אֱגוֹז
𐤀𐤂𐤅𐤆
ʼĕgôwz
H93 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A hard-shelled fruit enclosing an edible kernel, specifically a type of nut associated with sweet, cultivated varieties in the ancient Near East. In biblical context, often referring to a walnut or similar tree nut prized for its taste and possibly for its fragrance. The term denotes the edible fruit itself, not the tree.
Semantic Range
nut (general), walnut, edible seed of a tree, fruit of a cultivated orchard tree
Root / Etymology
Likely of foreign (Persian) origin, not native to Hebrew. The Hebrew noun אֱגוֹז (ʼĕgôwz) does not derive from a known Hebrew root but is considered a loanword, possibly from Old Persian *angūz or similar sources, as indicated by its phonological structure and by parallel lexemes in neighboring languages. The root is therefore uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term appears sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Song of Songs 6:11, where it refers to a cultivated grove or orchard ("the garden of nuts"). In the ancient Near East, such nuts (especially the walnut) were considered valuable for their rich flavor, high oil content, and possible medicinal qualities. There is some debate whether the reference is to the walnut (Juglans regia), which was introduced to the Levant during the monarchic or later periods, or to another large, edible nut such as a pistachio. Greek and Latin sources later used similar terms for the walnut. English translations render אֱגוֹז as 'nut,' but in contemporary terms 'walnut' is likely the most accurate identification. The word carries no specialized religious or symbolic meaning in biblical Hebrew but reflects agricultural and horticultural practices of the period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
prob of Persian origin; a nut; nut.
Bantu Hebrew
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אגז (ʾ-g-w-z (uncertain)) — nut, hard-shelled fruit
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H93-01 |
אֱגוֹז֙ | egoz | HNcmsa |
nuts | nut | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H93-01 |
Song of Songs 6:11 | אֱגוֹז֙ | egoz | HNcmsa |
nuts | nut |