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מַעְגָּל

𐤌𐤏𐤂𐤋

maʻgâl

H4570 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עגל to be round, to make round, to roll

Definition

A path or track, typically with a rounded or circular course, indicating a well-worn way, road, or circuit. In poetic or figurative contexts, it refers to the course of life, conduct, or divinely ordered path. Rarely, it can denote a circular embankment or rampart marking territory or boundaries.

Semantic Range

a path or track (esp. circular or winding), wheel-rut, circuit, course of action or life, figurative way or conduct, embankment or rampart (circular)

Root / Etymology

Root עגל, meaning 'to be round, to make round.' מַעְגָּל derives from this root and originally designates something formed or marked by a rounded motion or pattern, such as a wheel-track or a circuitous path. The connection between the root idea of roundness and the lexical meaning is through the physical appearance and movement associated with heavily traveled paths or the tracks left by wheels.

Historical & Contextual Notes

During the monarchic and exilic periods, מַעְגָּל most often described literal tracks—paths formed by animals, carts, or repeated foot traffic, especially those winding or circular in shape. In wisdom and poetic literature (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs), it frequently takes on figurative meanings, symbolizing the course of one’s life or moral conduct, often contrasted with other Hebrew terms like דֶּרֶךְ (derekh, 'road, way') which may suggest a broader or more direct route, as opposed to מַעְגָּל’s sense of a defined, sometimes circuitous track. In rare instances, particularly as a feminine form, the word refers to a physical embankment or rampart, emphasizing circularity in fortification context. English translations often render מַעְגָּל as 'path,' 'track,' 'course,' or 'way,' but sometimes flatten the nuance of roundness and the poetic/figurative register found in the Hebrew. The word does not typically refer to urban streets or thoroughfares, but to more natural or marked rural tracks and metaphorically to the journey or progress through life.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or feminine מַעְגָּלָה; from the same as עָגֹל; a track (literally or figuratively); also a rampart (as circular); going, path, trench, way(-side).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עגל (ʿ-g-l) — to be round, to make round, to roll

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5694 עָגִיל round ornament-ring
H5695 עֵגֶל young bull-calves
H5696 עָגֹל rounded
H5697 עֶגְלָה with my heifer
H5698 עֶגְלָה to Eglah

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4570-06 מַעְגַּ֥ל maegal HNcmsc the path circular track of 4
H4570-08 מַעְגְּלֹתֶֽי/הָ maegeloteyha HNcmpc/Sp3fs her paths her rounded paths 2
H4570-01 בַּ/מַּעְגָּ֔ל bamaegal HRd/Ncmsa within the circle in the round path 2
H4570-03 בְּ/מַעְגְּלוֹתָ֑/ם bemaegelotam HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp in their tracks in their circular tracks 2
H4570-09 וּ֝/מַעְגָּלֶ֗י/ךָ umaegaleykha HC/Ncmpc/Sp2ms and your paths your circular paths 1
H4570-05 הַ/מַּעְגָּ֔לָ/ה hamaegalah HTd/Ncmsa/Sd to the circle of the camp toward the rounded track 1
H4570-10 בְ/מַעְגְּלֵי vemaegeley HR/Ncmpc in paths in round-tracks of 1
H4570-02 בְּ/מַעְגְּלֵי bemaegeley HR/Ncmpc in paths in circular tracks of 1
H4570-04 בְּ/מַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑י/ךָ bemaegeloteykha HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms in your paths in your circuits 1
H4570-07 מַעְגְּלֹתָ֥י/ו maegelotayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his paths his roundabout paths 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4570-05 1 Samuel 17:20 הַ/מַּעְגָּ֔לָ/ה hamaegalah HTd/Ncmsa/Sd to the circle of the camp toward the rounded track
H4570-01 1 Samuel 26:5 בַּ/מַּעְגָּ֔ל bamaegal HRd/Ncmsa within the encirclement in the round path
H4570-01 1 Samuel 26:7 בַּ/מַּעְגָּ֔ל bamaegal HRd/Ncmsa within the circle in the round path
H4570-06 Isaiah 26:7 מַעְגַּ֥ל maegal HNcmsc the path circular track of
H4570-03 Isaiah 59:8 בְּ/מַעְגְּלוֹתָ֑/ם bemaegelotam HR/Ncmpc/Sp3mp in their tracks in their circular tracks
H4570-04 Psalms 17:5 בְּ/מַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑י/ךָ bemaegeloteykha HR/Ncmpc/Sp2ms in your paths in your circuits
H4570-10 Psalms 23:3 בְ/מַעְגְּלֵי vemaegeley HR/Ncmpc in paths in round-tracks of
H4570-09 Psalms 65:12 וּ֝/מַעְגָּלֶ֗י/ךָ umaegaleykha HC/Ncmpc/Sp2ms and your paths your circular paths
H4570-06 Psalms 140:6 מַעְגָּ֑ל maegal HNcmsa path circular track of
H4570-06 Proverbs 2:9 מַעְגַּל maegal HNcmsc path circular track of
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