אַגְמֹן (ag.mon)
ag.mon
bulrush
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun agmon refers to the rush or bulrush, a wetland plant that grows in marshy areas. In the ancient Near East, this sturdy reed was practical: its fibers were twisted into cords or lines for binding and tying. This literal use appears in Isaiah 18:2, where ships are described as being made of bulrushes, highlighting the material’s role in local construction and trade.
Beyond its physical utility, agmon carries a metaphorical weight. The sources note that it can symbolize something lowly or insignificant, reflecting the humble nature of the plant itself. In Isaiah 36:6, the word describes Egypt as a “broken reed” of bulrushes, suggesting fragility and unreliability when leaned upon. This imagery turns the plant’s physical structure into a picture of weakness.
The lexica also link agmon to ideas of sadness or drooping. Just as a rush bends under pressure, the term can describe a bowed head or a sorrowful state. This connection between the plant’s physical flexibility and human emotional posture adds depth to its usage in Scripture, where it often points to humility or distress rather than strength.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word agmon refers to the bulrush, a common wetland plant in the ancient Near East. While sturdy enough for practical uses like making cords or even simple boats as seen in Isaiah 18:2, it is also fragile. When broken, it cannot support weight. This duality reminds us that human strength is often temporary and unreliable.
In Isaiah 58:5, the prophet describes bowing one’s head like a reed during fasting. This image connects physical humility with spiritual sincerity. It suggests that true repentance is not about showing off piety but about acknowledging our dependence on God. The plant’s natural bend becomes a metaphor for a heart willing to submit.
When we face trials, we might feel weak like a rush in the wind. Yet this fragility can lead us to trust in something stronger than ourselves. Recognizing our limitations is not a failure but an invitation to rely on divine grace. In our low moments, humility opens the door for God’s strength to work through us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- like/ a bulrush1×
- and/ bulrush1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְּ/אַגְמֹ֜ן1×
- וְ/אַגְמֽוֹן\׃\ \ס1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 19:15
Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which head or tail, palm branch or rush, may do.
This verse uses agmon to symbolize the complete lack of effective leadership or action in Egypt, showing how the word represents uselessness when a foundation is broken.
-
Isaiah 58:5
Is this the fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to humble his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under himself? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yahweh?
Here the term describes the physical posture of humility during fasting, linking the plant's natural bend to the spiritual act of humbling one's soul before God.