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עֶגְלָה

𐤏𐤂𐤋𐤄

Egelah

H5697 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עגל to be round, to roll, to produce young (calf)

Definition

A young female bovine, specifically a heifer, often one that has not yet borne a calf. The word is used primarily for animals of a domesticated species, most frequently in contexts relating to rural life, agricultural wealth, livestock management, and cultic or sacrificial practice. In ritual or legal literature, it denotes a heifer designated for a particular rite. The semantic range spans female calves in general, with emphasis on their status as being unyoked, unworked, and suitable for ceremonial use.

Semantic Range

young female bovine, heifer, (unworked) cow prepared for sacrifice, female calf, poetic metaphor for beauty or fertility

Root / Etymology

From the root עגל, which has the core meaning 'to be round, circular' and by extension, 'calf'—possibly relating to the animal's physical form or young age. The form עֶגְלָה is the feminine of עֵגֶל (male calf), produced by the addition of the feminine suffix -ה.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical texts, עֶגְלָה most often refers to a heifer, particularly in sacrificial or ritual contexts (e.g., the 'red heifer' in Numbers 19, or the heifer used in the unsolved murder ritual in Deuteronomy 21). The term also appears in descriptive or comparative expressions (such as Jeremiah 46:20, 'a beautiful heifer,' metaphorically of Egypt). While English translations sometimes use 'calf,' in Hebrew the feminine term typically implies an animal old enough for cultic use but not yet mature enough to have calved. Other Hebrew terms, such as פָּרָה (grown cow), are more general or indicate an older animal; עֵגֶל is the masculine equivalent for a young male calf. Over time, the use of עֶגְלָה is largely restricted to specific ceremonial forms or poetic comparisons, with ordinary agricultural references more often employing broader terms for cattle or cow. The English term 'heifer' is an apt equivalent when referring to young, unyoked female bovines; however, some translations render the word as 'calf' or simply 'cow,' which can flatten the specificity inherent in the Hebrew term. There is no ethnic, religious, or geographic nuance to the term's referent beyond its usage in specific ritual contexts administered by or for Israelites.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of עֵגֶל; a (female) calf, especially one nearly grown (i.e. a heifer); calf, cow, heifer.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עגל (ʿ-g-l) — to be round, to roll, calf-producing, circular form

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4570 מַעְגָּל in the round path
H5694 עָגִיל round ornament-ring
H5695 עֵגֶל young bull-calves
H5696 עָגֹל rounded
H5698 עֶגְלָה to Eglah

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5697-03 עֶגְלַ֣ת egelat HNcfsc Eglath heifer of 5
H5697-02 עֶגְלָ֣ה egelah HNcfsa a heifer young heifer 3
H5697-04 הָֽ/עֶגְלָה֙ haegelah HTd/Ncfsa the heifer the heifer 3
H5697-05 כְּ/עֶגְלָ֣ה keegelah HR/Ncfsa like a heifer like a heifer 1
H5697-06 לְ/עֶגְלוֹת֙ leegelot HR/Ncfpc for the calves to heifers of 1
H5697-01 בְּ/עֶגְלָתִ֔/י beegelati HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs with my heifer with my heifer 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5697-02 Genesis 15:9 עֶגְלָ֣ה egelah HNcfsa a heifer young heifer
H5697-03 Deuteronomy 21:3 עֶגְלַ֣ת egelat HNcfsc a heifer heifer of
H5697-04 Deuteronomy 21:4 הָֽ/עֶגְלָה֙ haegelah HTd/Ncfsa the heifer the heifer
H5697-04 Deuteronomy 21:4 הָ/עֶגְלָ֖ה haegelah-2 HTd/Ncfsa the heifer the heifer
H5697-04 Deuteronomy 21:6 הָ/עֶגְלָ֖ה haegelah HTd/Ncfsa the heifer the heifer
H5697-01 Judges 14:18 בְּ/עֶגְלָתִ֔/י beegelati HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs with my heifer with my heifer
H5697-03 1 Samuel 16:2 עֶגְלַ֤ת egelat HNcfsc a heifer heifer of
H5697-03 Isaiah 7:21 עֶגְלַ֥ת egelat HNcfsc a young cow heifer of
H5697-03 Isaiah 15:5 עֶגְלַ֣ת egelat HNp Eglath heifer of
H5697-02 Jeremiah 46:20 עֶגְלָ֥ה egelah HNcfsa heifer young heifer
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