Hebrew word · H2397

חַח

chach

hook

A hook or ring. It is used for ornamental pins or brooches (Exod 35:22), for the hooks or rings by which a captured lion is led (Ezek 19:4, 9), for hooks in the jaws of Pharaoh pictured as a Nile crocodile (Ezek 29:4), and for hooks in the jaws of Gog (Ezek 38:4).

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) hook, ring, fetter, brooch

1a) hook, ring (in nose of captive)

1b) hook, ring (as jewellery)

1b1) nose ring

1b2) bracelet

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Kings 19:28

Range of meaning

A hook or ring. It is used for ornamental pins or brooches (Exod 35:22), for the hooks or rings by which a captured lion is led (Ezek 19:4, 9), for hooks in the jaws of Pharaoh pictured as a Nile crocodile (Ezek 29:4), and for hooks in the jaws of Gog (Ezek 38:4). Here it is a ring through the nose, the standard way to control a bull, camel or other strong animal.

Against the English

'Hook' (all major English versions) makes many readers picture a fishhook. The object here is a nose-ring or nose-hook for leading an animal or a prisoner by a rope.

How it drifted

English 'hook' today usually means a fishhook or a hanging hook, and the Greek (ἄγκιστρον, 'fishhook') already pushed the image toward fishing. The Vulgate's circulus, 'ring', is closer to the scene.

Used elsewhere in the period

Assyrian art and inscriptions show kings leading conquered rulers by cords attached to rings through the lips or nose. Esarhaddon's victory stele from Zincirli (Sam'al) shows two captive rulers held on cords running to rings in their mouths. Ashurbanipal's annals describe passing a rope through a defeated Arab king's jaw and leading him like a dog.

From the study of Exodus 35:22

Range of meaning

A hook or ring. It is used of hooks put in the nose or jaws of captives or beasts (2 Kgs 19:28 = Isa 37:29; Ezek 19:4, 9; 29:4; 38:4). Here it is a piece of jewelry, probably a pin, clasp or brooch shaped like a hook, possibly a nose-ring.

Against the English

Translations differ widely: KJV 'bracelets', BSB/WEB/ESV/NIV 'brooches', YLT 'nose-ring'. Each is a reasonable guess. None is certain.

Used elsewhere in the period

This is the only use of the word for jewelry. The hook sense is clear elsewhere. Clasps and fibula-type pins are common finds in Near Eastern archaeology.

From the study of Isaiah 37:29

Range of meaning

A hook or ring pushed through the nose, lip or jaw so that a cord could be tied to it. It was used to lead or control animals (bulls, river creatures) and captured people. Related words also name brooches or clasps (Exod 35:22), so the basic idea is a hooked or ringed fastener (BDB, HALOT).

Against the English

English 'hook' makes most readers picture a fishhook, something that snags and kills. The ancient picture is a ring and lead rope. The point is not wounding but total, humiliating control: the captive goes wherever the rope-holder walks.

How it drifted

Ordinary modern experience of hooks is fishing. Nose-ringing captives and draft animals is outside modern life.

Used elsewhere in the period

Same word in the parallel 2 Kgs 19:28 and in Ezek 19:4, 9 (a lion-king led to Egypt and Babylon 'with hooks'), 29:4 and 38:4 (hooks in the jaws of Pharaoh and of Gog). 2 Chr 33:11 says Manasseh was taken to Babylon by the Assyrians 'with hooks'. Assyrian art and texts show the practice: Esarhaddon's victory stele from Zincirli (c. 670 BC) shows him holding cords tied to rings through the lips of two small kneeling captive rulers. Ashurbanipal's annals describe running a rope through the jaw of the Arab king Uaite'. The Vulgate's 'circulum' (ring) gives the same picture.

Where it appears

Exodus · 1

  1. Exodus 35:22 חָ֣ח nose ring[s]

    So all who had willing hearts, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings, rings and necklaces, and all kinds of gold jewelry. And they all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD.

    Here: A hook-shaped piece of jewelry. Elsewhere the word means a hook put through the nose or jaw of a captive or animal. Here it is probably a pin, clasp or brooch, or possibly a nose-ring. The exact item is uncertain.

2 Kings · 1

  1. 2 Kings 19:28 חַחִ֜י hook my

    Because your rage and arrogance against Me have reached My ears, I will put My hook in your nose and My bit in your mouth; I will send you back the way you came.’

    Here: 'My ring', a hook or ring through the nose used to lead a bull or a prisoner. 'My' marks it as YHWH's own: the king now has an owner.

Isaiah · 1

  1. Isaiah 37:29 חַחִ֜י hook my

    Because your rage and arrogance against Me have reached My ears, I will put My hook in your nose and My bit in your mouth; I will send you back the way you came.’

    Here: 'My hook': a ring or hook pushed through the nose or lip so that a tether could be tied to it, used to lead animals and, in Assyrian art, captive kings. 'My' matters. God uses on Assyria the device Assyria used on others.

Ezekiel · 4

  1. Ezekiel 19:4 בַֽחַחִ֖ים with <the> hooks

    When the nations heard of him, he was trapped in their pit. With hooks they led him away to the land of Egypt.

  2. Ezekiel 19:9 בַּֽחַחִ֔ים with <the> hooks

    With hooks they caged him and brought him to the king of Babylon. They brought him into captivity so that his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.

  3. Ezekiel 29:4 חַחִים֙ hooks

    But I will put hooks in your jaws and cause the fish of your streams to cling to your scales. I will haul you up out of your rivers, and all the fish of your streams will cling to your scales.

  4. Ezekiel 38:4 חַחִ֖ים hooks

    I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with all your army—your horses, your horsemen in full armor, and a great company armed with shields and bucklers, all brandishing their swords.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.