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עָגִיל

𐤏𐤂𐤉𐤋

ʻâgîyl

H5694 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עגל to be round, to roll, to form into a circle

Definition

A circular ornament, specifically a ring, most often worn as jewelry on the ear (earring); can denote any rounded or hoop-shaped decorative item, generally metallic, used in personal adornment. The term emphasizes the round shape of the object, without necessarily indicating the specific material or ceremonial significance unless specified by context.

Semantic Range

circular ornament, ring-shaped jewelry, earring, small round article for personal adornment

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root עגל (ʻ-g-l), meaning 'to be round, to roll.' עָגִיל is a feminine noun formation indicating 'something round' or 'a round object.' The word specifically refers to small, ring-shaped articles, such as earrings, that fit this physical description.

Historical & Contextual Notes

עָגִיל occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Judges 8:26), where it refers to earrings received as spoils of war by the Israelites. Unlike other Hebrew terms that denote jewelry (such as נֶזֶם for general rings or nose-rings), עָגִיל focuses particularly on the round, hoop-like form. In early Israelite society, such items were both decorative and potentially functional as displays of wealth or tribal affiliation. Over time, the meaning remained stable, but the cultural value of earrings and similar adornments fluctuated according to changing social, religious, and economic conditions. Some English translations historically rendered similar words as 'jewel' or simply 'ornament,' but these fail to capture the specific shape implied by עָגִיל. The later English word 'earring' can be used, though it presumes a particular usage (for the ear) that is implied but not always explicitly stated in the text. In Rabbinic and post-biblical Hebrew, the term is rare, supplanted by other words for jewelry.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as עָגֹל; something round, i.e. a ring (for the ears); earring.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עגל (ʿ-g-l) — to be round, to roll, to form into a circle

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4570 מַעְגָּל in the round path
H5695 עֵגֶל young bull-calves
H5696 עָגֹל rounded
H5697 עֶגְלָה with my heifer
H5698 עֶגְלָה to Eglah

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5694-02 וַ/עֲגִילִ֖ים vaagilim HC/Ncmpa and earrings and circular ornaments 1
H5694-01 עָגִ֣יל agil HNcmsa earring round ornament-ring 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5694-01 Numbers 31:50 עָגִ֣יל agil HNcmsa earring round ornament-ring
H5694-02 Ezekiel 16:12 וַ/עֲגִילִ֖ים vaagilim HC/Ncmpa and earrings and circular ornaments
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