Original Word: חֲגָו
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: chagav
Pronunciation: khaw-gah-VEEM
Phonetic Spelling: (khag-awv')
Definition: Locusts
Meaning: a rift in rocks

cleft

From an unused root meaning to take refuge; a rift in rocks -- cleft.

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
places of concealment, retreats
NASB Translation
clefts (3).

[חֲגָוִים] noun masculine plural places of concealment, retreats, as abode of dove יוֺנָתִי בְּחַגְוֵי הַסֶּלַע Songs 2:14 (in metaphor); also, hyperbole, as abode of Edom (ה)סלע ׳שֹׁכְנִּי בח Jeremiah 49:16; Obadiah 3..

חגל (√ of following; Arabic , hobble, hop, whence partridge, compare Syriac , , id.)

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to cleave.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G3692: ὀπή (opē) • A hole or opening, often used in the context of a crevice or gap.
• G5168: τρῆμα (trēma) • A perforation or hole, similar in concept to a cleft or fissure.

These Greek terms, while not direct translations, share a conceptual similarity with חֲגָו in their reference to openings or gaps in solid structures, highlighting the universal human experience of seeking refuge and safety in natural formations.

Usage: The term חֲגָו (chagav) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a natural fissure or crevice in rock formations, often serving as a place of refuge or concealment.

Context: The Hebrew word חֲגָו (chagav) appears in the context of describing natural formations that provide shelter or hiding places. In the ancient Near Eastern landscape, such clefts in the rock were significant for their practical use as places of refuge from enemies or harsh weather. The imagery of a cleft in the rock is also used metaphorically in Scripture to convey themes of divine protection and safety. For instance, in the Song of Solomon 2:14 (BSB), the beloved is called to come out from the "clefts of the rock," symbolizing a place of intimacy and security. The use of חֲגָו in biblical literature underscores the importance of natural landscapes in the spiritual and physical life of the people of Israel.

בְּחַגְוֵ֣י בְחַגְוֵי־ בחגוי בחגוי־ bə·ḥaḡ·wê ḇə·ḥaḡ·wê- bechagVei bəḥaḡwê ḇəḥaḡwê- vechagveiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts