בַּג
food
Definition
The Hebrew word בַּג (bag) is a noun meaning 'food' or 'provisions.' It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 25:7, where God declares He will cut off 'food' from the people of Moab. This specific usage refers to sustenance or supplies, likely in a context of judgment where basic provisions are withheld. The word is a direct borrowing from Persian, reflecting the international cultural influences during the exile period when Ezekiel was written.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in Ezekiel 25:7. It occurs in a prophetic oracle of judgment against the nation of Moab. The context is God's punishment, where He promises to cut off Moab's 'food' (בַּג), symbolizing the removal of sustenance and prosperity as a consequence of their hostility toward Judah. There are no other usage patterns, as it is a hapax legomenon (a word occurring only once).
Etymology
בַּג (bag) is a loanword borrowed directly from Old Persian, where 'baga-' meant 'food' or 'portion.' It entered Biblical Hebrew during the exilic or post-exilic period, reflecting the linguistic and cultural contact between the Israelites and the Persian Empire. It is not derived from a native Hebrew root.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a simple noun for 'food,' its single biblical occurrence in a prophecy of judgment (Ezekiel 25:7) gives it theological significance. It illustrates how God's judgment can manifest in the most fundamental areas of life, such as the removal of daily sustenance. Understanding this Persian loanword also reminds readers of the historical context of exile and God's sovereignty over all nations, using the language of Israel's overlords to declare His message.
As a Persian loanword, בַּג reflects the cultural and political reality of the Jewish exile under the Babylonian and later Persian empires. Its use signifies that even the language of scripture was influenced by Israel's interaction with foreign powers. The concept of 'food' here would have been understood as essential provisions or rations, a tangible symbol of security and life that could be divinely granted or withheld.
לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — the common word for 'bread' or general food. מַאֲכָל (ma'akal, H3978) — 'food' or something eaten. אֹכֶל (okel, H400) — 'food' or nourishment.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →