English · KJV
H5689

עֲגַב

ʻăgab /aw-gab'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto breathe after, i.e. to love (sensually)
KJV usagedote, lover.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻăgab — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʻăgab, represented by H5689, is a primitive root used to describe a sensual, doting love. Its definition is "to breathe after, i.e. to love (sensually); dote, lover." It appears 7 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible, exclusively within prophetic warnings against unfaithfulness.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H5689 consistently portrays a misplaced and idolatrous infatuation. The prophet Ezekiel uses it repeatedly to describe personified Israel and Judah "doting" on foreign powers, which is equated with spiritual adultery. For instance, Aholah "doted H5689 on her lovers H157, on the Assyrians" Ezekiel 23:5, and Aholibah "doted H5689 upon their paramours H6370" Ezekiel 23:20. This doting is not a noble affection but an illicit lust for political allies and their idols. The consequence is dire, as the very "lovers H5689" Jerusalem courts will ultimately despise her and seek her life Jeremiah 4:30.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words illuminate the context of spiritual unfaithfulness surrounding H5689:

  • H2181 zânâh (to commit adultery): This root is used figuratively for idolatry, with the Jewish people seen as Jehovah's spouse. It is often used in parallel with H5689, as when Aholah "played the harlot H2181" and "doted H5689 on her lovers" Ezekiel 23:5.
  • H8457 taznûwth (harlotry): Derived from H2181, this noun specifies the act of harlotry, which figuratively means idolatry. The prophets condemn the "whoredoms H8457" committed with those on whom the nation "doted H5689" Ezekiel 23:7.
  • H6370 pîylegesh (concubine, paramour): This term denotes an illicit or secondary partner. Its use in Ezekiel clarifies the debased nature of the doting, as the nation "doted H5689 upon their paramours H6370" who are described in crude, physical terms Ezekiel 23:20.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5689 is centered on its depiction of covenant betrayal.

  • Spiritual Adultery: The word is a key descriptor for Israel's unfaithfulness. To "dote" on the Assyrians or Chaldeans was to abandon God for worldly powers, an act consistently framed as harlotry (Ezekiel 23:5, 23:16).
  • Misplaced Infatuation: H5689 describes a desire that is not only illicit but foolish. The objects of this doting are foreign armies and their idols, showing a preference for fleeting, worldly power over the covenant-keeping God Ezekiel 23:7.
  • Source of Ruin: The doting love described by H5689 leads directly to judgment. God delivers the unfaithful nation "into the hand H3027 of her lovers H157, into the hand H3027 of the Assyrians H804, upon whom she doted H5689" Ezekiel 23:9, showing that the object of idolatrous affection becomes the instrument of punishment.

Summary

In summary, H5689 is a specialized term for an obsessive and sensual infatuation that, in a biblical context, signifies spiritual idolatry. It powerfully illustrates how turning from God to rely on worldly strength is not merely a strategic error but a profound act of unfaithfulness. The word serves as a stark warning that such misplaced doting love leads only to betrayal and self-destruction.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • עָגְבָה
  • תַּעְגַּב
  • עֹגְבִים

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H157 אָהַב or אָהֵב ; a primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise); (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend. H6370 פִּילֶגֶשׁ or פִּלֶגֶשׁ; of uncertain derivation; a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour; concubine, paramour. H2181 זָנָה a primitive root (highly-fed and therefore wanton); to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple H8457 תַּזְנוּת or תַּזְנֻת; from זָנָה; harlotry, i.e. (figuratively) idolatry; fornication, whoredom. H3027 יָד a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applicat H804 אַשּׁוּר or אַשֻּׁר; apparently from אָשַׁר (in the sense of successful); Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants a

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 7 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezekiel (6 verses); never once in the other 37.

1
Jeremiah
6
Ezekiel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.