בַּג
𐤁𐤂
bag
H897 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A loanword denoting provisions, supplies, or rations, specifically in reference to food distributed or apportioned (often by or for those in authority). In rare contexts, may refer more generally to supplies or spoil, but with a persistent nuance of formal allotment or provision.
Semantic Range
ration, provision, allotted food, official supplies, portion
Root / Etymology
Loanword of Persian origin, likely derived from Old Persian 'baga' meaning 'portion, share, allotment' (often food, supplies, or a divinely allotted share), with the Hebrew form reflecting this meaning. Not directly related to the native Hebrew root בָּז (to plunder, spoil), but sometimes confused or glossed interchangeably in some textual traditions.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term בַּג appears only in Ezra 6:9 and 7:22, within Persian imperial correspondence regarding provisions for the Jerusalem temple. It is a technical term in the administrative lexicon of the Persian period, reflecting the language of imperial administration and provisioning. English translations often render it as 'food,' 'provision,' or sometimes incorrectly as 'spoil' due to similarity with בָּז. The precise nuance is closer to official rations or supplies allocated for a specific purpose or group. This reflects the Persian practice of state-provided rations (cf. similar terms in Aramaic and Elamite documents from the Achaemenid empire). The meaning is consistent across the limited contexts in which it appears, and should be understood historically as a Persian loanword designating allotted provisions rather than generic food or spoil. Not used elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a Persian word; food; spoil (from the margin for בַּז.)
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בג (b-g) — portion, allotment, apportioned provision
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H897-01 |
ל/בג | lvg | HR/Ncmsa |
for spoil | for a ration | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H897-01 |
Ezekiel 25:7 | ל/בג | lvg | HR/Ncmsa |
for spoil | for a ration |