רָגַם (ra.gam)
ra.gam
to stone
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb rāgam means to stone someone to death. It appears thirteen times in the Old Testament, primarily within legal texts like Leviticus and Numbers where it describes a specific method of capital punishment. This was not an act of mob violence but a formal execution carried out by the community to uphold covenant law.
The sources indicate that rāgam is used exclusively for killing by throwing stones. It often appears in contexts involving blasphemy, idolatry, or sexual immorality, where the severity of the offense demanded a visible and communal response. The act served as a public affirmation of justice and a means to remove what was considered a serious threat to the spiritual integrity of the people.
Translators typically render rāgam simply as "to stone," which captures the physical action without softening its gravity. Unlike words that might imply general killing or battle, this term specifies the instrument and the ritual nature of the death. Its frequent appearance in legal codes highlights how central this punishment was to ancient Israelite society’s understanding of holiness and order.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word rāgam describes the act of stoning, a method of execution recorded thirteen times in the Old Testament. It was not random mob violence but a formal legal procedure used to uphold covenant law. This punishment addressed severe offenses like blasphemy, idolatry, and sexual immorality. The community’s participation served as a public affirmation of justice and a means to remove what was seen as a serious threat to the spiritual integrity of the people.
For modern readers, these texts can feel distant or harsh. Yet they reveal how ancient Israel understood holiness and order. The severity of the offense demanded a visible response that protected the community from corruption. Translators render rāgam simply as “to stone,” capturing the physical action without softening its gravity. Unlike general terms for killing, this word specifies the instrument and the ritual nature of the death.
Understanding this term helps us grasp the weight of sin in the Old Testament context. It highlights the seriousness with which Israel treated their covenant relationship with God. While we do not practice capital punishment today, the underlying principle remains: justice must be served to maintain social and spiritual health. This word reminds us that holiness is not abstract but has real-world consequences for how we live together.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ they stoned5×
- to/ stone1×
- they will stone/ him1×
- they will stone1×
- people will stone1×
- it will stone1×
- certainly <to stone>1×
- and/ they will stone/ him1×
- and/ they will stone1×
- and/ they stoned/ him1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/יִּרְגְּמ֨וּ2×
- וַ/יִּרְגְּמ֥וּ2×
- רָג֨וֹם1×
- רָג֥וֹם1×
- לִ/רְגּ֥וֹם1×
- יִרְגְּמוּ\־1×
- יִרְגְּמֻ֥/הוּ1×
- יִרְגְּמ֥וּ1×
- וּ֠/רְגָמֻ/הוּ1×
- וַ/יִּרְגְּמוּ\־1×
- וַ/יִּרְגְּמֻ֥/הוּ1×
- וְ/רָגְמ֥וּ1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 24:16
He who blasphemes Yahweh’s name, he shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him. The foreigner as well as the native-born shall be put to death when he blasphemes the Name.
This verse establishes the principle that blasphemy against Yahweh’s name is punishable by stoning, applying equally to foreigners and native-born citizens.
-
Numbers 15:35
Yahweh said to Moses, “The man shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside of the camp.”
Here, God explicitly commands Moses that the entire congregation must stone a man who gathered wood on the Sabbath, showing divine authority behind the legal procedure.
-
Leviticus 20:2
“Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, ‘Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel, who gives any of his offspring to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone that person with stones.
This occurrence links stoning to giving offspring to Molech, highlighting how idolatry was viewed as a capital offense requiring communal action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word rāgam mean?
Why was stoning used in ancient Israel?
How is rāgam different from other words for killing?
Every Occurrence (13 verses across 6 books)
Leviticus 5 verses
“Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, ‘Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as…
Leviticus 20:27“‘A man or a woman that is a medium or is a wizard shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones.…
Leviticus 24:14“Bring him who cursed out of the camp; and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the…
Leviticus 24:16He who blasphemes Yahweh’s name, he shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him. The…
Leviticus 24:23Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they brought him who had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones.…