עָגַן
a.gan
to refrain
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word 'a.gan (H5702), Strong's number 5702, means "to refrain." Its lexical definition suggests a sense of holding back, perhaps due to adverse conditions such as weather or water. The word belongs to the semantic domain of water and weather, indicating its connection to natural phenomena. The word occurs only once in the Bible, suggesting its relatively specialized or infrequent usage in the Hebrew language. This scarcity could imply that the concept of refraining is an important but nuanced aspect of the cultural or spiritual experiences of the ancient Israelites. Without more context, it is uncertain what exactly is being refrained from - perhaps an act, a plan, or an event. The significance of 'a.gan lies in its evocative connection to the unpredictable forces of nature. In the context of the Bible's single reference, this word may highlight the complexities of dealing with or responding to adverse circumstances. By exploring this word, we may gain insight into how ancient people understood the role of natural events in shaping their lives and decisions.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence across the text