חוּג (chug)
chug
to mark
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb chug means to encircle or draw a circle around something. It describes the physical act of marking out a boundary or encompassing an area with a line. In the Old Testament, this word appears only once, in Job 23:11.
In that context, Job uses it to describe his path. He says he have set my feet in its steps, I have kept myself in its way, and I have not turned aside from it. The image suggests walking within a defined track or circle, maintaining a steady course without deviation. This usage highlights precision and commitment to a specific route.
The word’s root relates to drawing a line or marking a perimeter. While often associated with geometric circles, its biblical use here emphasizes the idea of staying within established bounds. Translators typically render this as "kept my path" or "stayed in the way," capturing the sense of deliberate, bounded movement rather than free wandering.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word chug describes the act of drawing a circle or marking a boundary. While it appears only once in the Old Testament, its imagery is powerful. It suggests that our lives are not aimless wanderings but movements within a defined track. This concept offers comfort, reminding us that there is a path set before us, one that provides direction and purpose.
In Job 26:10, we see this word applied to God’s work at the horizon of the sea. He marks a boundary on the waters, separating light from darkness. This shows that the same precision used to define our personal paths is also used to order the cosmos. We are not left to guess where we belong; the Creator has established limits that protect and guide.
For your daily life, this means you do not need to invent your own way. Instead, you can trust in the boundaries God has set. Walking within these lines is not a restriction but a gift of stability. It allows you to move forward with confidence, knowing your steps are held within His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- he has drawn a circle1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָ֭ג1×
Key Verses
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Job 26:10
He has described a boundary on the surface of the waters, and to the confines of light and darkness.
This verse uses chug to describe God marking a boundary on the waters, showing His sovereign control over creation's limits.