BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY

Agag

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Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H90

אֲגָג

a.gag — Agag

A man living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, only mentioned at Num.24.7 § Agag = "I will overtop" king of Amalek, spared by Saul but slain by Samuel

6 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

Historical dictionary entry

Flame, the usual title of the Amalekite kings, as “Pharaoh” was of the Egyptian. (1.) A king of the Amalekites referred to by Balaam (Num. 24:7). He lived at the time of the Exodus. (2.) Another king of the Amalekites whom Saul spared unlawfully, but whom Samuel on his arrival in the camp of Saul ordered, in retributive justice (Judg. 1), to be brought out and cut in pieces (1 Sam. 15:8-33. Comp. Ex. 17:11; Num. 14:45).

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Scripture cited by this entry (KJV)

Read the quoted verses in their chapters to evaluate the historical dictionary references.

Numbers 24:7

He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed [shall be] in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

1 Samuel 15:8

And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

Exodus 17:11

And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Agag in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →