אַרְגַּז (ar.gaz)
ar.gaz
box
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun argaz refers to a box, chest, or coffer, serving as a general term for a container used to hold valuable items. In the Old Testament, it appears only three times, all within the first book of Samuel. The word describes a physical receptacle rather than a specific type of furniture like an ark or cabinet, focusing on its function as a secure holding place.
Its most notable usage occurs in 1 Samuel 6:8, where the Philistines are instructed to place their guilt offerings inside an argaz alongside the golden tumors and mice. This detail highlights how the term was used for practical storage of significant objects during religious rituals. The sources indicate that while the exact construction is unknown, the word clearly denotes a sturdy vessel capable of protecting its contents.
Translators typically render argaz as "box" or "chest," reflecting its straightforward meaning without deeper theological symbolism. Unlike the more sacred terms for storage containers associated with the Tabernacle, this word carries no inherent religious weight beyond its role in a specific historical event. It simply records what was used to hold the gifts offered by the Philistine leaders.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When the Philistines returned the Ark of the Covenant, they did not just send it back with a letter; they included a tangible offering inside a sturdy box (H712). This container held golden tumors and mice, symbols of the plague that had afflicted their land. It serves as a quiet reminder that true repentance often involves concrete actions, not just empty words.
In our own lives, we sometimes struggle to know how to bring our guilt or fear before God. The story shows that He accepts honest, practical gestures of restitution. Whether it is making amends with a neighbor or simply acknowledging our mistakes, God values the sincerity behind the act more than the perfection of the offering itself.
This simple box reminds us that God meets us in the details of our lives. He sees the effort we make to right what is wrong and welcomes us back into relationship through acts of humility and honesty.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ box2×
- in the/ box1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָ/אַרְגַּ֤ז1×
- הָ/אַרְגַּ֗ז1×
- בָ/אַרְגַּ֖ז1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 6:8
and take Yahweh’s ark and lay it on the cart. Put the jewels of gold, which you return him for a trespass offering, in a box by its side; and send it away, that it may go.
This verse establishes the box as the designated vessel for the guilt offering, showing that restitution requires a specific, tangible act.
-
I Samuel 6:11
They put Yahweh’s ark on the cart, and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors.
Here the box is placed alongside the Ark on the cart, visually linking the offering of gold with the presence of God.
-
I Samuel 6:15
The Levites took down Yahweh’s ark and the box that was with it, in which the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone; and the men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day to Yahweh.
The Levites handle the box carefully before the people offer burnt offerings, indicating that the restitution was integral to the worship event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word argaz mean?
Why is argaz only found in 1 Samuel?
Is argaz a sacred object like the Ark?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
I Samuel 3 verses
and take Yahweh’s ark and lay it on the cart. Put the jewels of gold, which you return him for a trespass offering, in…
I Samuel 6:11They put Yahweh’s ark on the cart, and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors.
I Samuel 6:15The Levites took down Yahweh’s ark and the box that was with it, in which the jewels of gold were, and put them on the…