אַגָּן (ag.gan)
ag.gan
vessel
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun aggan refers to a bowl or basin, specifically one used for ritual purposes in the tabernacle and temple. It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in the context of sacred service: Exodus 27:3 lists them among the bronze utensils for the altar, and Isaiah 66:20 mentions them being carried by nations to Jerusalem as part of their worship.
Beyond its literal sense, the word carries rich metaphorical weight. In Ezekiel 23:4, it describes the "curves" or "basins" of a woman’s body, using the vessel as a simile for physical form and femininity. Similarly, Isaiah 22:20 uses the term metaphorically for the family line of Eliakim, portraying his household as a vessel chosen to hold honor and authority.
This dual usage highlights how ancient Hebrew thought connected the physical and the spiritual. The same word that names a bronze basin in the sanctuary also describes human anatomy and dynastic legacy, suggesting that holiness, identity, and even the body itself can be understood as vessels designed to carry something greater than themselves.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word aggan names a simple basin or bowl used in ancient worship. While it appears only twice in the Bible, its meaning stretches far beyond bronze vessels. It reminds us that we are created to hold something sacred. Just as these basins held blood for ritual cleansing, our lives are called to carry grace and truth.
This word connects the physical world with spiritual purpose. Whether describing a temple utensil or a family line, aggan shows that ordinary things can be set apart for holy use. You do not need to be perfect to be useful. God designs vessels to hold His presence, inviting you into a life where everyday actions become acts of worship.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ bowls1×
- in <the>/ bowls1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָֽ/אַגָּנ֔וֹת1×
- בָּ/אַגָּנֹ֑ת1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 24:6
Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
This verse shows the word in its primary ritual context, where basins hold blood for covenant renewal.
-
Isaiah 22:24
They will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house, the offspring and the issue, every small vessel, from the cups even to all the pitchers.
Here the term expands metaphorically to describe household members as vessels carrying family honor and authority.