4570. magal or magalah

Lexicon

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')
Definition: Path, track, course, circuit
Meaning: a track, a rampart

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 masculine^{Psalm 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

Word Origin: Derived from the root עָגַל (agal), which means "to roll" or "to revolve."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G3598 (ὁδός, hodos): This Greek term translates to "way" or "path," similar to the Hebrew מַעְגָּל. It is used in the New Testament to describe both physical roads and metaphorical paths of life.
• G5147 (τρόπος, tropos): Meaning "manner" or "way," this Greek word can also relate to the concept of a path or course of conduct, aligning with the figurative use of מַעְגָּל.
• G5163 (τροχιά, trochia): This term refers to a "track" or "course," akin to the literal sense of מַעְגָּל as a path or track.

In summary, מַעְגָּל (ma'gal) is a multifaceted term in the Hebrew Bible, rich with literal and metaphorical meanings that emphasize the importance of following a righteous and protected path in life.

Usage: The word מַעְגָּל appears in various contexts within the Hebrew Bible, often symbolizing a path of righteousness or a way of life. It is used to describe both literal and figurative paths, emphasizing the direction or course one takes.

Context: • Literal Usage: In its literal sense, מַעְגָּל can refer to a physical track or path, such as those used by travelers or animals. This usage highlights the idea of a well-trodden way, suggesting familiarity and routine.
• Figurative Usage: More commonly, מַעְגָּל is employed metaphorically to describe the moral or ethical path one follows. It is often associated with righteousness and integrity, as seen in passages that encourage adherence to God's ways. For example, in Proverbs 2:9, the term is used to describe the paths of justice and righteousness: "Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity—every good path (מַעְגָּל)."
• Symbolic Implications: The concept of a circular path or rampart implies protection and security, suggesting that following the right path leads to safety and divine favor. This symbolism is evident in the Psalms, where the righteous path is depicted as a source of guidance and protection.
• Theological Significance: The use of מַעְגָּל in the Hebrew Bible underscores the importance of choosing the right path in life. It reflects the biblical theme of walking in accordance with God's commandments and the blessings that result from such obedience.

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

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.