← H97 H99 →

אֲגַם

𐤀𐤂𐤌

ʼăgam

H98 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain to collect (hypothetical), standing water (marsh, pool)

Definition

A body of standing water, usually natural and shallow, such as a marsh, pool, or pond. The term denotes an area where water collects and remains, often forming a wetland that can support aquatic or semi-aquatic vegetation.

Semantic Range

marsh, pool, pond, standing water, wetland area, small body of water, reed-bed

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain. The form appears unrelated to common Hebrew words for collecting or pooling (e.g., אגר, קבץ). Strong's suggests an unused root meaning 'to collect as water,' but this root is not attested elsewhere in Biblical Hebrew; etymology uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אֲגַם occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible and is primarily found in poetic and prophetic contexts. It distinguishes itself from related terms such as בְּרֵכָה (berēkhah, usually a man-made pool or cistern) and יָם (yam, 'sea' or 'large body of water'). In several cases (Isaiah 35:7; 41:18; Exodus 7:19), אֲגַם designates shallow, stagnant bodies of water, commonly associated with natural marshes or pools, sometimes habitats for reeds and rushes (cf. usage in Hebrew poetry and later rabbinic literature). In its few biblical appearances, it tends to evoke imagery of transformation or natural abundance. Later translations, such as the Septuagint, use terms meaning 'marsh' or 'pool,' but sometimes English versions use 'lake' or 'pond,' which may exaggerate the size. The term lacks the developed ritual or urban connotations of other water-related terms. The English word 'marsh' often best corresponds to most biblical usages, though 'pond' or 'pool' may be contextually appropriate for passages emphasizing a collection of standing water rather than waterlogged land.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root (meaning to collect as water); a marsh; hence a rush (as growing in swamps); hence a stockade of reeds; pond, pool, standing (water).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

אגם (ʾ-g-m) — standing water, marsh, pool, collected waters

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H100 אַגְמוֹן marsh-reed stalk
H99 אָגֵם stagnant pools of

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H98-04 לַ/אֲגַ֔ם laagam HR/Ncmsa into a pool marsh-pool 3
H98-03 הָ/אֲגַמִּ֑ים haagamim HTd/Ncmpa the-marshes the marsh-pools 2
H98-01 אֲגַם agam HNcmsc into a pool marsh of 1
H98-05 וַ/אֲגַמִּ֖ים vaagamim HC/Ncmpa and marshes marsh-pools 1
H98-06 וְ/אַגְמֵי veagemey HC/Ncmpc and pools of marshes of 1
H98-02 אַגְמֵי/הֶ֗ם agemeyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their pools their marsh-pools 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H98-02 Exodus 7:19 אַגְמֵי/הֶ֗ם agemeyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their pools their marsh-pools
H98-03 Exodus 8:1 הָ/אֲגַמִּ֑ים haagamim HTd/Ncmpa the ponds the marsh-pools
H98-06 Isaiah 14:23 וְ/אַגְמֵי veagemey HC/Ncmpc and pools of marshes of
H98-04 Isaiah 35:7 לַ/אֲגַ֔ם laagam HR/Ncmsa into a pool marsh-pool
H98-04 Isaiah 41:18 לַ/אֲגַם laagam HR/Ncmsc a pool marsh-pool
H98-05 Isaiah 42:15 וַ/אֲגַמִּ֖ים vaagamim HC/Ncmpa and marshes marsh-pools
H98-03 Jeremiah 51:32 הָ/אֲגַמִּ֖ים haagamim HTd/Ncmpa the-marshes the marsh-pools
H98-04 Psalms 107:35 לַֽ/אֲגַם laagam HR/Ncmsc into a pool marsh-pool
H98-01 Psalms 114:8 אֲגַם agam HNcmsc into a pool marsh of
← H97 Hebrew Lexicon H99 →