חֲגָוִים (cha.gav)
cha.gav
cleft
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word chĕgāwîm refers to clefts or crevices in rock formations. In the biblical text, these are not merely geological features but functional spaces used for concealment and safety. The term appears in contexts where individuals seek refuge from danger, hiding within the natural fractures of stone.
This word is most frequently found in poetic literature, particularly in Song of Solomon, where it evokes intimate imagery of lovers seeking privacy. It also appears in prophetic books like Jeremiah and Obadiah, often symbolizing places of hiding during times of judgment or pursuit. The sources emphasize its role as a retreat, highlighting the human instinct to find shelter in solid, immovable structures.
The root concept connects to splitting or dividing, suggesting that these safe spaces are created by separation or fracture. Translators typically render it as "clefts" or "crevices," capturing both the physical nature of the location and its purpose as a place of concealment. This usage underscores the tension between vulnerability and security in biblical narratives.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels overwhelming, it is natural to look for a place where you can hide from the noise and pressure around you. The word chĕgāwîm describes these clefts in the rock—narrow cracks that offer shelter from the elements. In the ancient world, such places were real refuges, small spaces carved by time and force where one could be safe from pursuit. They represent a physical reality of seeking cover when exposed to danger.
Spiritually, this image reminds us that safety is not found in our own strength or height, but in where we place our trust. While the prideful might believe their position makes them untouchable, the faithful find true security in God’s presence. Whether you are facing external threats or internal anxiety, there is a refuge available to you that no human power can breach.
This word invites us to consider where we seek our peace. It is easy to rely on our own cleverness or high places, but those often lead to deception. Instead, we are called to rest in the one who is our solid foundation. In times of fear, look not to your own ability to hide, but to the God who provides a safe haven for your soul.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ [the] clefts of2×
- in/ clefts of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/חַגְוֵ֣י2×
- בְ/חַגְוֵי\־1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 2:14
My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountainside, let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.
This verse uses the clefts as an intimate setting for lovers, showing the word can describe private spaces of closeness rather than just fear.
-
Jeremiah 49:16
As for your terror, the pride of your heart has deceived you, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill, though you should make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there,” says Yahweh.
Here the term highlights the futility of relying on geographical advantages when divine judgment is certain, contrasting human pride with God's power.