עָגַב (a.gav)
a.gav
to lust
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb agav, found only once in the Old Testament at Jeremiah 3:1, describes a deep and disordered attachment. It goes beyond simple desire to indicate an inordinate affection or lust that clings to something unworthy. In this specific context, it characterizes Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness as a parasitic love for idols.
Its usage is unique because the participle form shifts from describing an action to naming people. The text refers to "your paramours," translating the active sense of "those who lust" into a noun phrase. This grammatical move highlights how persistent such misplaced devotion can become, turning a fleeting feeling into a defining identity.
The word’s rarity underscores its intensity. By limiting this term for illicit attachment to a single prophetic indictment, Jeremiah emphasizes the severity of breaking covenant with God. The language captures not just a momentary sin, but a habitual clinging that distorts the heart’s proper orientation toward its Creator.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word agav describes a deep, disordered attachment that clings to things unworthy of our devotion. In Jeremiah 3:1, it portrays Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness as a parasitic love for idols. This is not simple desire but an inordinate affection that distorts the heart’s proper orientation toward its Creator. It captures a habitual clinging that turns fleeting feelings into a defining identity.
When we encounter this rare term, we are reminded of the danger of misplaced devotion. The text shifts from describing an action to naming people—those who lust become their lust. This grammatical move highlights how persistent such attachments can become, shaping who we are in ways that separate us from God. By limiting this word for illicit attachment to a single prophetic indictment, Jeremiah emphasizes the severity of breaking covenant.
Yet this warning is also an invitation to examine our own hearts. What do we cling to when we feel most vulnerable? The Bible invites us to redirect our deepest affections toward the One who remains faithful even when we are not. May we find rest in God’s steadfast love, which never despises us even when we wander.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lovers1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֹגְבִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 4:30
You, when you are made desolate, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with scarlet, though you deck yourself with ornaments of gold, though you enlarge your eyes with makeup, you make yourself beautiful in vain. Your lovers despise you. They seek your life.
While this verse does not contain the word agav, it describes the consequence of such misplaced devotion when lovers despise those who sought their affection.