Word Study for H7271 (רְגַל) | Strong's Concordance

rᵉgal /reg-al'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to רֶגֶל

Meaning(a foot, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda)

KJV usagefoot.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of rᵉgal — 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 Aramaic word rᵉgal, represented by H7271, means foot. It appears 7 times in 7 unique verses, with all occurrences found in the book of Daniel. Its usage is primarily symbolic, referring to the foundation of empires and the actions of visionary beasts.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical context, H7271 is central to two major prophetic visions in Daniel. First, it describes the feet of the great image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which were a mixture of iron and clay, signifying a divided and unstable foundation (Daniel 2:33, Daniel 2:41). It is upon these feet that a stone cut without hands strikes, causing the entire image to be broken to pieces Daniel 2:34. Later, in Daniel's own vision, the term is used to describe the feet of beasts, including a dreadful fourth beast that "stamped the residue with the feet of it" Daniel 7:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide a fuller picture of the context in which rᵉgal is used:

H8243 shâq (leg): This word appears in direct anatomical connection to the feet. The image in Daniel's vision is described with legs of iron and feet of iron and clay Daniel 2:33.
H677 'etsbaʻ (toe): This term, meaning a toe or finger, is used to further detail the composition of the image's foundation, highlighting that the toes of the feet were a mix of iron and clay Daniel 2:42.
H7512 rᵉphaç (stamp): This verb describes the action of the fourth beast, which used its feet to stamp, or trample, the remains of what it devoured Daniel 7:19.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7271 is tied to its symbolic role in prophecy.

Foundation and Vulnerability: The feet of the great image represent the final state of worldly kingdoms. Their composition of iron H6523 mixed with clay H2635 signifies a kingdom that is divided H6386 and inherently unstable, being partly strong H8624 and partly broken H8406 Daniel 2:41-42.
Instrument of Domination: For the fourth beast, its feet are weapons. It uses them to stamp H7512 the residue, symbolizing absolute and brutal subjugation of its enemies (Daniel 7:7, Daniel 7:19).
Transformation of Nature: The first beast, like a lion, is lifted from the earth and made to stand upon its feet as a man H606. This action, paired with receiving a man's heart H3825, signifies a fundamental change in the beast's character and posture Daniel 7:4.

Summary

In summary, rᵉgal H7271 is a term whose significance extends far beyond its literal meaning of foot. Within the prophetic context of Daniel, it serves as a powerful symbol for the foundations of empires, their inherent weaknesses, and their capacity for both destructive power and radical transformation. Though its usage is rare, it is crucial for understanding the prophetic imagery of the book of Daniel.

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 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.

רַגְלוֹ
רַגְלַיָּ
רַגְלַיִן

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

7 verses, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

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.