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פִּגּוּל

𐤐𐤂𐤅𐤋

piggûwl

H6292 noun

SILEX Entry

Root פגל to stink, be offensive, be foul

Definition

A meat offering characterized as unacceptable or forbidden due to ritual impurity—specifically, meat of a sacrifice that is rendered invalid by being offered or consumed outside its prescribed time, which becomes abhorrent or detestable for cultic use. The term centers on sacrificial theology and ritual purity in ancient Israelite practice.

Semantic Range

ritually unacceptable sacrificial meat, forbidden offering due to improper ritual handling, abominable in a ritual context, loathsome (specifically with reference to cultic law)

Root / Etymology

From the root פגל (uncertain, not attested elsewhere), traditionally related to a sense of 'to stink' or 'emit an offensive odor.' Though this etymology is not securely established, the semantic development focuses on the idea of something rendered ritually offensive or loathsome. The word פִּגּוּל is a noun form reflecting a concrete instance of such impurity or abomination, not simply a generic term for something that smells.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פִּגּוּל appears only in Leviticus (7:18; 19:7; 22:23,25). In context, it refers specifically to the meat of sacrificial offerings that become invalid due to violation of cultic stipulations, often by being eaten after the permitted interval. Such meat is thereby designated 'piggûwl,' to be avoided and not accepted by the deity. The term does not refer to general moral abomination; rather, its scope is restricted to technical ritual impurity. Later translations sometimes render it as 'abomination,' but the nuance is specifically ritual, not ethical. The Septuagint translates פִּגּוּל with βδελυγμα ('abomination' or 'detestable thing'), introducing a potential shift toward a wider notion of reprehensibility, but in its biblical context the focus is narrowly cultic. The term is unique to the priestly regulations and is not used for moral or social offense. In post-biblical literature, the use of פִּגּוּל maintains the connotation of abhorred or invalid sacrifices. Distinct from other words for abomination (e.g., תּוֹעֵבָה toʿēvah), which can refer to moral or idolatrous offense.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or פִּגֻּל; from an unused root meaning to stink; properly, fetid, i.e. (figuratively) unclean (ceremonially); abominable(-tion, thing).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פגל (p-g-l) — to stink, be offensive, be foul

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6292-01 פִּגּ֣וּל pigul HNcmsa abominable ritually-fouled sacrifice 3
H6292-02 פִּגֻּלִ֖ים pigulim HNcmpa abominable things ritually-fouled offerings 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6292-01 Leviticus 7:18 פִּגּ֣וּל pigul HNcmsa abomination ritually-fouled sacrifice
H6292-01 Leviticus 19:7 פִּגּ֥וּל pigul HNcmsa abominable ritually-fouled sacrifice
H6292-02 Isaiah 65:4 פִּגֻּלִ֖ים pigulim HNcmpa abominable things ritually-fouled offerings
H6292-01 Ezekiel 4:14 פִּגּֽוּל pigul HNcmsa detestable ritually-fouled sacrifice
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