4570. magal or magalah
Lexical Summary
magal or magalah: Path, track, course, circuit

Original Word: מַעְגָּל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ma`gal
Pronunciation: mah-gahl or mah-gah-lah
Phonetic Spelling: (mah-gawl')
KJV: going, path, trench, way((-side))
NASB: paths, circle of the camp, path, tracks, ways, course, wayside
Word Origin: [from the same as H5696 (עָגוֹל עָגוֹל - circular)]

1. a track (literally or figuratively)
2. also a rampart (as circular)

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 Origin
from 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.
2. Moral Accountability: Because God “examines all a man’s paths” (Proverbs 5:21), every step carries ethical weight.
3. Blessing versus Ruin: Fruitfulness or desolation flows from one’s chosen track.
4. Corporate Solidarity: A people’s collective path affects national peace and justice (Isaiah 59:8).

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.
• Counseling: Help believers identify ruts—habits that have become entrenched—and realign them with the Lord’s level path through repentance and disciplined practice.
• Discipleship: Encourage memorization of key verses (Psalm 23:3; Proverbs 4:26) so that believers internalize the Lord’s map and stay alert to snares laid in the road.

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 vemagelei
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Englishman'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
HEB: וְשָׁאוּל֙ שֹׁכֵ֣ב בַּמַּעְגָּ֔ל וְהָעָ֖ם חֹנִ֥ים
NAS: was lying in the circle of the camp, and the people
KJV: lay in the trench, and the people
INT: and Saul was lying the circle and the people were camped

1 Samuel 26:7
HEB: שֹׁכֵ֤ב יָשֵׁן֙ בַּמַּעְגָּ֔ל וַחֲנִית֥וֹ מְעוּכָֽה־
NAS: sleeping inside the circle of the camp with his spear
KJV: sleeping within the trench, and his spear
INT: lay sleeping the circle his spear stuck

Psalm 17:5
HEB: תָּמֹ֣ךְ אֲ֭שֻׁרַי בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתֶ֑יךָ בַּל־ נָמ֥וֹטּוּ
NAS: have held fast to Your paths. My feet
KJV: my goings in thy paths, [that] my footsteps
INT: have held my goings to your paths have not slipped

Psalm 23:3
HEB: יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־ צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן
NAS: He guides me in the paths of righteousness
KJV: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
INT: restores guides the paths of righteousness sake

Psalm 65:11
HEB: שְׁנַ֣ת טוֹבָתֶ֑ךָ וּ֝מַעְגָּלֶ֗יךָ יִרְעֲפ֥וּן דָּֽשֶׁן׃
NAS: with Your bounty, And Your paths drip
KJV: with thy goodness; and thy paths drop
INT: the year goodness and your paths drip fatness

Psalm 140:5
HEB: רֶ֭שֶׁת לְיַד־ מַעְגָּ֑ל מֹקְשִׁ֖ים שָֽׁתוּ־
NAS: a net by the wayside; They have set
INT: A net by the wayside snares have set

Proverbs 2:9
HEB: וּ֝מֵישָׁרִ֗ים כָּל־ מַעְגַּל־ טֽוֹב׃
NAS: [and] every good course.
KJV: and equity; [yea], every good path.
INT: and equity every course good

Proverbs 2:15
HEB: עִקְּשִׁ֑ים וּ֝נְלוֹזִ֗ים בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתָֽם׃
NAS: And who are devious in their ways;
KJV: and [they] froward in their paths:
INT: are crooked are devious their ways

Proverbs 2:18
HEB: וְאֶל־ רְ֝פָאִ֗ים מַעְגְּלֹתֶֽיהָ׃
NAS: to death And her tracks [lead] to the dead;
KJV: unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
INT: to the dead tracks

Proverbs 4:11
HEB: הֹרֵתִ֑יךָ הִ֝דְרַכְתִּ֗יךָ בְּמַעְגְּלֵי־ יֹֽשֶׁר׃
NAS: I have led you in upright paths.
KJV: I have led thee in right paths.
INT: have directed have led paths upright

Proverbs 4:26
HEB: פַּ֭לֵּס מַעְגַּ֣ל רַגְלֶ֑ךָ וְֽכָל־
NAS: Watch the path of your feet And all
KJV: Ponder the path of thy feet,
INT: Watch the path of your feet and all

Proverbs 5:6
HEB: תְּפַלֵּ֑ס נָע֥וּ מַ֝עְגְּלֹתֶ֗יהָ לֹ֣א תֵדָֽע׃
NAS: of life; Her ways are unstable,
KJV: of life, her ways are moveable,
INT: ponder are unstable her ways does not know

Proverbs 5:21
HEB: אִ֑ישׁ וְֽכָל־ מַעְגְּלֹתָ֥יו מְפַלֵּֽס׃
NAS: And He watches all his paths.
KJV: and he pondereth all his goings.
INT: of a man all his paths watches

Isaiah 26:7
HEB: מֵֽישָׁרִ֑ים יָשָׁ֕ר מַעְגַּ֥ל צַדִּ֖יק תְּפַלֵּֽס׃
NAS: make the path of the righteous
KJV: dost weigh the path of the just.
INT: is smooth Upright the path of the righteous make

Isaiah 59:8
HEB: וְאֵ֥ין מִשְׁפָּ֖ט בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתָ֑ם נְתִיבֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ עִקְּשׁ֣וּ
NAS: justice in their tracks; They have made
KJV: not; and [there is] no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked
INT: and there justice their tracks their paths have made

16 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 4570
16 Occurrences


bam·ma‘·gāl — 2 Occ.
bə·ma‘·gə·lê- — 1 Occ.
bə·ma‘·gə·lō·w·ṯām — 2 Occ.
bə·ma‘·gə·lō·w·ṯe·ḵā — 1 Occ.
ham·ma‘·gā·lāh — 1 Occ.
ma‘·gāl — 4 Occ.
ma‘·gə·lō·ṯāw — 1 Occ.
ma‘·gə·lō·ṯe·hā — 2 Occ.
ū·ma‘·gā·le·ḵā — 1 Occ.
ḇə·ma‘·gə·lê- — 1 Occ.

4569b
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