חָקַק (cha.qaq)
cha.qaq
to decree
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 15 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The verb cha.qaq carries the physical image of cutting or engraving into a hard surface, which extends metaphorically to the act of decreeing or inscribing laws. In the Hebrew Bible, it describes establishing rules with permanence and authority, much like carving text into stone. This word appears fifteen times, frequently in Proverbs and Isaiah, where it often refers to God’s enduring statutes or human decrees that carry binding weight.
A key nuance lies in its association with permanence. Because engraving is difficult to erase, the term implies that what is decreed is fixed and reliable. For instance, in Isaiah 30:8, the prophet is told to inscribe a vision on a tablet so it can be witnessed for the future, highlighting the word’s connection to lasting testimony. It is not merely spoken advice but something set down with finality.
Theological weight comes from its use in describing divine law. When God is the subject, the decree is unchangeable and authoritative. In Proverbs 8:27, wisdom speaks of being present when God inscribed the heavens, suggesting that the order of creation itself was established through this decisive act. The word bridges the gap between physical inscription and legal authority, showing how ancient cultures viewed law as something carved into reality rather than just written on paper.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word חָקַק carries a strong sense of permanence. It describes cutting or engraving something into stone so it cannot be easily erased. When we read about God’s laws being inscribed, we are reminded that His promises and commands are not temporary suggestions but lasting truths. This imagery helps us trust that what He has established remains steady, even when our circumstances change.
In Isaiah 49:16, this concept is applied personally to believers. God says He has engraved us on the palms of His hands. This suggests a deep, unbreakable connection between the Creator and His people. It is not a fleeting thought but a permanent mark of care and identity. Such assurance can bring comfort when we feel forgotten or uncertain about our place in His plan.
Understanding this word encourages us to view Scripture with respect. The laws and visions recorded in the Bible are meant to endure for future generations. We can rely on these words as a solid foundation for our faith, knowing they reflect God’s enduring character and will.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 15 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- when/ marked out/ he2×
- with/ a ruler's staff1×
- those/ [who] decree1×
- they enact1×
- so/ they may be inscribed1×
- inscribe/ it1×
- cutting1×
- commanders1×
- and/ a ruler's staff1×
- a commander1×
- [what] is decreed1×
- [is] for/ [the] commanders of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְחֻקָּ֑ק1×
- מְחֹקֵ֖ק1×
- מְחֹקְקֵ֑/נוּ1×
- מְחֹ֣קְקִ֔ים1×
- לְ/חוֹקְקֵ֣י1×
- יְחֹ֣קְקוּ1×
- חֻקָּ֑/הּ1×
- חֹקְקִ֥י1×
- חַקֹּתִ֑י/ךְ1×
- וּ/מְחֹקֵ֖ק1×
- וְ/יֻחָֽקוּ\׃1×
- הַ/חֹֽקְקִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 49:16
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are continually before me.
This verse uses the imagery of engraving to show that God’s remembrance of His people is permanent and intimate, unlike temporary human memories.
-
Proverbs 8:27
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
Here the word describes God’s act of establishing the heavens, linking the concept of decreeing directly to the foundational order of creation itself.
-
Isaiah 30:8
Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever.
The command to inscribe a vision on a tablet highlights the need for a permanent record that can serve as a lasting witness for future generations.
-
Job 19:23
“Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
Job’s desire for his words to be inscribed reveals a human longing for permanence and vindication that mirrors the enduring nature of divine decrees.