אַגָּף
𐤀𐤂𐤐
ʼaggâph
H102 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A massed group, flank, or wing, particularly referring to the lateral divisions of an army or large company, with the sense of extension or projecting part. In military contexts, denotes the side divisions ('wings') of troop formations; occasionally used for crowds in arrayed formation.
Semantic Range
wing or flank of an army, military side or division, bands or companies in martial array, flanks or sides of crowds
Root / Etymology
From the root נָגַף (ngp), meaning 'to strike, push, press,' with an uncertain semantic connection. It may relate to the idea of pushing forward or extending outward in parallel, as an army arrayed with outstretched flanks. The word occurs only in the plural in the Hebrew Bible.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אַגָּף appears only in military or martial contexts, almost exclusively in the plural (e.g., 2 Kings 11:11; Ezekiel 46:2; Daniel 11:45), to describe the side divisions or 'wings' of armies rather than literal bird wings (for which the term כָּנָף is used). Its scope is more tactical/organizational than anatomical, and it is rarely found outside descriptions of battle formation or ceremonial guard positions. English translations often render it as 'wings' or 'sides,' but there is some overlap with the senses 'flank,' 'side division,' or 'company (of troops).' In the Second Temple period and later Hebrew, כָּנָף became the standard word for 'wing' in both literal and figurative senses, while אַגָּף retained or narrowed to an organizational or occasionally architectural meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from נָגַף (through the idea of impending); a cover or heap; i.e.; (only plural) wings of an army, or crowds of troops; bands.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נגף (n-g-p) — to strike, push, press forward
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4046 | מַגֵּפָה | in the striking-plague |
| H5062 | נָגַף | in being struck down |
| H5063 | נֶגֶף | the smiting-blow |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H102-01 |
אֲגַפָּ֖י/ו | agapayv | HNcmpc/Sp3ms |
his troops | his army-wings | 4 |
H102-03 |
אֲגַפֶּ֔י/ךָ | agapeykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
your-bands | your battle-wings | 2 |
H102-02 |
אֲגַפֶּ֔י/הָ | agapeyha | HNcmpc/Sp3fs |
its troops | her flanks | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H102-01 |
Ezekiel 12:14 | אֲגַפָּ֖י/ו | agapayv | HNcmpc/Sp3ms |
his troops | his army-wings |
H102-01 |
Ezekiel 17:21 | אֲגַפָּי/ו֙ | agapayv | HNcmpc/Sp3ms |
his wings | his army-wings |
H102-02 |
Ezekiel 38:6 | אֲגַפֶּ֔י/הָ | agapeyha | HNcmpc/Sp3fs |
its troops | her flanks |
H102-01 |
Ezekiel 38:6 | אֲגַפָּ֑י/ו | agapayv | HNcmpc/Sp3ms |
his troops | his army-wings |
H102-03 |
Ezekiel 38:9 | אֲגַפֶּ֔י/ךָ | agapeykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
your-bands | your battle-wings |
H102-01 |
Ezekiel 38:22 | אֲגַפָּ֔י/ו | agapayv | HNcmpc/Sp3ms |
his-bands | his army-wings |
H102-03 |
Ezekiel 39:4 | אֲגַפֶּ֔י/ךָ | agapeykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
your troops | your battle-wings |