אָגֵם (a.gem)
a.gem
grieved
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The noun agem refers to a stagnant or still body of water, such as a marsh or swamp. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears only once, in Isaiah 19:10, where it describes the condition of the Nile’s channels. The image evokes water that has lost its flow and vitality, becoming heavy and unproductive.
Isaiah uses this concrete picture to illustrate spiritual and national decay. When the workers in Egypt claim they are skilled weavers of flax, the text says their confidence will become like agem—stagnant and useless. The word captures a state of life that has stopped moving forward, contrasting sharply with the dynamic, life-giving waters often associated with God’s blessing.
Though rare in Scripture, agem serves as a powerful metaphor for what happens when divine purpose is blocked or ignored. It reminds readers that spiritual health requires movement and freshness, not stagnation. The word stands as a quiet warning against complacency, pointing to the need for renewal and active faith.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word agem carries a heavy, stillness that contrasts sharply with the living water God often provides. In Isaiah 19:10, it describes a state of being grieved in soul, likened to stagnant marsh water that has lost its flow and vitality. This image reminds us that spiritual health requires movement and freshness, not stagnation. When we become fixed in our own ways or ignore divine purpose, our confidence can become heavy and unproductive.
This rare word serves as a quiet warning against complacency. It invites us to examine where we might be stuck, encouraging renewal and active faith rather than passive rest. The Bible points to God as the source of dynamic, life-giving waters that keep our spirits flowing. By turning back to Him, we find relief from the weight of stagnation and a path toward genuine peace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [will be] grieved of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אַגְמֵי\־1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 19:10
The pillars will be broken in pieces. All those who work for hire will be grieved in soul.
This verse uses the word to describe how skilled workers feel when their confidence becomes stagnant and useless, illustrating national decay.