רֹגְלִים (ro.ge.lim)
ro.ge.lim
Rogelim
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Rogelim, meaning "place of fullers," appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, located in II Samuel 17:27. It identifies a specific settlement in Gilead, situated in the highlands east of the Jordan River. The name itself points to a local industry, as fullers were artisans who cleaned and thickened woolen fabrics by treading on them with their feet.
This single mention occurs during the tense political crisis following Absalom’s rebellion. When David flees Jerusalem, he receives essential supplies from Rogelim: food, bedding, and vessels for himself and his exhausted followers. The detail grounds the narrative in a tangible reality, showing that even in flight, David’s supporters provided practical aid from their homes.
Because the word occurs just once, it does not carry broad theological weight or complex semantic ranges. Instead, it serves as a geographical marker that highlights the loyalty of those who remained faithful to David. The name reminds readers that the conflict played out across real communities, where ordinary places like a fuller’s yard became sites of crucial support.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Rogelim appears only once in Scripture, yet it anchors a moment of profound human kindness during David’s darkest hour. As he fled Jerusalem after Absalom’s rebellion, weary and vulnerable, men from this small Gileadite town brought him food, bedding, and vessels. The name means “place of fullers,” recalling artisans who cleaned wool by treading on it with their feet. This detail reminds us that faithfulness often looks like practical service—offering rest to the exhausted and sustenance to the fleeing.
Even in times of crisis, ordinary places become sites of extraordinary grace. The people of Rogelim did not wait for a grand call; they acted on what they had. Their loyalty was not shouted from rooftops but whispered through shared meals and warm blankets. This story invites us to see our own communities as potential havens, where simple acts of care can sustain others through their storms.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- from/ Rogelim1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מֵ/רֹגְלִֽים\׃1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 17:27
When David had come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
This verse identifies Barzillai as coming from Rogelim, grounding the narrative in a specific location where tangible support was provided to David.