הַבְהָב

From the study of Hosea 8:13

Range of meaning

This word occurs only here. Two main explanations: (1) a doubled form from the root yahav / hav, 'give', meaning 'gifts' or 'repeated offerings', so 'the sacrifices of my gifts'; (2) a connection to a root meaning 'scorch, roast' (attested in Aramaic and Arabic), meaning 'roasted' or 'burnt' offerings. A third group of scholars thinks the text was miscopied and restores a phrase like 'they love sacrifice' (compare Hosea 4:18).

Against the English

KJV 'mine offerings', WEB 'my offerings', BSB 'as gifts to Me', ESV and NASB 'my sacrificial offerings / gifts'. NLT and some others follow the 'love sacrifice' reconstruction. All of these are reasonable guesses at a word whose meaning is uncertain.

Used elsewhere in the period

There is no other occurrence in the Hebrew Bible. The Septuagint seems not to have understood it and simply says 'if they sacrifice a sacrifice'. The Vulgate's 'hostias offerent' ('they will offer victims') takes it as 'offer, give', which agrees with option (1). The imperative hav / havu, 'give!', is common (e.g. Psalm 29:1-2), and Hosea 4:18 has the odd doubled 'ahavu hevu', which some think is a wordplay of the same kind.