תִּרְגַּל (tir.gal)
tir.gal
to teach
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew word tirgal appears only once in the Old Testament, in Hosea 8:13. It is a rare verb derived from the root for "foot" or "walking." In this specific context, the Tiphel stem conveys the idea of causing someone to walk, which translates to teaching them how to move or proceed. The prophet uses it to describe Israel’s attempt to learn political maneuvering and military alliances from Egypt and Assyria.
This usage highlights a sharp contrast between divine guidance and human strategy. While God taught His people through the Law and prophets, they sought instruction from foreign powers. The image is not of abstract intellectual learning, but of practical, physical training—learning the steps of a dance or the tactics of war. By "teaching them to walk," the nations offered a path that led away from reliance on Yahweh.
The rarity of this form underscores its rhetorical power in Hosea. It reduces complex political diplomacy to a simple act of being led by the hand, much like a child or a soldier. The verse suggests that Israel’s alliances were not acts of wisdom, but rather a misguided education in self-reliance that ultimately failed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we face difficult decisions, it is natural to look for guidance from the most experienced sources available. In Hosea 8:13, the word tirgal describes Israel seeking instruction from Egypt and Assyria. The prophet uses this rare verb to show that they were learning a specific way of walking through life—one based on political maneuvering rather than trust in God. It was not just about gaining knowledge, but adopting a path that led away from divine protection.
This word reminds us that every teacher offers a different direction. When we follow human strategies alone, we may find temporary security, but we often miss the healing and guidance that comes from above. The contrast in Hosea highlights how important it is to choose whose voice we listen to when navigating our own lives.
May you find wisdom in seeking understanding that aligns with timeless truth, allowing your steps to be guided by faith rather than fear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I taught to walk1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִרְגַּ֙לְתִּי֙1×
Key Verses
-
Hosea 11:3
Yet I taught Ephraim to walk. I took them by their arms, but they didn’t know that I healed them.
This verse uses the same root but in a different context, showing God personally teaching Ephraim to walk, which contrasts with the foreign nations teaching Israel in Hosea 8:13.