חׇגְלָה
Choglah, an Israelitess
Definition
Choglah is the name of one of the five daughters of Zelophehad, a man from the tribe of Manasseh who died without sons (Numbers 26:33). Her story is significant because she and her sisters petitioned Moses for the right to inherit their father's property, challenging the existing patriarchal inheritance laws. As a result, God established a new ordinance granting inheritance rights to daughters in the absence of male heirs (Numbers 27:1-11). Later, to ensure tribal land remained within the tribe, a further provision was made that these daughters must marry within their father's tribe (Numbers 36:11).
Biblical Usage
The name Choglah appears exclusively in the context of the inheritance case of Zelophehad's daughters. It is used four times in the Old Testament: first in the census list (Numbers 26:33), then in the narrative of the daughters' petition (Numbers 27:1), in the provision for tribal marriage (Numbers 36:11), and finally in the record of the inheritance being granted (Joshua 17:3). The usage is consistently as a proper name for this specific individual within these legal and genealogical passages.
Etymology
The etymology of Choglah (חָגְלָה) is uncertain. Many scholars suggest it may be derived from the root חָגַל (chagal), possibly meaning 'to turn' or 'to revolve,' which could relate to the movement of a partridge. This connection leads to the common interpretation of the name as meaning 'partridge,' a bird known for its distinctive, turning movements. The name may have been given as a personal name with this symbolic or descriptive meaning.
Semantic Range
Choglah's story is theologically significant as it demonstrates God's responsiveness to just appeals and His concern for fairness within the covenant community. The legal precedent established through her case shows the Mosaic law's capacity for adaptation and reform based on principles of justice, protecting vulnerable members of society (the daughters of a deceased man). It highlights themes of inheritance within God's promises and the importance of maintaining tribal identity and land allotment as part of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh.
In the patriarchal culture of ancient Israel, inheritance typically passed exclusively through male heirs. The case of Zelophehad's daughters, including Choglah, presented a direct cultural and legal challenge to this norm. Their successful petition shows that, while the culture was strongly patriarchal, mechanisms for appeal and divine justice existed. The subsequent requirement for them to marry within their tribe (Numbers 36) reflects the high cultural value placed on keeping ancestral land within the family and tribe, which was tied to identity and covenant blessing.
No direct synonyms as a proper name. Related individuals: Mahlah (H4244), Noah (H5270), Milcah (H4435), Tirzah (H8656) — her sisters, who together petitioned for inheritance rights.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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