חָרְגֹּל

חָרְגֹּל

the leaping insect, i.e. a locust

Definition

The Hebrew word חָרְגֹּל (chârᵉgôl) refers to a specific type of leaping insect, identified as a locust or grasshopper. It appears in the list of clean insects permitted for food in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 11:22). The term is used alongside other locust-like insects, such as the 'arbeh' and the 'sol'am, indicating a distinct but related species within the broader category of edible swarming creatures. Its defining characteristic is its leaping or jumping motion, derived from its root meaning.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Leviticus 11:22. It appears within the dietary laws given to Israel, specifically in the list of clean, winged insects that 'go on all fours' and have jointed legs for leaping. The context is purely legal and descriptive, with no narrative or poetic usage elsewhere.

Etymology

The noun חָרְגֹּל (chârᵉgôl) is derived from the root verb חָרַג (chârag, H2727), which means 'to leap' or 'to hop.' The name is therefore descriptive of the insect's primary mode of locomotion. It is a straightforward nominal form indicating 'the leaper.'

Semantic Range

In the ancient Israelite context, locusts were a well-known part of the environment, both as a potential agricultural plague and, for certain permitted species, a source of food. The precise zoological distinction between the 'chargol' and other named locusts in Leviticus 11:22 (like 'arbeh' or 'sol'am) is not certain today, but the original audience likely recognized them as different edible kinds. The KJV's translation as 'beetle' is now considered a mistranslation, as the Hebrew context clearly describes a leaping insect. אַרְבֶּה (ʼarbeh, H697) — the common locust, often associated with swarms and plagues. סָלְעָם (çolʻâm, H5556) — another type of edible locust listed alongside the chargol in Leviticus 11:22.

Word Details