Lexical Summary magal or magalah: Path, track, course, circuit Original Word: מַעְגָּל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance going, path, trench, wayside Or feminine mapgalah {mah-gaw-law'}; from the same as agol; a track (literally or figuratively); also a rampart (as circular) -- going, path, trench, way((-side)). see HEBREW agol NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as egel Definition an entrenchment, track NASB Translation circle of the camp (3), course (1), path (2), paths (5), tracks (2), ways (2), wayside (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַעְגָּל noun masculinePsalm 65:12 1 entrenchment; 2 track; — absolute ׳מ 1 Samuel 26:5 +, with ה locative הַמַּעְגָּ֫לָה 1 Samuel 17:20; construct מַעְגַּל Proverbs 5:26 +; plural construct מַעְגְּלֵי Psalm 23:3; Proverbs 4:11; suffix מַעְגָּלֶיךָ Psalm 65:12, elsewhere מַעְגְּלוֺתֶיךָ Psalm 17:5, מַעְגְּלֹתָיו Proverbs 5:21, תֶיהָ- Proverbs 2:12; Proverbs 5:6, תָם- Proverbs 2:15; Isaiah 59:8; — 1 circumvallation, entrenchment 1 Samuel 17:20; 1 Samuel 26:5,7. 2 track (properly wagon-track), only figurative: a. in figurative of snares of wicked Psalm 140:6. b. = course of action, or life, רַגֱל֑ךָ ׳מ Proverbs 4:26, ׳מ Proverbs 5:21 ("" דַּרְכֵיאִֿישׁ); specifically good, right, צֶדֶק ׳מ Psalm 23:3, ישֶׁר ׳מ Proverbs 4:11, טוֺב ׳מ Proverbs 2:9, צַדִּיק ׳מ Isaiah 26:7; bad sense Proverbs 2:15,18; Proverbs 5:6; Isaiah 59:8; tracks of ׳י are those approved by him Psalm 17:5; or those traversed by him, מַעְגָּלֶיךָ וִרְעֲפוּן דָּ֑שֶׁן Psalm 65:12 figurative of richly-laden cart dropping its contents in its track. Topical Lexicon Definition and Imagery The Hebrew noun מַעְגָּל pictures a clearly marked track worn smooth by repeated use—an established course along which feet, carts, or flocks move with confidence. Its circular nuance suggests a path that reliably brings the traveler back in line when he veers, emphasizing stability rather than adventure. In Scripture it functions both literally, of military or shepherding routes, and figuratively, of the moral and spiritual orientations that shape a life. Occurrences in Historical Narrative 1 Samuel 17:20 and 26:5, 7 employ the term for the troops’ encampment “in the trench” or “in the circle of the camp.” The word evokes an orderly perimeter; David can assess the situation or penetrate the camp because the path is predictable. The same predictability underlies his confidence in the Lord’s oversight of his own path (compare Psalm 17:5). Poetic and Wisdom Literature Psalms and Proverbs contain fourteen of the sixteen occurrences, demonstrating how the term became a staple of Israel’s devotional and didactic vocabulary. • Psalm 23:3: “He restores my soul; He guides me in paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.” The shepherd’s track leads the sheep to secure pasture; likewise the covenant God directs His people along morally right courses that honor Him. • Psalm 65:11: “You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your paths overflow with plenty.” Here the track is lush with divine provision, a celebration of agricultural blessing flowing from Yahweh’s faithfulness. • Psalm 140:5 exposes the malign alternative: “The arrogant have hidden a snare for me … they have spread out cords in my path.” The same worn track can become the staging ground for ambush when the wicked pervert what God designed for safety. Proverbs sharpens the contrast. Wisdom grants discernment of “every good path” (Proverbs 2:9), whereas the adulteress “sinks down to death, and her paths to the dead” (2:18). Paths can be “crooked” (2:15) or “straight” (4:11, 26), “unstable” (5:6) or “watched” by the LORD, who “examines all a man’s paths” (5:21). Prophetic Perspective Isaiah extends the metaphor to corporate righteousness and national restoration. “The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight course for the upright” (Isaiah 26:7). Conversely, rebellion destroys communal wellbeing: “The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths” (Isaiah 59:8). Theological Themes 1. Divine Guidance: The paths are God-cleared, God-guarded routes. Walking them is a response to covenant grace, not a human self-construction. Practical Ministry Application • Preaching and Teaching: Use the imagery to illustrate sanctification as an ongoing walk in well-trodden righteousness rather than a sporadic leap of zeal. Christological and Eschatological Reflections Jesus Christ embodies the ultimate מַעְגָּל: “I am the way” (John 14:6). He not only guides but also is the path that leads to life. The early church identified itself as “the Way” (Acts 9:2), echoing the Old Testament motif. In the New Jerusalem the redeemed will walk streets of gold—perfect paths unmarred by sin, fulfilling Isaiah’s promise of level ground for the righteous. Until then, the believer’s pilgrimage is marked by daily surrender to the Shepherd who restores souls and keeps feet from slipping (Psalm 17:5). Forms and Transliterations בְּמַעְגְּלֵי־ בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑יךָ בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתָ֑ם בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתָֽם׃ בְמַעְגְּלֵי־ בַּמַּעְגָּ֔ל במעגל במעגלותיך במעגלותם במעגלותם׃ במעגלי־ הַמַּעְגָּ֔לָה המעגלה וּ֝מַעְגָּלֶ֗יךָ ומעגליך מַ֝עְגְּלֹתֶ֗יהָ מַעְגְּלֹתֶֽיהָ׃ מַעְגְּלֹתָ֥יו מַעְגַּ֣ל מַעְגַּ֥ל מַעְגַּל־ מַעְגָּ֑ל מעגל מעגל־ מעגלתיה מעגלתיה׃ מעגלתיו bam·ma‘·gāl bamma‘gāl bammaGal bə·ma‘·gə·lê- ḇə·ma‘·gə·lê- bə·ma‘·gə·lō·w·ṯām bə·ma‘·gə·lō·w·ṯe·ḵā bəma‘gəlê- ḇəma‘gəlê- bəma‘gəlōwṯām bəma‘gəlōwṯeḵā bemagelei bemageloTam bemageloTeicha ham·ma‘·gā·lāh hamma‘gālāh hammaGalah ma‘·gal ma‘·gāl ma‘·gal- ma‘·gə·lō·ṯāw ma‘·gə·lō·ṯe·hā ma‘gal ma‘gāl ma‘gal- ma‘gəlōṯāw ma‘gəlōṯehā maGal mageloTav mageloTeiha ū·ma‘·gā·le·ḵā ūma‘gāleḵā umagaLeicha vemageleiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 17:20 HEB: יִשָׁ֑י וַיָּבֹא֙ הַמַּעְגָּ֔לָה וְהַחַ֗יִל הַיֹּצֵא֙ NAS: him. And he came to the circle of the camp while the army KJV: him; and he came to the trench, as the host INT: Jesse came to the circle the army was going 1 Samuel 26:5 1 Samuel 26:7 Psalm 17:5 Psalm 23:3 Psalm 65:11 Psalm 140:5 Proverbs 2:9 Proverbs 2:15 Proverbs 2:18 Proverbs 4:11 Proverbs 4:26 Proverbs 5:6 Proverbs 5:21 Isaiah 26:7 Isaiah 59:8 16 Occurrences |
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