Lexical Summary
chag: feast, feasts, festivals
Original Word:חַג
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:chag
Pronunciation:khag
Phonetic Spelling:(khag)
KJV: (solemn) feast (day), sacrifice, solemnity
NASB:feast, feasts, festivals, festival, festival sacrifice
Word Origin:[fromH2287 (חָגַג - celebrate)]
1. a festival, or a victim therefor
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
solemn feast day, sacrifice, solemnity
Or chag {khawg}; fromchagag; a festival, or a victim therefor -- (solemn) feast (day), sacrifice, solemnity.
see HEBREWchagag
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
chagagDefinitiona festival gathering, feast, pilgrim feast
NASB Translationfeast (52), feasts (5), festival (1), festival sacrifice (1), festivals (3).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Isaiah 29:1 (Late Hebrew
id.; Aramaic
, ; Arabic
pilgrimage; Sabean DHM
Epigr. Denkm. 31; Nö
ZMG 1887. 719; RS
Proph. Lect. ii. n. 6; > We
Skizzen iii. 106, 165sacred dance) — absolute and construct
Exodus 10:9 36t.;
Numbers 28:17 13t.; suffix
Exodus 23:18;
Deuteronomy 16:14;
Hosea 2:13;
Psalm 81:4; plural
Isaiah 29:1 2t.; suffix
Nahum 2:1;
Amos 5:21 2t.; —
feast, especially one observed by apilgrimage (Exodus 23:14,17):
special feast to the golden calfExodus 32:5 (J; where there was a sacred danceExodus 32:19); a feast in the 8th month observed by Jeroboam in place of the feast of the 7th month in Judah1 Kings 12:32,33; pilgrim feast proposed by MosesExodus 10:9 (JE); feast at ShilohJudges 21:19. Elsewhere
: (1)in GeneralIsaiah 30:29;Amos 8:10;Nahum 2:1;let feasts come roundIsaiah 29:1; ""Amos 5:21;Leviticus 23:41 (H); distinguished from the more General (sacred seasons)Ezekiel 45:17;Ezekiel 46:11;Hosea 9:5 (), and from specific , as well,Hosea 2:13; (2) in particular: unleavened cakes and PassoverExodus 23:15 =Exodus 34:18 (JE);Leviticus 23:6 (P),Deuteronomy 16:16; 2Chronicles 8:13; 30:13,21; 35:17;Ezra 6:22;Exodus 12:14 (P); first day of the sevenNumbers 28:17 (P); the last dayExodus 13:6 (J); the sevenEzekiel 45:21,23;Exodus 34:25,Exodus 23:18 (both J E);Psalm 81:4 (probably the full moon of Passover);Exodus 23:16 =Exodus 34:22 (JE), compareDeuteronomy 16:10,16; 2Chronicles 8:13;Exodus 23:16 =Exodus 34:22 (JE) =Leviticus 23:34 (P),Deuteronomy 16:13,16;Deuteronomy 31:10; 2Chronicles 8:13;Ezra 3:4;Zechariah 14:16,18,19; alsoLeviticus 23:39 (H),1 Kings 8:2,65 2Chronicles 5:3; 7:8,9;Ezra 4:5;Nehemiah 8:14; (i.e. of people)Deuteronomy 16:14; 7daysNumbers 29:12 (P),Nehemiah 8:18. — Verbs with are:Leviticus 23:39,41 (H),Exodus 12:14;Numbers 29:12 (P),Nahum 2:1;Zechariah 14:16,18,19;Exodus 23:15 =Exodus 34:18 (JE);Isaiah 30:29; but usuallyExodus 34:22 (JE),Deuteronomy 16:10,13;1 Kings 8:65;1 Kings 12:32,33; 2Chronicles 7:8,9; 30:13,21; 35:17;Ezra 3:4;Ezra 6:22;Nehemiah 8:18.
festival sacrifice (compare Late Hebrew )Psalm 118:27 (see );Malachi 2:3 (RV after Thes Ke and others: but AV Ew Orfeast).
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scopeחַג (chag) denotes an appointed festival celebrated before the LORD with pilgrimage, sacrifice, and rejoicing. The word emphasizes a holy occasion marked by movement (“to go around”), hence the thrice-yearly journeys to the central sanctuary. Although any sacred festival can be called a chag, Scripture applies it most consistently to the three pilgrimage feasts: Passover and Unleavened Bread, Weeks, and Tabernacles.
Old Testament Distribution
Appearing in Torah, Former Prophets, Writings, and Prophets, חַג functions as a unifying thread across Israel’s story. The festivals accompany covenant institution (Exodus), monarchy (1 Kings 8:2, 65), reform (2 Chronicles 30:13;2 Chronicles 35:17), restoration from exile (Ezra 3:4;Nehemiah 8:14-18), poetic worship (Psalms 118:27), and eschatological prophecy (Zechariah 14:16-19). Thus the chag reveals both God’s faithfulness and Israel’s varied responses through obedience, neglect, revival, and final fulfillment.
The Three Pilgrimage Feasts
1. Passover / Feast of Unleavened Bread
Exodus 12–13 andDeuteronomy 16 link the rite to redemption from Egypt. “You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread—for on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:17). Its continual observance anchors Israel’s identity and prefigures “Christ, our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7).
2. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot)
Celebrated seven weeks after firstfruits, it expresses gratitude for harvest and covenant word (Exodus 34:22;Deuteronomy 16:10). Jewish tradition associates the day with Sinai; Christian fulfillment is seen at Pentecost when the Spirit is poured out (Acts 2), gathering firstfruits of a new creation.
3. Feast of Tabernacles (Booths)
Marking the ingathering of produce and commemorating wilderness providence (Leviticus 23:33-43), Tabernacles epitomizes joy: “You shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days” (Leviticus 23:40). Prophets foresee universal participation: “Then all the survivors of the nations… will go up year after year to worship the King… and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zechariah 14:16).
Liturgical Elements
• Pilgrimage: males—and ultimately families—appear “in the place He chooses” (Deuteronomy 16:16).
• Sacrifice: burnt offerings, fellowship offerings, grain, and drink offerings (Numbers 28–29).
• Communal Meals: consumption before the LORD safeguards equality and generosity (Deuteronomy 16:14).
• Music and Dance:Psalm 149:3 links dancing to festival;Isaiah 30:29 pictures singing “as on the night you set out to celebrate a festival.”
• Sacred Assembly: holy convocations shape national consciousness around worship rather than warfare.
Theology of the Feast
Revelation: Festivals are “appointed times” (moedim) where heaven’s calendar intersects earthly history.
Redemption: Each chag remembers deliverance—Exodus past, harvest present, glory future.
Rejoicing: Joy is commanded (Deuteronomy 16:14-15) because true worship issues in glad obedience.
Rest: By suspending normal labor (Leviticus 23:7, 21, 35), the feasts anticipate the Sabbath-rest of God’s people (Hebrews 4:9).
Righteousness: Prophetic rebuke targets empty celebration divorced from justice (Isaiah 1:13-17;Amos 5:21-24).
Historical Development
• Patriarchal hints (Genesis 29:22; though חַג is not used) anticipate communal feasting.
• Sinai legislation fixes dates and offerings (Exodus 23;Leviticus 23).
• Centralization under Solomon (1 Kings 8) deepens temple focus.
• Divided-kingdom corruption introduces rival calendars (1 Kings 12:32-33).
• Hezekiah and Josiah restore proper practice (2 Chronicles 30; 35).
• Post-exilic community renews covenant at Tabernacles (Nehemiah 8).
• Second-Temple Judaism elaborates ritual (water-drawing, lamp-lighting) that Jesus re-interprets: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37).
Prophetic and Messianic Dimensions
Nahum 1:15 celebrates judgment and freedom: “Celebrate your feasts, O Judah… for the wicked one shall no longer pass through you.”Hosea 9:5 laments exile’s loss of festival.Ezekiel 45–46 envisions future chag observance in a restored sanctuary.Zechariah 14 universalizes Tabernacles, projecting Gentile inclusion. The Gospels present Jesus attending Passover (Luke 2:41;John 2:13), Tabernacles (John 7), and possibly Weeks (John 5), fulfilling every feast in His person and work.
Practical Ministry Applications
• Preaching: Use the festivals to trace God’s redemptive timeline culminating in Christ.
• Worship Planning: Annual church calendars may reflect biblical rhythms—Passover–Easter, Pentecost, Harvest Thanksgiving.
• Discipleship: Teach believers to practice joy, generosity, and remembrance patterned after the chag.
• Missions: Zechariah’s vision motivates proclamation among the nations so that “all families of the earth” might come up to worship the King.
See Also
Passover; Unleavened Bread; Feast of Weeks; Feast of Tabernacles; Pilgrimage; Festival Offerings; Holy Convocation
Forms and Transliterations
בְּחַ֥ג בְּחַ֧ג בְּחַגֶּ֑ךָ בֶּחָ֑ג בֶּחָ֔ג בֶּחָ֖ג בַּחַגִּ֤ים בחג בחגים בחגך הֶ֠חָג הֶחָ֜ג הֶחָ֡ג החג וְהֶחָ֖ג וְחַ֤ג וְחַג֙ וּבְחַ֣ג וּבְחַ֥ג וּבַחַגִּ֣ים ובחג ובחגים והחג וחג חַ֖ג חַ֛ג חַ֣ג חַ֤ג חַ֥ג חַ֧ג חַגִּ֖י חַגִּ֥ים חַגֵּֽנוּ׃ חַגֵּיכֶ֑ם חַגֵּיכֶ֜ם חַגַּ֖יִךְ חַגָּ֖הּ חַג־ חָ֑ג חָ֕ג חָ֡ג חָג֙ חג חג־ חגה חגי חגיך חגיכם חגים חגנו׃ כֶּחָ֣ג ׀ כחג ba·ḥag·gîm bachagGim baḥaggîm be·ḥāḡ bə·ḥaḡ bə·ḥag·ge·ḵā beChag bechagGecha beḥāḡ bəḥaḡ bəḥaggeḵā chag chagGah chagGayich chaggeiChem chagGenu chagGi chagGim ḥaḡ ḥāḡ ḥaḡ- ḥag·ga·yiḵ ḥag·gāh ḥag·gê·ḵem ḥag·gê·nū ḥag·gî ḥag·gîm ḥaggāh ḥaggayiḵ ḥaggêḵem ḥaggênū ḥaggî ḥaggîm he·ḥāḡ heChag Hechog heḥāḡ ke·ḥāḡ keChag keḥāḡ ū·ḇa·ḥag·gîm ū·ḇə·ḥaḡ ūḇaḥaggîm ūḇəḥaḡ uvachagGim uveChag veChag veheChag wə·ḥaḡ wə·he·ḥāḡ wəḥaḡ wəheḥāḡ
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