עֶגְלָה (eg.lah)
eg.lah
Eglah
N:N-F-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-F-P
Word Overview
The name Eglah, meaning "heifer," appears in the Hebrew Bible as the identifier for one of King David’s wives. It is mentioned only twice in Scripture, specifically in 2 Samuel 3:5 and 1 Chronicles 3:3, where she is listed among the mothers of David’s sons born in Hebron.
As a personal name, Eglah likely reflects the agricultural context of ancient Israel, where cattle were valuable assets. The sources note that she was the mother of Ithream, one of David's children. Despite her limited textual presence, her inclusion in the genealogical records highlights the importance of lineage and family structure during the United Monarchy period.
Translators typically retain the name Eglah rather than translating it as "heifer," preserving its function as a proper noun. This approach maintains the historical specificity of the text while acknowledging the literal meaning of the word in its original cultural setting.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Eglah means "heifer," a word that would have evoked images of strength, fertility, and valuable livestock in ancient Israel. While it appears only twice in Scripture as the identifier for one of King David’s wives, its presence reminds us that God cares about the ordinary details of human life. In a culture where cattle represented wealth and stability, this name likely carried hopes for prosperity and endurance.
Her mention in 2 Samuel 3:5 and 1 Chronicles 3:3 as the mother of Ithream highlights the importance of family lineage during the United Monarchy. These genealogical records are not just dry lists; they show how God weaves individual lives into a larger story. Even those with brief mentions contribute to the heritage of faith that shapes future generations.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ Eglah1×
- of/ Eglah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לְ/עֶגְלָ֥ה1×
- לְ/עֶגְלָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 3:5
and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David’s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
This verse identifies Eglah as David’s wife and the mother of Ithream, anchoring her role in the royal lineage during David’s reign in Hebron.
-
I Chronicles 3:3
the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital; the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife:
Here, the chronicler lists Eglah again among David’s wives, confirming her status and the birth of Ithream within the structured record of the monarchy.