What does חָקַק (ḥāqaq) mean in the Bible?
חָקַק (ḥāqaq): To engrave or inscribe laws permanently; metaphorically, to establish or decree with binding authority
Hebrew · H2710
חָקַק
Properly, to hack , i.e. engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication, to enact (laws being cut in stone or metal tablets in primitive times) or (gen.) prescribe
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חָקַקH2710
Pronunciationḥāqaq
What does חָקַק (ḥāqaq) mean in the Bible?
חָקַק (ḥāqaq): To engrave or inscribe laws permanently; metaphorically, to establish or decree with binding authority
Full entry for חָקַק (H2710) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H2710?
The BSB source-word alignment has 19 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include [is] My scepter (1), a ruler’s (1), and cut (1), and draw (1), and inscribe (1).
Where does חָקַק (ḥāqaq) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 49:10. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (5), Proverbs (4), Ezekiel (2), Judges (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It[is] My scepter1×Psalms 108:8
a ruler’s1×Deuteronomy 33:21
and cut1×Isaiah 22:16
and draw1×Ezekiel 4:1
and inscribe1×Isaiah 30:8
and inscribed1×Job 19:23
engraved1×Ezekiel 23:14
I have inscribed you1×Isaiah 49:16
is our lawgiver1×Isaiah 33:22
is with the princes1×Judges 5:9
laws1×Proverbs 8:15
My scepter1×Psalms 60:7
nor the staff1×Genesis 49:10
The commanders1×Judges 5:14
to those who enact1×Isaiah 10:1
what is decreed1×Proverbs 31:5
when He inscribed1×Proverbs 8:27
when He marked out1×Proverbs 8:29
with their scepters1×Numbers 21:18
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 49:10וּמְחֹקֵ֖קtonor the staffConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularNumbers 21:18בִּמְחֹקֵ֖קtowith their sceptersPreposition-b | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularDeuteronomy 33:21מְחֹקֵ֖קtoa ruler’sVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularJudges 5:9לְחוֹקְקֵ֣יtois with the princesPreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructJudges 5:14מְחֹ֣קְקִ֔יםtoThe commandersVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine pluralJob 19:23וְיֻחָֽקוּ׃toand inscribedConjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralPsalms 60:7מְחֹֽקְקִי׃toMy scepterVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singularPsalms 108:8מְחֹקְקִֽי׃to[is] My scepterVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singularProverbs 8:15יְחֹ֣קְקוּtolawsVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralProverbs 8:27בְּח֥וּקוֹtowhen He inscribedPreposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 49:10
Aligned rows19
Books represented9
Genesis1Numbers1Deuteronomy1Judges2Job1Psalms2Proverbs4Isaiah5Ezekiel2
Source forms
בְּח֥וּקוֹ1xbə·ḥū·qōwProverbs 8:27
בְּ֝חוּק֗וֹ1xbə·ḥū·qōwProverbs 8:29
בִּמְחֹקֵ֖ק1xbim·ḥō·qêqNumbers 21:18
הַחֹֽקְקִ֖ים1xha·ḥō·qə·qîmIsaiah 10:1
וְחַקּוֹתָ֥1xwə·ḥaq·qō·w·ṯāEzekiel 4:1
וְיֻחָֽקוּ׃1xwə·yu·ḥā·qūJob 19:23
וּמְחֹקֵ֖ק1xū·mə·ḥō·qêqGenesis 49:10
חֻקָּ֑הּ1xḥuq·qāhIsaiah 30:8
Parsing patterns
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular2xProverbs 8:27, Proverbs 8:29
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singular2xPsalms 60:7, Psalms 108:8
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural1xIsaiah 10:1
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hofal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xJob 19:23
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1xGenesis 49:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular1xEzekiel 4:1
Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1xNumbers 21:18
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct1xJudges 5:9
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. To engrave or inscribe laws permanently; metaphorically, to establish or decree with binding authority
Strong'sH2710
Lexical occurrences19 versesWord forms3 forms6 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 49:14-21Source Gloss
properly, to hack , i.e. engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication, to enact (laws being cut in stone or metal tablets in primitive times) or (gen.) prescribe
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
To engrave or inscribe laws permanently; metaphorically, to establish or decree with binding authority
properly, to hack, i.e. engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication, to enact (laws being cut in stone or metal tablets in primitive times) or (gen.) prescribe BDB: cut in Usage: appoint, decree, governor, grave, lawgiver, note, pourtray, print, set.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms6
Poel3×
Participle activeDeut 33:21 · Judg 5:142×
ImperfectProv 8:151×
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense2×
Participle passiveEzek 23:141×
Participle activeIsa 22:161×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject1×
Participle passiveProv 31:51×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
To inscribe or engrave.
Showing 1 selected witness from 19 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
חָקַק is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Signifies permanent and visible covenant remembrance.Isaiah 49:14-21
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.