Biblical Lexicon

H2397 H2397

Prep-b | 8× in 2 senses

A hook or ring for restraining captives and animals; also a decorative brooch or clasp offered as tabernacle jewelry

The noun חַח denotes a metal ring or hook, but its meaning splits sharply between two very different worlds. In its dominant sense, it is an instrument of subjugation — a hook thrust into the nose or jaw of a captive to lead them like an animal. God warns Sennacherib 'I will put my hook in your nose' (2 Kgs 19:28; Isa 37:29), and Ezekiel portrays Judah's princes as young lions dragged away with hooks (Ezek 19:4, 9). In its single other occurrence, the same word names a delicate ornamental brooch brought as a freewill offering for the Tabernacle (Exod 35:22) — a striking reminder that ancient metalwork served both cruelty and beauty.

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Senses

1. hook, ring (for captives or animals) — A metal hook or ring used to restrain captives or control large animals, typically inserted through the nose or jaw. This is the instrument of imperial domination: YHWH threatens to put 'my hook in your nose' (2 Kgs 19:28 = Isa 37:29), echoing Assyrian practice of leading prisoners by nose-rings. Ezekiel extends the image to young lions caught with hooks (Ezek 19:4, 9) and to the crocodile figure of Pharaoh (Ezek 29:4). Spanish 'anzuelos/garfios' (fishhooks/grappling hooks) and English 'hooks' confirm the restraint function across all seven occurrences. 7×

ARTIFACTS › Artifacts › Hook Ring Fetter

AR["(خَطَاطِيفَ)","[خَطَاطِيفَ]","بِـ-الْخطَاطِيفِ","بِـ-الْخَطَاطِيفِ","خَطَاطِيفَ","خِزَامَتِي","خِطَامِي"]·ben["(বড়শি)","[বড়শি]","আমার-বড়শি","বড়শি","হুকে"]·DE["[בחחים]","[חחי]","[חחיים]","[חחים]","mein-hook"]·EN["My-hook","[hooks]","hooks","my-hook","with-hooks"]·FR["[חחי]","anneau","mon-hook"]·heb["[חחיים]","ב-חחים","חחי","חחים","חכות"]·HI["अंकुश","काँटों-से","कांटे","कुंडा-मेरा","मेरा-काँटा"]·ID["(kail)","[ketiv]","dengan-kait-kait","kail-Ku","kail-kail"]·IT["[בחחים]","[חחי]","[חחיים]","[חחים]","mio-hook"]·jav["[pancing]","kait-kait","kaitan-Kula","kanthi-canthelan","pancing","pancing-Kawula"]·KO["[케티브]","갈고리-나의","갈고리들로","갈고리들을","갈고리를","나의-갈고리를"]·PT["anzois","com-ganchos","gancho-Meu","gancho-meu"]·RU["в-крюках","крюк-Мой","крюками","крюки","крючья"]·ES["(anzuelos)","[anzuelos]","con-garfios","garfios","mi-garfio"]·SW["[ketiv]","kwa-kulabu","ndoano","ndoano-yangu"]·TR["(kancalar)","[kancalar]","cantami","kancalarla","çengeller","çengelli-halka"]·urd["(کنڈے)","[کنڈے]","آنکڑے","اپنا-کانٹا","کانٹوں-سے","کنڈی-میری"]

2 Kgs 19:28, Isa 37:29, Ezek 19:4, Ezek 19:9, Ezek 29:4, Ezek 29:4, Ezek 38:4

2. brooch, clasp (ornamental) — A decorative brooch, clasp, or ornamental pin — a piece of personal jewelry. Listed among the gold items offered for the Tabernacle construction in Exod 35:22, alongside bracelets, earrings, and signet rings. The multilingual glosses shift notably from the captive-hook vocabulary to ornamental terms: English and French both render it 'brooch,' and Spanish uses 'broches.' BDB notes the identification with a nose-ring or brooch remains debated, but the context among fine jewelry offerings clearly distinguishes this from the instrument of subjugation. 1×

ARTIFACTS › Artifacts › Bracelet Armlet

AR["إِبزيماً"]·ben["বালা"]·DE["brooch"]·EN["brooch"]·FR["brooch"]·heb["חח"]·HI["बालियाँ"]·ID["bros"]·IT["brooch"]·jav["peniti"]·KO["코걸이와"]·PT["broche"]·RU["застёжку"]·ES["broches"]·SW["vipini"]·TR["broş"]·urd["بالی"]

Exod 35:22

BDB / Lexicon Reference

† חַח n.m. hook, ring, fetter;—חַח abs. Ex 35:22; sf. חַחִי Is 37:29 2 K 19:28; pl. חַחִים Ez 19:4 + 2 times + Ez 29:4 Qr (Kt erron. חחיים, v. infr.);— 1. hook, ring, in nose of captive וְשַׂמְתִּי חַחִי בְּאַפֶּ֑ךָ Is 37:29 = 2 K 19:28 (cf. בַּחֹחִים 2 Ch 33:11, v. חוֹחַ supr.); so of princes of Judah, under fig. of young lions Ez 19:4, 9 (in v 9 transp., so that בחחים foll. הביא as v 4; so Co);…