The Hebrew Verb חָבַק – “To Embrace”
Overview The verb חָבַק (ḥāvaq) means “to embrace,” “to hug,” or “to hold tightly.” It appears in poetic and narrative settings, often expressing deep affection or reunion (e.g., Genesis 33:4, where Esav embraces Yaʿaqov). The root is triliteral and typically appears in the Qal stem, but can be derived in other binyanim as well. …