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אַגְמוֹן

𐤀𐤂𐤌𐤅𐤍

ʼagmôwn

H100 noun

SILEX Entry

Root אגם marsh, pool, wetland

Definition

A stalk or stem of a marsh plant, particularly the bulrush or reed (genus Juncus or related swamp vegetation), and by extension, an object crafted from or resembling such a stalk, such as a cord or rope. In poetic or metaphorical contexts, used for items resembling flexibility or pliability of such reeds (e.g., a kind of chain or binding).

Semantic Range

bulrush, reed, stalk of a marsh plant, cord or chain made of marsh plant fibers, handle/hook like a reed, poetic symbol of weakness or pliancy

Root / Etymology

From the root אגם ('a-g-m), relating to marsh or pool. The primary sense of the root is 'marsh, pool of water,' and the noun אַגְמוֹן is a derived form meaning something that grows in such an environment—specifically, the stem or stalk of marsh plants. The extension of meaning to objects made from the plant (cord, chain) or comparisons to such stalks arises from common usage of the vegetation for crafting.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אַגְמוֹן occurs in a handful of passages (e.g., Isaiah 9:13 [Eng. 9:14], 19:15, Job 41:2) with meaning determined by context. Most often it refers to the reed or bulrush typical of marshes and wetlands. In poetic texts, it denotes something easily bent or broken, as in metaphors for weakness or instability. In Job 41:2, אַגְמוֹן refers to a cord or rope made of reeds and used as a binding device, reflecting historical usage of marsh plant fibers for rope-making in the ancient Near East. Jewish tradition and some translations (Septuagint, Vulgate) sometimes render it more generally as 'rope,' 'caldron handle,' or even interpret it as a hook or ring, showing the semantic flexibility based on likeness to the original plant form. The proposal connecting it to 'kettle' is based on resemblance to a kettle's handle or a ring, but this is a later (likely secondary) interpretation, not the primary lexical meaning. English translations often opt for 'rush,' 'bulrush,' 'cord,' or 'chain,' but none of these terms fully conveys both the botanical and derivative senses in all contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as אֲגַם; a marshy pool (others from a different root, a kettle); by implication; a bulrush (as growing there); collectively a rope of bulrushes; bulrush, caldron, hook, rush.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אגם (ʾ-g-m) — marsh, pool, wetland

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H98 אֲגַם marsh of
H99 אָגֵם stagnant pools of

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H100-03 וְ/אַגְמ֖וֹן veagemon HC/Ncmsa and rush marsh-reed stalk 3
H100-01 אַגְמ֣וֹן agemon HNcmsa a reed marsh-reed stalk 1
H100-02 כְּ/אַגְמֹ֜ן keagemon HR/Ncmsa like a reed like a marsh-reed 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H100-03 Isaiah 9:13 וְ/אַגְמ֖וֹן veagemon HC/Ncmsa and-rush marsh-reed stalk
H100-03 Isaiah 19:15 וְ/אַגְמֽוֹן veagemon HC/Ncmsa or reed marsh-reed stalk
H100-02 Isaiah 58:5 כְּ/אַגְמֹ֜ן keagemon HR/Ncmsa like a reed like a marsh-reed
H100-01 Job 40:26 אַגְמ֣וֹן agemon HNcmsa a reed marsh-reed stalk
H100-03 Job 41:12 וְ/אַגְמֹֽן veagemon HC/Ncmsa and rush marsh-reed stalk
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