יָגֵב
𐤉𐤂𐤁
yâgêb
H3010 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A plot of ground prepared for agriculture, typically referring to a cultivated, plowed, or tilled field. Unlike general terms for open country, יָגֵב denotes land intentionally worked for the purpose of growing crops, particularly cereal grains, and may be contrasted with uncultivated land or wilderness. The term reflects the agricultural landscape and practice of settlement communities in ancient Israel.
Semantic Range
plowed field, cultivated land, farmland, tilled ground
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root יגב, which is related to the verb יָגַב (‘to till, to plow’). The noun יָגֵב is formed from this root, signifying land that has been plowed or cultivated. The root itself is rare and is primarily evidenced by this noun form; as such, the root is reconstructed on the basis of this usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
יָגֵב is an uncommon word in the Hebrew Bible, appearing only in specific contexts (e.g., Josh 15:19; Judg 1:15) where a distinction is made between the cultivated plateau or farmland (יָגֵב) and the arid or uncultivated steppe (נֶגֶב). In southern Israelite geography, particularly in descriptions of the territories of Judah, יָגֵב represents areas with intensive agricultural use—especially regions where rainwater could be utilized for farming through canals or other traditional means. Unlike שָׂדֶה (sadeh, 'field'), which is a broader term encompassing cultivated, pasture, and occasionally even wild land, יָגֵב has a more specific reference to plowed, rain-irrigated land shaped for crop production. English translations sometimes gloss both terms as 'field', but this can obscure the distinction between uncultivated and cultivated land present in the Hebrew. In the historical context, knowledge of different land types reflected the vital importance of agriculture in Israelite society and the challenges of farming in semi-arid climates.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יָגַב; a plowed field; field.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
יגב (y-g-b) — to till, to plow, to cultivate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3009 | יָגַב | and to the tilling ones |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3010-01 |
וִֽ/יגֵבִ֖ים | vigevim | HC/Ncmpa |
and fields | and plowed fields | and plowed fields | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3010-01 |
Jeremiah 39:10 | וִֽ/יגֵבִ֖ים | vigevim | HC/Ncmpa |
and fields | and plowed fields | and plowed fields |