Lexical Summary Choglah: Hoglah Original Word: חָגְלָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hoglah Of uncertain derivation; probably a partridge; Choglah, an Israelitess -- Hoglah. See also Beyth Choglah. see HEBREW Beyth Choglah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition "partridge," a female desc. of Manasseh NASB Translation Hoglah (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs חָגְלָה proper name, masculine (= partridge, see above) — a daughter of Selophchad of Manasseh Numbers 26:33; Numbers 27:1; Numbers 36:11; Joshua 17:3 (all P); ᵐ5 Ἑγλα, A Αιγλα(μ). On proper name, of a location ׳בֵּית ה. Topical Lexicon Name and Family Line Hoglah was one of the five daughters of Zelophehad, a descendant of Manasseh through Gilead, Hepher, and Machir (Numbers 26:33; Numbers 27:1). She therefore belonged to the tribe that shared in the double portion promised to Joseph. Her mother is unnamed, and no husband is identified until the settlement in Canaan, when Hoglah and her sisters married within their own clan (Numbers 36:11). Occurrences in the Biblical Narrative 1. Numbers 26:33 – Her name is recorded during the second wilderness census on the plains of Moab. Legal and Theological Significance Hoglah’s account is pivotal for Israel’s inheritance law. Her appearance with her sisters before the national leadership establishes three enduring principles: • Divine justice transcends cultural convention. The daughters’ plea—“Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan because he had no sons?” (Numbers 27:4)—highlights God’s regard for equity. • Legislative precedent under the authority of revelation. “So Moses brought their case before the LORD” (Numbers 27:5), and the resulting statute (Numbers 27:8–11) shows that Israel’s civil code was responsive to concrete situations while remaining grounded in God’s unchanging character. • Preservation of tribal identity within covenant structure. The later requirement to marry within the tribe (Numbers 36) balances individual rights with corporate responsibility, safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manasseh until the Jubilee system could function. Spiritual Lessons Courageous faith – Hoglah stands as an example of reverent boldness. Approaching the highest earthly authority of the nation, she trusted that the LORD would hear a just cause. Honor for family legacy – Rather than personal enrichment, the daughters sought to uphold their father’s name, reflecting the fifth commandment’s call to honor parents. The value of every believer – In an era when women rarely appeared in legal matters, Hoglah’s successful petition anticipates Galatians 3:28 by illustrating that covenant privileges are not limited by gender. Ministerial Application • Encouragement for women’s active participation in Kingdom purposes: Hoglah’s initiative legitimizes godly leadership expressed through petition, counsel, and stewardship. • Model for handling contemporary ethical questions: When congregations face novel issues, Hoglah reminds leaders to seek divine guidance first, then craft policies that reflect both justice and fidelity to Scripture. • Discipleship in stewardship: Her account teaches believers to value and preserve their spiritual inheritance—salvation, sound doctrine, and ministry opportunities—so that nothing is lost to future generations. Hoglah’s brief appearances thus contribute disproportionately to biblical theology, reinforcing themes of justice, inheritance, covenant solidarity, and the dignity of all God’s people. Forms and Transliterations וְחָגְלָ֥ה וְחָגְלָ֧ה וחגלה חָגְלָ֥ה חגלה chageLah ḥā·ḡə·lāh ḥāḡəlāh vechageLah wə·ḥā·ḡə·lāh wəḥāḡəlāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 26:33 HEB: מַחְלָ֣ה וְנֹעָ֔ה חָגְלָ֥ה מִלְכָּ֖ה וְתִרְצָֽה׃ NAS: Noah, Hoglah, Milcah KJV: and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, INT: were Mahlah Noah Hoglah Milcah and Tirzah Numbers 27:1 Numbers 36:11 Joshua 17:3 4 Occurrences |
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