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רָגַל

𐤓𐤂𐤋

râgal

H7270 verb

SILEX Entry

Root רגל to go on foot, to walk, to travel

Definition

To travel on foot, to go about (literally); by extension, to explore or scout a place with the intention of gathering information (especially in a military sense, i.e., to spy or reconnoiter); figuratively, to act as a slanderer or informer, one who goes about conveying information (often of a malicious or secretive nature). The verb can indicate not only physical movement but also the act of investigation (as in espionage) or gossip (reporting negative information).

Semantic Range

to go about, to traverse, to spy out, to explore, to reconnoiter, to slander, to act as a tale-bearer, to circulate rumors, to lead or teach to go

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root רגל, meaning 'foot,' conveying the basic idea of going on foot. The verb is a denominative from רֶגֶל (regel, 'foot'), with primary root meaning 'to use the foot, to walk.' Extension to activities involving movement by foot gave rise to notions of reconnoitering or spying (traveling stealthily to observe) and, more abstractly, to circulating information or rumors.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In pre-monarchic and monarchic Israelite contexts, רָגַל is used primarily for the action of reconnaissance, especially by military spies sent to explore enemy territory (e.g., Numbers 13, Joshua 2), reflecting a literal sense tied closely to movement on foot. The extended figurative use, denoting slander or tale-bearing, appears when referring to one who 'walks about' spreading rumors or negative reports (e.g., Leviticus 19:16). This later sense blurs the line between physical movement and social action. In contrast to other terms for slander (e.g., רכיל 'tale-bearer,' דילון 'slanderer'), רָגַל emphasizes the act of going about—whether to observe or to report. English renderings vary widely, including 'spy,' 'reconnoiter,' 'slander,' or 'backbite,' which can obscure the common thread of going or moving with intent (whether for gathering information or for social intrigue). The semantic breadth warns against narrowly translating with the English 'spy' or 'slander' without considering context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; also as denominative from רֶגֶל; to walk along; but only in specifically, applications, to reconnoiter, to be atale-bearer (i.e. slander); to lead about; backbite, search, slander, (e-) spy (out), teach to go, view.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רגל (r-g-l) — to go on foot, to travel, to go about

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4772 מַרְגְלָה his foot-places
H7271 רְגַל with her foot
H7272 רֶגֶל by foot
H7273 רַגְלִי foot-soldier
H7274 רֹגְלִים from the Walkers

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7270-04 מְרַגְּלִ֣ים meragelim HVprmpa spies those who scout out 9
H7270-03 לְ/רַגֵּ֣ל leragel HR/Vpc to spy out to reconnoiter 6
H7270-09 וַֽ/יְרַגְּל֖וּ vayeragelu HC/Vpw3mp and spied it out and they scouted about 2
H7270-01 הַֽ/מְרַגְּלִ֤ים hameragelim HTd/Vprmpa the spies the scouting ones 2
H7270-10 וְ/רַגְּל֣וּ veragelu HC/Vpv2mp and spy out and scout out 1
H7270-08 וַ/יְרַגֵּ֣ל vayeragel HC/Vpw3ms and he slandered and he scouted out 1
H7270-02 כִּֽ/מְרַגְּלִ֖ים kimeragelim HR/Vprmpa as spies the scouting-ones 1
H7270-06 וּ/לְ/רַגֵּל֙ uleragel HC/R/Vpc and to spy out and to reconnoiter 1
H7270-05 רָגַ֨ל ragal HVqp3ms slanders he went about on foot 1
H7270-07 וּ/לְ/רַגְּלָ֣/הּ uleragelah HC/R/Vpc/Sp3fs and to spy on it and to scout her out 1

Occurrences in Scripture

25 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7270-04 Genesis 42:9 מְרַגְּלִ֣ים meragelim HVprmpa spies those who scout out
H7270-04 Genesis 42:11 מְרַגְּלִֽים meragelim HVprmpa spies those who scout out
H7270-04 Genesis 42:14 מְרַגְּלִ֥ים meragelim HVprmpa spies those who scout out
H7270-04 Genesis 42:16 מְרַגְּלִ֖ים meragelim HVprmpa spies those who scout out
H7270-02 Genesis 42:30 כִּֽ/מְרַגְּלִ֖ים kimeragelim HR/Vprmpa as spies the scouting-ones
H7270-04 Genesis 42:31 מְרַגְּלִֽים meragelim HVprmpa spies those who scout out
H7270-04 Genesis 42:34 מְרַגְּלִים֙ meragelim HVprmpa spies those who scout out
H7270-03 Numbers 21:32 לְ/רַגֵּ֣ל leragel HR/Vpc to spy out to reconnoiter
H7270-09 Deuteronomy 1:24 וַֽ/יְרַגְּל֖וּ vayeragelu HC/Vpw3mp and spied it out and they scouted about
H7270-04 Joshua 2:1 מְרַגְּלִים֙ meragelim HVprmpa to spy those who scout out
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