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Tag Archives: חבב
The Hebrew Verb חָבַב — To Love, To Cherish
Overview
The verb חָבַב (ḥāvav) means “to love,” “to cherish,” or “to hold dear.” It conveys a more intimate or affectionate sense of love, often implying tender affection or personal attachment. Though this verb is rare, it does appear in poetic and theological contexts. A notable occurrence is in Deuteronomy 33:3, where it expresses YHWH’s loving favor: אַ֚ף חֹבֵ֣ב עַמִּ֔ים — “Indeed, He loves the peoples.”
Root and Binyan
The root is ח־ב־ב. It occurs primarily in the Qal stem, but is theoretically conjugable in other stems.… Learn Hebrew