### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʼăgôwrâh**, represented by `{{H95}}`, denotes a **piece (of) silver**, likely a small coin. It appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse**, making its single usage highly significant. The term is derived from a root meaning "something gathered," suggesting a token or a minimal collection of value.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole appearance of `{{H95}}` is in a prophecy of judgment against the house of Eli. It foretells a time when his descendants, stripped of their priestly honor, will be reduced to begging. The passage states that the survivor of his house will "crouch to him for a **piece** of silver and a morsel of bread" [[1 Samuel 2:36]]. In this context, **ʼăgôwrâh** represents the smallest possible unit of currency, a desperate plea for the most basic financial charity in a state of complete destitution.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its only context illuminate the theme of poverty and value:
* `{{H3701}}` **keçeph** (silver; money): This is the material from which the **ʼăgôwrâh** is made. While **keçeph** can represent great wealth [[Genesis 24:35]], its use in the form of a single, small piece highlights the extremity of the poverty being described.
* `{{H3603}}` **kikkâr** (a loaf; also a talent): This word is used for the "morsel" of bread sought alongside the **ʼăgôwrâh** [[1 Samuel 2:36]]. It can also mean a "talent," a very large weight of silver [[2 Kings 5:5]], creating a powerful contrast between a great fortune and the meager loaf being begged for.
* `{{H6595}}` **path** (a bit; morsel, piece): This word also appears in the same verse, as the ultimate goal is "that I may eat a **piece** of bread" [[1 Samuel 2:36]]. It functions as the food equivalent of `{{H95}}`, signifying a mere scrap and reinforcing the theme of begging for the bare minimum needed for survival.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H95}}` is derived entirely from its singular, powerful context.
* **Symbol of Destitution:** The word embodies the lowest state of poverty. In the prophecy against Eli's house, begging for such a tiny coin signifies a complete fall from a position of honor and authority [[1 Samuel 2:36]].
* **Judgment and Reversal:** The request for an **ʼăgôwrâh** highlights the material consequences of spiritual unfaithfulness. The priestly family, once stewards of the temple's wealth, is reduced to seeking the most negligible form of currency, illustrating a divine reversal of fortune.
* **The Value of Basic Sustenance:** Its pairing with a "morsel of bread" `{{H3603}}` connects minimal monetary value directly to the basic need for food. It underscores a state where survival itself is dependent on the smallest acts of charity [[1 Samuel 2:36]].
### Summary
In summary, though **ʼăgôwrâh** `{{H95}}` is one of the rarest words in the biblical text, its single appearance is unforgettable. It serves as a potent symbol of humiliation, judgment, and utter poverty. Its context in [[1 Samuel 2:36]], paired with pleas for scraps of bread, defines it as the currency of desperation, powerfully illustrating how a unique biblical word can convey a profound theological lesson about the consequences of sin and the depths of human need.
TRV