Lexical Summary agorah: Piece of money, coin Original Word: אֲגוֹרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance piece of silver From the same as 'Aguwr; properly, something gathered, i.e. Perhaps a grain or berry; used only of a small (silver) coin -- piece (of) silver. see HEBREW 'Aguwr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as Agur Definition payment NASB Translation piece (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אֲגוֺרָה noun feminine payment, אֲגוֺרַת כֶסֶף 1 Samuel 2:36. Topical Lexicon Semantic Rangeאֲגוֹרָה conveys the idea of a small monetary amount that could be given or requested as “wages,” “hire,” or a “piece” of silver. In its solitary Old Testament appearance it functions as a concrete token of subsistence pay—in effect, the minimum remuneration that would keep one from starvation. The term therefore speaks less of commercial prosperity than of basic survival, carrying connotations of need, dependence, and social reversal. Biblical Occurrence 1 Samuel 2:36 records the lone usage: “Then everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, pleading, ‘Please appoint me to one of the priestly offices so that I may eat a piece of bread’ ”. Spoken by the prophet of the LORD against Eli’s line, the verse foretells that Eli’s descendants—formerly privileged priests—will one day beg for an אֲגוֹרָה. Thus, the word becomes a vivid emblem of their coming humiliation. Historical Background During the early monarchy, silver pieces circulated by weight rather than by coinage in the modern sense. An אֲגוֹרָה would have represented a fraction of a shekel, perhaps comparable to the later gerah (Exodus 30:13). The prophetic imagery in 1 Samuel exploits this economic reality: a once‐prestigious priestly household would be reduced to pleading for the smallest conceivable stipend. In Israelite society, priests were allotted portions of sacrificial offerings (Leviticus 7:31–34) and enjoyed social honor; the threat that they would seek a mere agorah indicates a dramatic loss of both provision and status. Theological and Prophetic Significance 1. Judgment begins with the household of God (compare 1 Peter 4:17). Eli’s sons had “treated the offering of the LORD with contempt” (1 Samuel 2:17). The divine response is measured but severe: those who abused sacred privileges will become supplicants. Ministry and Practical Application • Spiritual leaders bear heightened accountability. The prospect of begging for an agorah reminds pastors, elders, and ministry workers that misuse of authority can lead to divine discipline, including material deprivation. Conclusion Though אֲגוֹרָה surfaces only once, its narrative setting magnifies its theological weight. The “piece of silver” crystallizes the consequences of despising holy things, warns against spiritual complacency, and redirects hope toward the faithful Priest whom God would ultimately raise up for His people. Forms and Transliterations לַאֲג֥וֹרַת לאגורת la’ăḡōwraṯ la·’ă·ḡō·w·raṯ laaGoratLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 2:36 HEB: לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֣ת ל֔וֹ לַאֲג֥וֹרַת כֶּ֖סֶף וְכִכַּר־ NAS: and bow down to him for a piece of silver KJV: [and] crouch to him for a piece of silver INT: will come and bow A piece of silver A loaf 1 Occurrence |
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