אֶגְרֹף
𐤀𐤂𐤓𐤐
ʼegrôph
H106 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A closed hand formed by curling the fingers into the palm; a fist. Represents both the anatomical shape (a hand tightly closed), and, in certain contexts, specifically a hand clenched in order to strike in violence. Occasionally used idiomatically to indicate power, aggression, or readiness to fight. The semantic range includes the physical hand action and, by extension, associated acts or symbols of threat, conflict, and force.
Semantic Range
fist, clenched hand, hand ready to strike, symbol of physical violence or aggression
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root גָּרַף (garaf), 'to sweep away, to grasp, to remove by handfuls.' The root carries a general sense of gathering or grasping, and אֶגְרֹף is a substantive form referring to the result of grasping—the clenched hand, or fist. The word formation shows a typical nominal pattern via prefixed and suffixed vowels.
Historical & Contextual Notes
אֶגְרֹף appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, with notable use in Isaiah 58:4, where it is associated with acts of strife—specifically, the act of hitting with the fist as a metaphor for violence or oppression. The term does not carry positive or neutral connotations in biblical contexts, tending instead to denote aggression, conflict, or physical violence. Unlike the common word יָד (yad, 'hand'), אֶגְרֹף is specialized and always refers to the hand in its clenched, combative form. English translations typically render it as 'fist,' which adequately reflects the literal meaning, though context is important to clarify whether the sense is strictly physical or also metaphorical. Later rabbinic and post-biblical Hebrew retain the meaning of 'fist' and sometimes broaden its metaphorical range, but it does not become a term for a unit of measure or symbol of blessing. There are no major semantic shifts between pre-exilic and post-exilic uses, though the word remains rare.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from גָּרַף (in the sense of grasping); the clenched hand; fist.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
גרף (g-r-p) — to grasp, sweep, gather by handful
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H106-02 |
בְ/אֶגְרֹ֑ף | veegerof | HR/Ncmsa |
with a fist | with a clenched fist | 1 | |
H106-01 |
בְּ/אֶגְרֹ֣ף | beegerof | HR/Ncmsc |
with the fist | with a clenched fist | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H106-02 |
Exodus 21:18 | בְ/אֶגְרֹ֑ף | veegerof | HR/Ncmsa |
with a fist | with a clenched fist | |
H106-01 |
Isaiah 58:4 | בְּ/אֶגְרֹ֣ף | beegerof | HR/Ncmsc |
with the fist | with a clenched fist |