redemption, wilderness provision, and harvest bounty—imprinting God’s deeds on every generation. Ministry Implications • Worship planning should cultivate rhythms of remembrance and rejoicing, reflecting the balance of solemnity and festivity found in the Torah’s calendar. Summary חָגַג weaves together obedience, joy, memory, and hope. From Moses’ mandate to Pharaoh, through Israel’s sacred calendar, to Zechariah’s vision of universal worship, the verb calls God’s people to assemble, rejoice, and proclaim His mighty acts—anticipating the unending feast in the presence of the Lamb. Forms and Transliterations וְחַגֹּתֶ֤ם וְחַגֹּתֶ֥ם וְחֹ֣גְגִ֔ים וְיָחֹ֥גּוּ וְלָחֹ֖ג וחגגים וחגתם ויחגו ולחג חָגִּ֧י חגי חוֹגֵֽג׃ חוגג׃ יָח֣וֹגּוּ יחוגו לָחֹ֖ג לחג תְּחָגֻּֽהוּ׃ תָּחֹ֥ג תָּחֹ֥גּוּ תָּחֹג֙ תחג תחגהו׃ תחגו chagGi choGeg ḥāg·gî ḥāggî ḥō·w·ḡêḡ ḥōwḡêḡ lā·ḥōḡ laChog lāḥōḡ tā·ḥōḡ tā·ḥōg·gū taChog taChoggu tāḥōḡ tāḥōggū tə·ḥāg·gu·hū techagGuhu təḥāgguhū vechaggoTem veChogeGim velaChog veyaChoggu wə·ḥag·gō·ṯem wə·ḥō·ḡə·ḡîm wə·lā·ḥōḡ wə·yā·ḥōg·gū wəḥaggōṯem wəḥōḡəḡîm wəlāḥōḡ wəyāḥōggū yā·ḥō·w·gū yaChogu yāḥōwgūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 5:1 HEB: אֶת־ עַמִּ֔י וְיָחֹ֥גּוּ לִ֖י בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ NAS: go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.' KJV: go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. INT: Let my people may celebrate the wilderness Exodus 12:14 Exodus 12:14 Exodus 23:14 Leviticus 23:39 Leviticus 23:41 Leviticus 23:41 Numbers 29:12 Deuteronomy 16:15 1 Samuel 30:16 Psalm 42:4 Psalm 107:27 Nahum 1:15 Zechariah 14:16 Zechariah 14:18 Zechariah 14:19 16 Occurrences |