חֹק
choq
statute: decree
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Explored# H2706 (חֹק) - Choq: Statute and Decree The Hebrew word *choq* denotes an established rule or ordinance—specifically a statute or decree. Its fundamental meaning centers on something formally determined and prescribed, whether by divine or human authority. The term appears 100 times throughout the biblical text, indicating it held considerable importance in expressing how rules and requirements were communicated and understood in ancient Hebrew thought. The word's range encompasses both religious and administrative contexts. Biblical authors employed *choq* to describe formal regulations that governed conduct, suggesting the word carried weight as an authoritative pronouncement. Whether referring to divine commandments or civil ordinances, the term consistently represents rules intended to direct behavior and establish order. The high frequency of occurrence across the biblical corpus underscores that statutes and decrees formed a central concern in the text's worldview—they were not peripheral concepts but fundamental to how laws and obligations were conceptualized. The significance of *choq* lies in its function as the linguistic bridge between authority and obligation. By using this term, biblical writers designated certain rules as formally binding rather than merely advisory. This word choice mattered: calling something a *choq* rather than a suggestion or preference elevated it to the status of law. For modern readers, understanding this term illuminates how ancient Hebrew culture understood the nature of rules themselves—as formal, deliberate pronouncements intended to structure
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
100 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
I will not any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances given by Moses.”
2 Chronicles 34:31The king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
2 Chronicles 35:25Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel. Behold, they are written in the lamentations.
Ezra 7:10For Ezra had set his heart to seek Yahweh’s law, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Ezra 7:11Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of Yahweh’s commandments, and of his statutes to Israel:
Nehemiah 1:7We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you commanded your servant Moses.
Nehemiah 9:13“You also came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,
Nehemiah 9:14and made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, statutes, and a law, by Moses your servant,
Nehemiah 10:29joined with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Yahweh our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;
Job 28:26When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder,
Psalms 2:7I will tell of the decree: Yahweh said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father.
Psalms 50:16But to the wicked God says, “What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips,
Psalms 81:4For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
Psalms 94:20Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief by statute?
Psalms 99:7He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud. They kept his testimonies, the statute that he gave them.
Psalms 105:10and confirmed it to Jacob for a statute; to Israel for an everlasting covenant,
Psalms 105:45that they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws. Praise Yah!
Psalms 119:5Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes!
Psalms 119:8I will observe your statutes. Don’t utterly forsake me.
Psalms 119:12Blessed are you, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes.
Psalms 119:23Though princes sit and slander me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Psalms 119:26I declared my ways, and you answered me. Teach me your statutes.
Psalms 119:33Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your statutes. I will keep them to the end.
Psalms 119:48I reach out my hands for your commandments, which I love. I will meditate on your statutes.
Psalms 119:54Your statutes have been my songs in the house where I live.
Psalms 119:64The earth is full of your loving kindness, Yahweh. Teach me your statutes.
Psalms 119:68You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes.
Psalms 119:71It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.
Psalms 119:80Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be disappointed.
Psalms 119:112I have set my heart to perform your statutes forever, even to the end.
Psalms 119:117Hold me up, and I will be safe, and will have respect for your statutes continually.
Psalms 119:118You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain.
Psalms 119:124Deal with your servant according to your loving kindness. Teach me your statutes.
Psalms 119:135Make your face shine on your servant. Teach me your statutes.
Psalms 119:145I have called with my whole heart. Answer me, Yahweh! I will keep your statutes.
Psalms 119:155Salvation is far from the wicked, for they don’t seek your statutes.
Psalms 119:171Let my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes.
Psalms 147:19He shows his word to Jacob, his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
Psalms 148:6He has also established them forever and ever. He has made a decree which will not pass away.
Isaiah 24:5The earth also is polluted under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.
Deuteronomy 4:40You shall keep his statutes and his commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which Yahweh your God gives you for all time.
Jeremiah 31:36“If these ordinances depart from before me,” says Yahweh, “then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before me forever.”
Jeremiah 32:11So I took the deed of the purchase, both that which was sealed, containing the terms and conditions, and that which was open;
Ezekiel 11:12You will know that I am Yahweh, for you have not walked in my statutes, You have not executed my ordinances, but have done after the ordinances of the nations that are around you.” ’ ”
Ezekiel 20:18I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.
Ezekiel 20:25Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they should not live.
Ezekiel 36:27I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them.
Amos 2:4Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Judah, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have rejected Yahweh’s law, and have not kept his statutes, and their lies have led them astray, after which their fathers walked;
Zephaniah 2:2before the appointed time when the day passes as the chaff, before the fierce anger of Yahweh comes on you, before the day of Yahweh’s anger comes on you.
Zechariah 1:6But my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, didn’t they overtake your fathers? “Then they repented and said, ‘Just as Yahweh of Armies determined to do to us, according to our ways, and according to our practices, so he has dealt with us.’ ”