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יָגָע

𐤉𐤂𐤏

yâgâʻ

H3022 noun

SILEX Entry

Root יגע to toil, become weary, labor strenuously

Definition

Substance, income, or possessions acquired through hard labor or toil; specifically refers to the tangible results or products that come from physically demanding or strenuous effort. The term emphasizes both the activity (toil, labor) and its product (gains, earnings).

Semantic Range

earnings from toil, product of labor, wealth acquired by hard work, gain from strenuous effort, income, goods produced by labor

Root / Etymology

From the verb יָגַע (yāga‘), meaning 'to toil, labor, become weary.' The noun form יָגָע (yāgā‘) directly expresses the outcome or product resulting from such effort. The root itself, יגע, conveys the notion of exertion or working to the point of fatigue; the noun abstracts this to refer to the concrete gains from such exertion.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, יָגָע is a rare noun, attested predominantly in Poetic or Prophetic literature (e.g., Isaiah 45:14), where it denotes tangible wealth or income resulting from hard physical labor, often that of another people or nation (e.g., Egypt's יָגָע promised to Zion). The term's use highlights not just wealth in the abstract, but wealth specifically tied to persistent, wearisome effort, distinguishing it from alternative words for riches or possessions (such as חֵיל, which signifies strength or general wealth, not necessarily acquired through toil). Across contextual usage, יָגָע implies a background of strenuous work and human endeavor, and in literary contexts may underscore the futility or transfer of hard-earned gain. English translations such as 'earnings,' 'gain from labor,' or 'product of toil' do not always bring out the word’s emphasis on arduous effort. There is minimal semantic shift across the biblical period, but contexts shift from literal (the result of one's own work) to metaphorical (as symbolic tribute or wealth transferred). The term is not specifically Israelite or Judahite, but is sometimes applied to the labor or wealth of foreign nations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from יָגַע; earnings (as the product of toil); that which he laboured for.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

יגע (y-g-ʿ) — to toil, labor strenuously, grow weary

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H3018 יְגִיעַ and from his toil-product
H3019 יָגִיעַ toil-wearied ones of
H3021 יָגַע we have made weary
H3023 יָגֵעַ and toil-wearied
H3024 יְגִעָה weariness of

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H3022-01 יָ֭גָע yaga HNcmsa what he toiled for toil-gain 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H3022-01 Job 20:18 יָ֭גָע yaga HNcmsa what he toiled for toil-gain
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