Lexical Summary habhab: Precious stone, gem Original Word: הַבְהָב Strong's Exhaustive Concordance offering By reduplication from yahab; gift (in sacrifice), i.e. Holocaust -- offering. see HEBREW yahab NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yahab Definition a gift NASB Translation gifts (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [הַבְהָב] noun masculine gift (? on form, then compare צאצא Ges§ 84b viii; but meaning (and v) dubious; possibly from Late Hebrew הִבְהֵב roast, LevyNHWB i. 447 b) — only plural suffix: זִבְחֵי הַבְהָבַי יִזְבְּהוּ Hosea 8:13 as the sacrifices of my gifts (= my sacrificial gifts, so Che) they sacrifice flesh. Topical Lexicon Etymological Sense and Nuance The word הַבְהָב (habhab) evokes the idea of a lavish “present” or “gift,” especially in a cultic setting. It is not the ordinary term for a sacrifice; rather, it highlights the costly, showy character of the offering—the kind people bring when they wish to impress. Sole Biblical Occurrence: Hosea 8:13 “Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to Me and eat the meat, the LORD is not pleased with them” (Hosea 8:13a). Here the prophet places הַבְהָב in parallel with the daily “sacrifices” (zebāḥîm), underscoring that even the most sumptuous contributions cannot mask Israel’s spiritual rebellion. Historical Setting Hosea prophesied during the final decades of the Northern Kingdom (eighth century B.C.), when political instability and moral compromise went hand-in-hand. Jeroboam’s calf-shrines at Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:28–29) and the syncretistic worship that followed produced an outwardly active but inwardly corrupt sacrificial system. Wealth from international trade allowed Israel to multiply festivals and offerings, but this prosperity bred complacency (Amos 6:1–7). Habhab represents those showpiece gifts presented at apostate altars. Prophetic Message 1. Divine Displeasure with Empty Ritual Hosea reiterates the theme already sounded by Samuel (“To obey is better than sacrifice,” 1 Samuel 15:22) and later by Isaiah (“I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls,” Isaiah 1:11). Habhab exposes the emptiness of approaching God with impressive externals while cherishing sin. The verse moves swiftly from rejected offerings to remembered guilt: “Now He will remember their guilt and punish their sins; they will return to Egypt” (Hosea 8:13b). The costly gift could not buy divine favor or avert exile. Theological Significance • True worship is covenantal, grounded in love and obedience (Hosea 6:6). Habhab, though grand, lacks this covenant heart. Practical Ministry Lessons 1. Guard against performance-driven religion. Lavish giving, eloquent music, or elaborate liturgies become habhab when unaccompanied by repentance and obedience. New Testament Resonance • Romans 12:1 urges believers to present their bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God,” contrasting the whole-life commitment of faith with the perfunctory habhab of Hosea’s day. Conclusion Habhab serves as a vivid reminder that splendid offerings cannot compensate for disobedience. God desires relational fidelity, heart-level worship, and ethical righteousness. The one occurrence of the term crystallizes a timeless truth: what counts before the Lord is not the costliness of the gift but the consecration of the giver. Forms and Transliterations הַבְהָבַ֗י הבהבי haḇ·hā·ḇay haḇhāḇay havhaVaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Hosea 8:13 HEB: זִבְחֵ֣י הַבְהָבַ֗י יִזְבְּח֤וּ בָשָׂר֙ NAS: As for My sacrificial gifts, They sacrifice KJV: [for] the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat INT: my sacrificial gifts sacrifice the flesh 1 Occurrence |
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