מָגוֹר (ma.gur)
ma.gur
sojourning
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun magor describes a temporary dwelling or a place where one sojourns rather than settles permanently. In the Hebrew Bible, it appears in only eight verses, primarily within Genesis, Psalms, and Job. It captures the physical reality of living in a foreign land as an outsider, highlighting a state of residence that is provisional and transient.
Its meaning extends beyond mere geography to encompass the duration of this temporary stay. The sources indicate it can refer to the "lifetime" spent away from one’s ancestral home, framing the sojourner’s entire existence in a new context. This usage underscores the social and spiritual condition of displacement, where identity is tied to a place that does not claim ultimate ownership.
Magor carries significant theological weight in Genesis 35:27, where Jacob returns to Isaac at Mamre, explicitly described as his "dwelling-place" or sojourning site. This detail anchors the patriarchal narratives, reminding readers that even the fathers of Israel lived as guests in the land God promised them. The word thus serves as a literary marker for the period between promise and possession, defining the early Hebrew experience as one of faithful waiting rather than permanent settlement.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word magor reminds us that life on earth is often a temporary stay. It describes a sojourning place, a home that does not claim ultimate ownership over our hearts or future. This perspective offers comfort when we feel displaced or uncertain about where we belong.
Even the great patriarchs lived as guests in the promised land. Their journey was one of faithful waiting, trusting God’s promises rather than relying on permanent settlement. This transient existence invites us to find our security not in earthly possessions but in the One who guides our steps.
When we feel like strangers in a strange land, we are in good company. Our true home is with God, and this life is merely the path that leads us there. We can rest in the hope that our sojourning is purposeful and seen by Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sojournings/ their3×
- sojournings/ your2×
- sojournings/ my2×
- in/ sojourning-places/ his1×
- [the] sojournings of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְגוּרָֽ/י\׃1×
- מְגוּרַ֔/י1×
- מְגוּרֵי/הֶֽם\׃1×
- מְגוּרֵ֣י1×
- מְגֽוּרֵי/הֶם֙1×
- מְגֻרֶ֗י/ךָ1×
- מְגֻרֶ֔י/ךָ1×
- מְגֻרֵי/הֶ֖ם1×
- בִּ/מְגוּרָֽי/ו\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 37:1
Jacob lived in the land of his father’s travels, in the land of Canaan.
This verse anchors Jacob's story in the land of his father's travels, highlighting the patriarchal narrative of living as a sojourner in Canaan.
-
Genesis 47:9
Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have been few and evil. They have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.”
Jacob describes his life as a pilgrimage, emphasizing the brevity and transient nature of his existence in Egypt compared to his ancestors.
-
Exodus 6:4
I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, in which they lived as aliens.
The covenant with the patriarchs is linked to the land where they lived as aliens, reinforcing the theme of temporary residence under God's promise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word magor mean?
Where does magor appear in the Bible?
How is magor different from other words for dwelling?
Every Occurrence (8 verses across 4 books)
Genesis 5 verses
I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are traveling, all the land of Canaan, for an…
Genesis 28:4and give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your offspring with you, that you may inherit the land where you…
Genesis 36:7For their substance was too great for them to dwell together, and the land of their travels couldn’t bear them because…
Genesis 37:1Jacob lived in the land of his father’s travels, in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 47:9Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have…