Word Study for H5699 (עֲגָלָה)

ʻăgâlâh /ag-aw-law'/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom the same as עָגֹל

Meaningsomething revolving, i.e. a wheeled vehicle

KJV usagecart, chariot, wagon

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻăgâlâh — 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 ʻăgâlâh, represented by H5699, refers to something revolving, such as a wheeled vehicle. It is commonly translated as cart, chariot, or wagon. Appearing 25 times in 20 unique verses, this term describes a versatile tool used for transportation, agriculture, and ceremonial purposes in the biblical world.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H5699 is used in several significant contexts. It serves as a primary mode of transport for families, as seen when Pharaoh commands that wagons be taken from Egypt to bring Jacob and his household (Genesis 45:19, Genesis 46:5). The arrival of these wagons is what finally convinces Jacob that Joseph is alive, causing his spirit to revive Genesis 45:27. The term is also central to the transport of sacred objects, specifically when a new cart H2319 is made to carry the Ark of God H727 (1 Samuel 6:7, 2 Samuel 6:3). Figuratively, it is used to illustrate the burden of sin, which is drawn as if by a cart rope H5688 Isaiah 5:18, and in prophecy, the burning of the chariot symbolizes God's power to make wars cease H7673 Psalms 46:9.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the function and context of the H5699 cart:

H727 ʼârôwn (ark, chest, coffin): This sacred chest, the Ark of the LORD, was transported on a new cart H5699 by the Philistines and later by David (1 Samuel 6:8, 1 Chronicles 13:7).
H6510 pârâh (heifer, kine): Two milch kine that had never been yoked were tied to the cart H5699 to pull the Ark of the LORD from the Philistines back to Israel (1 Samuel 6:7, 1 Samuel 6:10).
H1241 bâqâr (ox): These animals were given alongside wagons H5699 to the sons of Gershon H1648 and Merari H4847 for the service H5656 of the tabernacle H4908 Numbers 7:7-8.
H2319 châdâsh (new): The special status of the Ark of God required a new cart for its transport, emphasizing a need for holiness and setting the object apart from common use 2 Samuel 6:3.

Theological Significance

The use of H5699 carries significant thematic weight in scripture, moving from the practical to the symbolic.

Divine Providence: The wagons provided by Pharaoh represent God's provision for the family of Israel H3478, enabling their journey to Egypt H4714 and their eventual reunion with Joseph H3130 Genesis 45:21. Likewise, the wagons and oxen H1241 given to the Levites H3881 are a direct provision for the service H5656 of the tabernacle H4908 Numbers 7:6.
Sacred Transportation: The use of a new cart H2319 to move the Ark H727 of God H430 highlights an attempt at honoring a holy object. However, the narrative involving Uzzah H5798 and Ahio H283 driving the cart demonstrates that human methods, even well-intentioned ones, must yield to divine command 2 Samuel 6:3.
Symbol of Sin's Burden: Isaiah uses the image of pulling a cart to describe how people draw iniquity H5771 and sin H2403 to themselves, attached by ropes of vanity Isaiah 5:18. Similarly, in Amos, God describes being pressed under Israel's sin like a cart is pressed down when it is full H4392 of sheaves Amos 2:13.

Summary

In summary, ʻăgâlâh H5699 is a word that illustrates the intersection of daily life and divine purpose. While it denotes a common wheeled vehicle for transport and agriculture, its most memorable uses involve the transport of Jacob's family and the Ark of God. Through powerful prophetic imagery, this simple vehicle also becomes a symbol of the heavy burden of sin and, in its destruction, a sign of God's ultimate peace.

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 noun across 25 occurrences, inflected in 4 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.

עֲגָלָה
עֲגָלוֹת
עֶגְלֹת
עֶגְלָת

Related Words

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.

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 20 verses across 8 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 1 Samuel (5 verses); never once in the other 31.

Genesis

Numbers

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Chronicles

Psalms

Isaiah

Amos

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.