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רָגַם

𐤓𐤂𐤌

râgam

H7275 verb

SILEX Entry

Root רגם to throw, to hurl, to cast

Definition

To throw or cast stones, typically as an act of collective violence or punishment. The verb usually describes the act of stoning, particularly in the context of communal judicial execution or violent assault. It can also mean to hurl stones at something or someone more generally, whether as aggression or symbolic action.

Semantic Range

to stone (execute by stoning), to throw stones (in anger, protest, or judgment), to pelt with stones, to lapidate, to attack with stones

Root / Etymology

רָגַם (ragam) is derived from the root ר–ג–ם, which at its core means 'to throw' or 'cast'. Its usage is almost exclusively with reference to stones, denoting the act of hurling stones. It is related to the noun רֶגֶב (regev, 'clod of earth') and shows a semantic relationship to terms involving rough materials or blunt projectiles. The root is distinct in connoting the collective or repeated action of stone-throwing, not merely a single toss. The connection with רוּעַ and רָקַם appears to be only phonetic; semantic relationship is limited.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רָגַם is attested throughout the Hebrew Bible, appearing in narratives and legal materials primarily with reference to judicial or mob execution by stoning—a practice known from Israelite law (e.g., Leviticus 20:2, Numbers 15:35). In such contexts, it marks a form of capital punishment conducted by the collective. In post-exilic and Second Temple texts, the act of stoning continued as a judicial means, later referenced in Greek and Aramaic literature. Occasionally, רָגַם can also be used for aggressive, non-judicial acts, such as stoning a person out of anger or protest (e.g., Exodus 17:4). The modern English phrase 'to stone' captures the core judicial meaning but can obscure cultural and legal nuances, such as the communal and ritualized character of the act in ancient Israelite society. The verb rarely occurs outside the context of violent or punitive stone-throwing. Unlike other terms for striking or killing, רָגַם specifically implies the use of stones as weapons and a group doing the action. Later English translations sometimes render this as 'to stone to death,' but the Hebrew itself is not always explicit about outcome. Compared to רָצַח ('to murder, slay'), רָגַם is not inherently a term for legal or illegal killing, but focuses on method.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (compare רֶגֶב, רוּעַ, רָקַם); to cast together (stones), i.e. to lapidate; [idiom] certainly, stone.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

רגם (r-g-m) — to throw, to hurl, to cast stones

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4773 מַרְגֵּמָה in a stone-heap
H7276 רֶגֶם Regem
H7277 רִגְמָה their stone-heap
H8638 תִּרְגַּם and being translated

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7275-04 וַ/יִּרְגְּמ֥וּ vayiregemu HC/Vqw3mp and stoned and they stoned 5
H7275-06 וְ/רָגְמ֥וּ veragemu HC/Vqp3cp and let them stone and they stoned 3
H7275-02 רָג֥וֹם ragom HVqa stone to stone 2
H7275-07 יִרְגְּמ֥וּ yiregemu HVqi3mp they shall stone they will stone 2
H7275-05 וַ/יִּרְגְּמֻ֥/הוּ vayiregemuhu HC/Vqw3mp/Sp3ms and they stoned him they stoned him 1
H7275-03 וּ֠/רְגָמֻ/הוּ uregamuhu HC/Vqq3cp/Sp3ms and they shall stone him and they stoned him 1
H7275-08 יִרְגְּמֻ֥/הוּ yiregemuhu HVqi3mp/Sp3ms shall stone him they will stone him 1
H7275-01 לִ/רְגּ֥וֹם liregom HR/Vqc to stone to stone 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7275-08 Leviticus 20:2 יִרְגְּמֻ֥/הוּ yiregemuhu HVqi3mp/Sp3ms shall stone him they will stone him
H7275-07 Leviticus 20:27 יִרְגְּמ֥וּ yiregemu HVqi3mp they shall stone they will stone
H7275-06 Leviticus 24:14 וְ/רָגְמ֥וּ veragemu HC/Vqp3cp and let them stone and they stoned
H7275-02 Leviticus 24:16 רָג֥וֹם ragom HVqa stoning to stone
H7275-07 Leviticus 24:16 יִרְגְּמוּ yiregemu HVqi3mp they shall stone they will stone
H7275-04 Leviticus 24:23 וַ/יִּרְגְּמ֥וּ vayiregemu HC/Vqw3mp and they stoned and they stoned
H7275-01 Numbers 14:10 לִ/רְגּ֥וֹם liregom HR/Vqc to stone to stone
H7275-02 Numbers 15:35 רָג֨וֹם ragom HVqa stone to stone
H7275-04 Numbers 15:36 וַ/יִּרְגְּמ֥וּ vayiregemu HC/Vqw3mp and they stoned and they stoned
H7275-03 Deuteronomy 21:21 וּ֠/רְגָמֻ/הוּ uregamuhu HC/Vqq3cp/Sp3ms and they shall stone him and they stoned him
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