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אֲגַג

𐤀𐤂𐤂

Agag

H90 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain (proper noun; possibly to be high, to burn, but no root is securely attested)

Definition

Proper noun; the designation of an Amalekite king, possibly functioning more as a dynastic or titular name than a personal name. Used particularly to reference rulers of the Amalekites in narratives of conflict with early Israelites. The lexical sense is limited to its use as a name, with possible connotations of authority or status specific to Amalekite rulers. The word does not appear with a common noun meaning ('flame,' etc.) in the Hebrew Bible.

Semantic Range

proper name of Amalekite king, possibly dynastic or titular designation; (later: symbolic foe of Israel, in post-biblical tradition)

Root / Etymology

etymology uncertain

Historical & Contextual Notes

אֲגַג appears in the Hebrew Bible specifically as a name for a prominent Amalekite king: first in Numbers 24:7 (the Balaam oracles, possibly referring to a prototypical or idealized Amalekite ruler) and most notably in 1 Samuel 15 as the king defeated by Saul. The name may have functioned as a throne-name or dynastic designation, similar to 'Pharaoh' or 'Abimelech,' rather than a unique personal name. Some scholars have connected the sound of the name to possible roots meaning 'high' or 'to burn,' but no etymology is certain or directly attested in Semitic languages. The term later acquires symbolic resonance in post-biblical literature as a representation of enemies of Israel, but its primary biblical usage remains a proper noun tied to Amalekite royalty. English translations often transliterate the name, but some traditional glosses (like 'flame') are conjectural and not based on actual biblical usage. No evidence exists for the conflation of this term with 'Jew' or related later identifications; it is anchored in the context of early Israelite-Amalekite histories.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or אֲגָג; of uncertain derivation (compare אָגֵא); flame; Agag, a title of Amalekitish kings; Agag.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain; dynastic name of Amalekite ruler

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1085 בִּלְדַּד Bildad
H1095 בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר Belteshatsar
H1114 בִּלְשָׁן Bilshan
H1150 בִּנְעָא Bin'a
H116 אֱדַיִן and then

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H90-01 אֲגַ֥ג agag HNp Agag Agag 7
H90-02 מֵֽ/אֲגַג֙ meagag HR/Np than Agag Agag 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H90-02 Numbers 24:7 מֵֽ/אֲגַג֙ meagag HR/Np than Agag Agag
H90-01 1 Samuel 15:8 אֲגַ֥ג agag HNp Agag Agag
H90-01 1 Samuel 15:9 אֲגָ֗ג agag HNp Agag Agag
H90-01 1 Samuel 15:20 אֲגַג֙ agag HNp Agag Agag
H90-01 1 Samuel 15:32 אֲגַג֙ agag HNp Agag Agag
H90-01 1 Samuel 15:32 אֲגַ֖ג agag-2 HNp Agag Agag
H90-01 1 Samuel 15:32 אֲגָ֔ג agag-3 HNp Agag Agag
H90-01 1 Samuel 15:33 אֲגָ֛ג agag HNp Agag Agag
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