עָגַם (a.gam)
a.gam
be grieved
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb agam means to be deeply grieved or distressed. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Job 30:25, where Job laments that God does not show compassion when he sees the suffering of others.
This rare word captures a profound sense of sorrow and empathy for another’s pain. Unlike general sadness, agam implies a heavy heart stirred by witnessing the distress of someone else. In Job’s case, it reflects his anguish over feeling powerless to help those around him while enduring his own trials.
Its singular use highlights how intensely Job feels this emotion. The word underscores the depth of human compassion and the weight of suffering that can overwhelm even the most faithful individuals.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word agam describes a deep, heavy grief that comes from witnessing the suffering of others. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Job 30:25. Here, Job expresses his profound empathy for those in need, showing that true compassion often feels like a physical weight on the heart.
This rare word reminds us that feeling sorrow for others is not a sign of weakness but a reflection of God’s own heart. When we see pain around us, our souls can be stirred to a place of deep distress. This shared burden connects us to one another and mirrors the compassion Christ showed throughout His life.
Even when we feel powerless to fix every problem, this grief is holy. It invites us to sit with those who suffer, to weep with them, and to trust that God sees our empathy. Your sensitivity to others' pain is a gift that draws you closer to the heart of God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- was it grieved?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עָֽגְמָ֥ה1×
Key Verses
-
Job 30:25
Didn’t I weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn’t my soul grieved for the needy?
This verse captures the unique intensity of agam, where Job’s soul is deeply grieved by the plight of the needy, highlighting empathy as a heavy spiritual burden.