מַרְגֵּמָה
𐤌𐤓𐤂𐤌𐤄
margêmâh
H4773 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A pile or heap formed from stones, often constructed as the result of stoning or as a marker. Also refers in a military context to a siege ramp or mound built of stones and earth. In rarer instances, the term may allude to an instrument for throwing stones, such as a sling.
Semantic Range
pile of stones, stone-heap formed after stoning, marker of judicial execution, siege ramp or mound, (rarely) a stone-throwing instrument or sling
Root / Etymology
From the root רגם (to stone, to pelt with stones). The word מַרְגֵּמָה is a noun of place or instrument from this root, denoting an accumulation or place of stones, or the means by which stones are hurled.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, מַרְגֵּמָה primarily denotes a heap of stones, most often referring to a pile resulting from the act of stoning (e.g., as a marker of judged individuals: Josh 7:26; 8:29). The term can also be used for siege works or ramps built during military attacks (Ezek 26:8). Some lexica note occasional association with a sling, though this is rare and usually contextually driven rather than a primary sense. English translations generally render it as 'heap of stones,' sometimes obscuring the connection to judicial or military execution. The sense of 'sling' is a later or marginal development, not consistently attested in the biblical corpus. Context and period can influence nuance: in monarchic-period texts, it often marks a place of public execution or defeat; in prophetic literature, it may denote siege machinery or structures. Distinct from other words for general stone heaps (like גַּל, gal), מַרְגֵּמָה has a connotation of violent action or public marking tied to collective stoning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from רָגַם; a stone-heap; sling.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
רגם (r-g-m) — to stone, to pelt with stones, to pile up
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7275 | רָגַם | to stone |
| H7276 | רֶגֶם | Regem |
| H7277 | רִגְמָה | their stone-heap |
| H8638 | תִּרְגַּם | and being translated |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4773-01 |
בְּ/מַרְגֵּמָ֑ה | bemaregemah | HR/Ncfsa |
in a sling | in a stone-heap | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4773-01 |
Proverbs 26:8 | בְּ/מַרְגֵּמָ֑ה | bemaregemah | HR/Ncfsa |
in a sling | in a stone-heap |