חֻקָּה (chuq.qah)
chuq.qah
statute
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 78 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun chuqqah refers to a statute, ordinance, or established limit. Derived from a root meaning to carve or inscribe, it describes something fixed and prescribed, whether by divine authority or natural order. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears seventy-eight times, most frequently in Leviticus and Numbers, where it denotes the specific regulations given to Israel.
Its range of meaning is broad, covering both religious laws and natural constants. For instance, Jeremiah 31:35 uses chuqqah to describe the fixed order of the heavens, while Exodus 12:42 applies it to the Passover ritual. It can also refer to foreign customs, often with a negative connotation when these practices conflict with God’s commands, as seen in 2 Kings 17:8.
A key distinction lies in its relationship to mishpat (judgment or case law). While mishpat deals with equitable rulings for specific situations, chuqqah emphasizes the authoritative decree itself. This is why it often appears in phrases like "statute of perpetual observance," highlighting that these are enduring mandates rather than temporary decisions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word chuqqah points to something carved or inscribed, suggesting a fixed order rather than a temporary suggestion. When Scripture calls something a statute, it highlights God’s enduring authority and the stability of His covenant. These are not arbitrary rules but established boundaries that protect and guide His people through every generation.
In your daily life, this concept offers a sense of security. Just as the heavens follow fixed laws, God’s commands provide a reliable framework for living. You can trust that His instructions are rooted in wisdom, designed to keep you close to Him and safe from harm. This reliability invites you to rest in the certainty of His care.
Reflecting on these statutes reminds us that faithfulness is not about improvising our way through life but walking in a path already prepared for us. It is a call to trustworthiness, where obedience becomes a natural response to the One who has carved His truth into our hearts and history.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 78 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- statutes/ my14×
- a statute of14×
- and/ statutes/ his7×
- <into>/ a statute of7×
- statutes/ his4×
- and/ statutes/ my3×
- [is] [the] statute of3×
- in/ statutes/ my2×
- in/ [the] statutes of2×
- in/ [the] customs of2×
- a statute2×
- [the] statutes of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֻקַּ֥ת9×
- חֻקַּ֤ת7×
- לְ/חֻקַּ֣ת5×
- חֻקֹּתַ/י֙4×
- לְ/חֻקַּ֥ת3×
- חֻקֹּתַ֔/י3×
- חֻקַּ֣ת3×
- וְ/חֻקֹּתָ֖י/ו3×
- וְ/חֻקֹּתָ֔י/ו3×
- חֻקּ֥וֹת2×
- חֻקּ֣וֹת2×
- מֵ/חֻקּ֤וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 16:31
It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.
This verse establishes the Day of Atonement as a permanent boundary for Israel, showing how chuqqah defines sacred time and communal identity.
-
Leviticus 18:4
You shall do my ordinances. You shall keep my statutes and walk in them. I am Yahweh your God.
Here the word contrasts God’s fixed statutes with the shifting customs of surrounding nations, emphasizing a distinct way of life for His people.
-
Exodus 12:14
This day shall be a memorial for you. You shall keep it as a feast to Yahweh. You shall keep it as a feast throughout your generations by an ordinance forever.
The Passover is designated as an eternal ordinance, linking a specific historical event to a perpetual act of remembrance and worship.