מָגוּר
a temporary abode; by extension, a permanent residence
Definition
The Hebrew noun מָגוּר (mâgûwr) primarily denotes a temporary dwelling place or sojourn, often used to describe the transient living situations of the patriarchs. In passages like Genesis 17:8 and 28:4, it refers to the land of Canaan where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived as resident aliens, emphasizing their status as foreigners. By extension, the word can also signify a more permanent residence or habitation, as seen in Genesis 36:7 and 37:1, where it describes the settled dwelling places of Esau and Jacob. In Psalm 55:15, it takes on a more ominous tone, referring to the 'dwelling places' of the wicked.
Biblical Usage
מָגוּר is used ten times in the Old Testament, predominantly in the narratives of Genesis (7 times) to describe the patriarchs' status as sojourners in the Promised Land (e.g., Genesis 17:8, 47:9). It appears once in Exodus 6:4, reaffirming God's covenant promise of the land. The usage in Job 18:19 metaphorically describes the desolate end of the wicked, and in Psalm 55:15, it denotes the communal habitation of evildoers. The pattern highlights a tension between temporary residency and promised, permanent inheritance.
Etymology
Derived from the root גּוּר (gûr, H1481), meaning 'to sojourn,' 'to dwell as a foreigner,' or 'to be a temporary resident.' The noun form מָגוּר essentially means 'a place of sojourning.' It is closely related to מָגוֹר (mâgôwr, H4032), which carries a stronger connotation of 'fear' or 'dread,' showing a semantic link between the insecurity of being a stranger and the fear it can produce.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the core identity of the patriarchs and, by extension, God's people as 'strangers and pilgrims on the earth' (Hebrews 11:13). It underscores the biblical theme of believers being temporary residents awaiting a permanent, promised inheritance from God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of covenant promises (Genesis 17:8) and the poignant confession of Jacob's descendants that their lives have been a pilgrimage (Genesis 47:9), highlighting a faith that looks beyond present circumstances to God's eternal purposes.
In the ancient Near East, a מָגוּר was not a permanent homestead but the dwelling of a גֵּר (gēr), a protected foreign resident without inherited land rights. This status involved legal and social vulnerability, dependence on a host, and often a degree of transience. This context deeply colors its biblical usage, contrasting the patriarchs' current vulnerable sojourn with the future, secure possession of the land promised by Yahweh.
מָגוֹר (mâgôwr, H4032) — Often translated 'fear' or 'dread,' sharing a root but emphasizing the terror associated with being a vulnerable stranger. מִשְׁכָּן (mishkān, H4908) — A 'tabernacle' or 'dwelling place,' often used for God's sanctuary or a more structured habitation. יָשַׁב (yāshav, H3427) — The verb 'to dwell,' 'to sit,' or 'to remain,' indicating a more settled, permanent residence.
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.
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