Bible Word Study
אָגַר
ʼâgar · to harvest
אָגַר
to harvest
Definition
The Hebrew verb אָגַר (ʼâgar) means to gather or harvest, specifically referring to the agricultural act of collecting produce. In its three biblical occurrences, it consistently describes the gathering of crops, such as grapes (Deuteronomy 28:39) or grain (Proverbs 6:8, 10:5). The word emphasizes the purposeful collection of a harvest that has been cultivated, rather than a random gathering. It does not carry extended metaphorical meanings in the biblical text, remaining focused on the concrete action of agricultural harvest.
Biblical Usage
אָגַר is used exclusively in wisdom and legal contexts within the Old Testament. It appears in Deuteronomy 28:39 within the context of covenant curses, warning that Israel will cultivate vineyards but not get to enjoy the harvest. In Proverbs, it is used positively to describe the wise, diligent gathering of provisions by the ant (Proverbs 6:8) and by a prudent son (Proverbs 10:5). All uses are in poetic or prophetic discourse, not narrative.
Etymology
אָגַר is a primitive root in Biblical Hebrew, meaning its derivation from an earlier form is not clearly traceable within the Hebrew language itself. It is related to the concept of storing or collecting, as seen in the noun אֹגָר (ʼogar, H214) meaning 'granary' or 'storehouse.' The root conveys the action of bringing a harvest together into a gathered state.
Semantic Range
While primarily an agricultural term, אָגַר gains theological weight through its contexts. In Deuteronomy 28:39, its use in a covenant curse highlights the futility of labor without God's blessing, connecting physical harvest to spiritual obedience. In Proverbs, it models the virtue of diligence and foresight, traits valued in God's wisdom literature. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by grounding the metaphor of 'spiritual harvest' in the tangible, labor-intensive reality of ancient farming. In ancient Israel's agrarian society, harvesting (אָגַר) was a critical, seasonal activity determining a family's annual sustenance. The word implies a successful conclusion to the farming cycle—planting, tending, and finally gathering the yield. This differs from a modern understanding where 'gathering' can be casual; here it is a vital, communal effort for survival. The failure to harvest, as in Deuteronomy 28:39, represented economic disaster and shame. אָסַף (ʼâsaph, H622) — A more general term for gathering people or things, not limited to harvest. קָצַר (qâtsar, H7114) — Specifically to reap grain by cutting it, the action preceding gathering. לָקַט (lâqaṭ, H3950) — To glean or gather up what is left behind, often by the poor.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]