Hebrew word · H102

אֲגַף

'agapeikha

band

Military bands, contingents, troops. The word occurs only in Ezekiel (12:14; 17:21; 38:6, 9, 22; 39:4). It is probably related to an Aramaic word for 'wing', so the picture is the 'wings' of an army.

Appears 7 times in 6 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

wing (of an army), band, army, hordes

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Ezekiel 38:22

Range of meaning

Military bands, contingents, troops. The word occurs only in Ezekiel (12:14; 17:21; 38:6, 9, 22; 39:4). It is probably related to an Aramaic word for 'wing', so the picture is the 'wings' of an army.

Against the English

'Bands' (KJV), 'troops' (BSB, NASB), 'hordes' (WEB, ESV). 'Hordes' adds a sense of a barbarian rabble that the word does not strictly carry, though it fits the huge numbers in the context.

Used elsewhere in the period

In 12:14 and 17:21 the same word is used for the troops of Judah's king Zedekiah scattered by Babylon. Here it is used of Gog's forces.

From the study of Ezekiel 39:4

Range of meaning

Military divisions, troops, the wings or flanks of an army. Found only in Ezekiel (12:14; 17:21; 38:6, 9, 22; 39:4), always of an army or of a king's fighting force.

Against the English

KJV/YLT "bands", WEB "hordes", BSB "troops". "Hordes" adds a sense of uncivilized swarming the word itself does not carry; "bands" sounds to modern ears like gangs or musical groups.

How it drifted

The KJV word "bands" meant companies of soldiers in 1611; that military sense has faded in everyday English.

Used elsewhere in the period

Lexicons (BDB, HALOT) treat it as "band, army, troops". It is often compared with an Akkadian word for "wing", which would fit the common ancient picture of an army's "wings". The Greek translators (LXX) seem to have been unsure of it and render it loosely.

From the study of Ezekiel 38:9

Range of meaning

Military band, troop, contingent. Many scholars connect it with a word for "wing" (compare Akkadian agappu, "wing"), so the idea would be the "wings" of an army. Only Ezekiel uses it, always plural and always for armed forces: 12:14; 17:21; 38:6, 9, 22; 39:4.

Against the English

KJV "bands" and WEB "hordes" are both reasonable. "Bands" now sounds like musicians or a loose group. "Hordes" adds a sense of savage numbers that the word itself does not carry. "Troops" (BSB) is closest.

How it drifted

"Bands" in the KJV meant armed companies in 1611. That sense has mostly faded from everyday English.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ezek 12:14 and 17:21 use it for the king of Judah's troops who scatter when he falls. In 39:4 Gog falls "with all your troops" on the mountains of Israel.

Where it appears

Ezekiel · 7

  1. Ezekiel 12:14 אֲגַפָּ֖יו troops his

    And I will scatter to every wind all the attendants around him and all his troops, and I will draw a sword to chase after them.

  2. Ezekiel 17:21 אֲגַפָּיו֙ troops his

    All his choice troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.’

  3. Ezekiel 38:6 אֲגַפֶּ֔יהָ אֲגַפָּ֑יו troops its

    as well as Gomer with all its troops, and Beth-togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.

  4. Ezekiel 38:9 אֲגַפֶּ֔יךָ troops your

    You and all your troops, and many peoples with you will go up, advancing like a thunderstorm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.

    Here: "Your troops": the military units or "wings" of Gog's army. Only Ezekiel uses this word, always for armed contingents.

  5. Ezekiel 38:22 אֲגַפָּ֔יו troops his

    I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.

    Here: A word found only in Ezekiel, always for military contingents. It is probably related to a word for 'wing', so the picture is the wings or detachments of an army.

  6. Ezekiel 39:4 אֲגַפֶּ֔יךָ troops your

    On the mountains of Israel you will fall—you and all your troops and the nations with you. I will give you as food to every kind of ravenous bird and wild beast.

    Here: "Your troops": a rare word found only in Ezekiel, apparently the "wings" or divisions of an army. It picks up the huge coalition listed in 38:5–6 (Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, Beth-togarmah).

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.