103. agar

Lexical Summary

agar: To gather, to collect

Original Word: אָגַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: agar
Pronunciation: ah-GAR
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-gar')
KJV: gather
NASB: gathers, gather
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to harvest

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

gather

A primitive root; to harvest -- gather.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to gather
NASB Translation
gather (1), gathers (2).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. [אָגַר verb gather (food) — only

Qal - Perfect אָֽגְרָה, of ant Proverbs 6:8 (object מַאֲכָל); Imperfect2masculine singular תֶּאֱגֹר of Israel Deuteronomy 28:39 (object = grapes, not expressed); Participle אֹגֵר בַּקַּיִץ substantive one who gathers (absolute) Proverbs 10:5.

II. אגר (pay, hire, Arabic , Aramaic אֲגַר, , Assyrian agâru Dl^{W, Palmyrene} אגר Reckend^{ZMG 1888, 396}).

Topical Lexicon

Gathering and Storing: The Core Idea

The verb conveys purposeful collection—reaping produce at the right moment and retaining it for future use. Across its three appearances the term consistently pairs diligent human action with God-ordained seasons, underscoring that fruitfulness depends on both divine provision and responsible stewardship.

Covenant Blessings and Curses (Deuteronomy 28:39)

Within Moses’ covenant discourse, Israel is warned: “You will plant and cultivate vineyards, but you will neither drink the wine nor gather the grapes, because worms will eat them”. The inability to “gather” illustrates the curse of disobedience. Harvest labor without subsequent collection becomes a vivid emblem of futility. Here the verb highlights:

• Divine sovereignty over outcomes—human effort is rendered meaningless when fellowship with God is broken.
• The reversal of Eden’s mandate to “fill the earth and subdue it.” Rebellion fractures the created order, so that produce resists being stored for good use.
• Eschatological overtones—the ultimate harvest belongs to the Lord; those outside His covenant cannot secure lasting fruit.

Wisdom from the Natural World (Proverbs 6:8)

Describing the ant, Solomon notes that it “stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest”. The creature’s instinctive foresight rebukes human sloth. Key emphases:

• Industry in season—“summer” and “harvest” are divinely appointed windows; missing them invites poverty.
• Personal responsibility—no overseer compels the ant. Likewise, the wise act without constant external pressure, recognizing God’s moral order written into creation.
• A theology of work—labor is not a post-Fall curse but a means of honoring God and serving neighbor.

Maturity and Filial Honor (Proverbs 10:5)

“A wise son gathers in summer, but a disgraceful son sleeps during harvest”. The contrast moves the verb from the realm of agriculture to family and community reputation:

• Gathering signifies maturity—aligning one’s life with divine rhythms earns the title “wise son.”
• Failure to gather disgraces one’s household, reflecting poorly on parental instruction and, by extension, on covenant faithfulness.
• The verse points beyond subsistence to generational blessing; diligent gathering ensures legacy.

Historical Background

In ancient Israel, harvest season began with barley in the spring and concluded with grapes and olives in the autumn. Successful gathering safeguarded a family through the lean months. The term therefore carried existential weight: to gather was to live. Biblical writers leveraged that cultural reality to communicate spiritual truths—obedience produces security, negligence invites ruin.

Prophetic and Messianic Echoes

Prophets employ harvest language for divine judgment (Joel 3:13) and salvation (Isaiah 27:12). Although our verb itself is not used in those passages, the shared imagery frames the Messiah as both Lord of the harvest (Matthew 9:38) and true Vine whose followers “bear much fruit” (John 15:5). Faithful gathering in Proverbs foreshadows the disciple’s call to reap spiritual fruit that endures.

Ministry Implications

1. Discipleship: Churches cultivate believers to recognize God-given seasons—times for evangelism, for equipping, for rest—and to gather fruit accordingly.
2. Stewardship: Congregations model prudent storing through benevolence funds, emergency planning, and wise investments, mirroring the ant’s example.
3. Warning: Deuteronomy’s curse cautions leaders against presuming on divine favor while ignoring covenant commands; ministry devoid of obedience may appear fruitful yet yield nothing.

Practical Application for Believers

• Examine the present season—what opportunities has God placed before you that must be gathered now?
• Cultivate habits of diligence: scheduling, budgeting, and intentional mentorship all parallel the ant’s foresight.
• Guard against spiritual complacency; sleeping during harvest may forfeit eternal reward (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

Summary

Across law and wisdom literature, the verb translated “gather” presents a theology of harvest that intertwines divine ordinance with human responsibility. Whether warning of covenant curses, commending the diligence of an ant, or praising a wise son, Scripture consistently portrays timely gathering as a mark of faithfulness—temporal and eternal.

Forms and Transliterations

אָגְרָ֥ה אֹגֵ֣ר אגר אגרה תֶאֱגֹ֔ר תאגר ’ā·ḡə·rāh ’āḡərāh ’ō·ḡêr ’ōḡêr ageRah oGer ṯe’ĕḡōr ṯe·’ĕ·ḡōr teeGor

Englishman's Concordance

Deuteronomy 28:39
HEB: תִשְׁתֶּה֙ וְלֹ֣א תֶאֱגֹ֔ר כִּ֥י תֹאכְלֶ֖נּוּ
NAS: nor gather [the grapes], for the worm
KJV: [of] the wine, nor gather [the grapes]; for the worms
INT: drink nor gather for will devour

Proverbs 6:8
HEB: בַּקַּ֣יִץ לַחְמָ֑הּ אָגְרָ֥ה בַ֝קָּצִ֗יר מַאֲכָלָֽהּ׃
NAS: in the summer [And] gathers her provision
KJV: in the summer, [and] gathereth her food
INT: the summer her food gathers the harvest her provision

Proverbs 10:5
HEB: אֹגֵ֣ר בַּ֭קַּיִץ בֵּ֣ן
NAS: He who gathers in summer is a son
KJV: He that gathereth in summer
INT: gathers summer son

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 103
3 Occurrences

’ā·ḡə·rāh — 1 Occ.
’ō·ḡêr — 1 Occ.
ṯe·’ĕ·ḡōr — 1 Occ.