חַג

From the study of Exodus 12:14

Range of meaning

The noun means a sacred festival. In the Torah's calendar it is the technical term for the three great annual feasts when the men were to 'appear before the LORD': Unleavened Bread, Weeks and Booths (Exod 23:14–17; 34:18–23; Deut 16:16). The verb means to keep such a festival. The root may originally mean moving in a circle, processing or dancing: in Ps 107:27 the verb describes sailors 'reeling' like drunkards, and in 1 Sam 30:16 it describes raiders 'celebrating, reveling.' The Arabic cognate ḥajj is the word for pilgrimage.

Against the English

'Feast' (KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV, NASB) suggests a large meal to a modern reader. A meal is part of it, since Passover centres on the roasted lamb, but chag means a whole sacred occasion of gathering, sacrifice, joy and sometimes procession. 'Festival' (NIV, NLT) is closer.

How it drifted

In older English, 'feast' meant a religious festival day (as in church 'feast days'). Everyday usage has since narrowed it to a lavish dinner.

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint: heortē / heortazō ('festival / keep festival'), the normal Greek words for religious festivals. Exodus 34:25 calls the Passover sacrifice 'the sacrifice of the festival (chag) of Passover.' In Deut 16:1–8 the Passover is moved to the central sanctuary, which gives it a pilgrimage character. Ezek 45:21 calls it a chag.

From the study of Deuteronomy 16:16

Range of meaning

A pilgrim festival: a feast you travel to and celebrate as a group at a sanctuary. The related verb chagag means to keep such a festival, and sometimes to reel or dance in procession (1 Sam 30:16; Ps 42:4 [Heb 42:5], 'a throng keeping festival'). It is cognate with Arabic ḥajj, the pilgrimage.

Against the English

English 'feast' (KJV, BSB, WEB) suggests a big meal. Eating was central, since sacrificial meals were eaten in God's presence (Deut 12:7; 16:11), but chag means the whole pilgrimage event: journey, procession, sacrifice, communal meal and celebration. 'Festival' (NIV, NJPS) is closer.

How it drifted

Older English 'feast' meant a religious festival day (as in 'feast day'). In modern usage it has narrowed to 'large meal.'

Used elsewhere in the period

The Hebrew Bible uses chag mainly for the three harvest pilgrimages (Exod 23:14–17; 34:18–23; Lev 23). Sukkot is often simply 'the chag' (1 Kgs 8:2, 65; Ezek 45:25). The Septuagint uses heortē (festival).

From the study of Amos 5:21

Range of meaning

A pilgrimage festival: a sacred holiday when people travelled to a sanctuary for sacrifice, feasting, music and procession. The root probably has to do with circling, processing or dancing; the Arabic 'hajj' for the pilgrimage to Mecca is a related word. Sometimes ḥag can mean the festival sacrifice itself (Exod 23:18; Ps 118:27).

Against the English

'Feasts' and 'feast days' (KJV) are not wrong, but a modern reader hears 'a big meal' or 'a party.' A ḥag was a commanded religious holy day. The three main ones were Unleavened Bread, Weeks and Booths (Exod 23:14–17; Deut 16:16), and every male was expected to 'appear before the LORD' at them. NIV's 'religious festivals' gets this across better.

How it drifted

In modern English 'feast' has drifted toward 'lavish meal.' The religious, pilgrimage meaning has faded.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Torah festival calendars are in Exod 23, Lev 23, Num 28–29 and Deut 16. In 1 Kgs 12:32–33 Jeroboam I set up his own ḥag at Bethel in the eighth month, as a northern rival to the festival at Jerusalem. Hosea 2:11 has God say 'I will put an end to all her mirth, her feasts (ḥag)…'. Amos 8:10 says 'I will turn your feasts into mourning.'