תִּרְגַּל
to cause to walk
Definition
The verb תִּרְגַּל (tirgal) means to cause to walk, specifically in the sense of training or teaching someone to walk. It describes the careful, supportive guidance given to a child learning to take its first steps. In its sole biblical occurrence in Hosea 11:3, it is used metaphorically for God's nurturing care and instruction of Israel, teaching them to walk in His ways. The word implies a patient, hands-on process of leading and supporting someone in a new skill or way of life.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only once in the Old Testament, in Hosea 11:3. It appears in a poignant metaphor where God describes His relationship with Israel in its infancy, saying, 'I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms.' The context is God's tender, parental care for His people during the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, framing His guidance and law-giving as a process of teaching a child to walk.
Etymology
תִּרְגַּל is a denominative verb derived from the noun רֶגֶל (regel, H7272), meaning 'foot.' The root רָגַל (ragal, H7270) relates to going on foot or spying out (as in 'going about' on foot). Thus, תִּרְגַּל literally means 'to make someone use their feet' or 'to cause to go on foot,' evolving into the specific sense of training someone in the act of walking.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures the intimate, parental nature of God's relationship with His people. In Hosea 11:3, it enriches the metaphor of God as a loving father patiently teaching Israel to walk, highlighting His grace, personal involvement, and foundational instruction in covenant life. Understanding this Hebrew term deepens the reader's appreciation for God's compassionate guidance and the developmental nature of spiritual growth, contrasting with mere command-giving.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, a parent (often the father) teaching a toddler to walk by holding their hands was a universal image of care, protection, and foundational training. This cultural touchstone made Hosea's metaphor immediately relatable, portraying God not as a distant deity but as an intimately involved caregiver initiating His people into a new way of life.
יָסַר (yasar, H3256) — to instruct or discipline, often with corrective force. תִּרְגַּל emphasizes gentle, supportive training. הוֹרָה (horah, H3384) — to teach or direct, more general instruction. הָלַךְ (halak, H1980) — to walk or go; תִּרְגַּל is the causative form of this basic action.
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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