Original Word: רגלי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: ragliy
Pronunciation: rahg-LEE
Phonetic Spelling: (rag-lee')
KJV: (on) foot(-man)
NASB: foot, foot soldiers, footmen
Word Origin: [from H7272 (רֶגֶל - feet)]

1. a footman (soldier)

on foot man

From regel; a footman (soldier) -- (on) foot(- man).

see HEBREW regel

Word Origin
from the same as regel
Definition
on foot
NASB Translation
foot (6), foot soldiers (4), footmen (2), soldiers* (3).

רַגְלִי adjective on foot; &; ׳אִישׁ ר (after number) footmen, especially foot-soldiers, Judges 20:2; 2 Samuel 8:4 = 1 Chronicles 18:4; 1 Chronicles 19:18 (מָּרָשִׁים in "" 2 Samuel 10:18); elsewhere ׳ר as substantive, usually collective, of Israel at Exodus. Exodus 12:37; Numbers 11:21 (both J E); = foot-soldiery 1 Samuel 4:10; 1 Samuel 15:4; 2 Samuel 10:6; 1 Kings 20:29; 2 Kings 13:7; plural noun רַגְלִים footmen, men on foot Jeremiah 12:5 (opposed to הַסּוּסִים).

Definition and Semantic Range

The term רָגְלִי (“on foot,” “foot soldier,” “infantryman”) consistently describes those who move or fight without the aid of horses or chariots. It may denote civilian travelers (Exodus 12:37) or military personnel (most of the remaining occurrences). The word therefore embraces both the idea of simple mobility and the backbone of ancient land warfare.

Old Testament Usage

1. Deliverance and Pilgrimage – Exodus 12:37 and Numbers 11:21 record “about six hundred thousand men on foot” leaving Egypt and later camping in the wilderness. The designation underlines the vastness of the company and the impossibility of attributing their escape to human strength or technology; they walked out under the hand of God.
2. Tribal Conflict – Judges 20:2 tallies “four hundred thousand men on foot who drew the sword,” showing that Israel could assemble a sizable infantry even before the monarchy.
3. Early Monarchy – In 1 Samuel 4:10; 15:4 the word measures the strength or loss of Saul’s armies. The figures lend historical concreteness to the narrative and reveal how quickly disobedience (1 Samuel 15) drains even massive manpower.
4. Davidic Wars – 2 Samuel 8:4; 10:6 and their parallels in 1 Chronicles display both Israelite and foreign infantry totals. David’s victories over huge numbers of “foot soldiers” highlight covenant faithfulness: “The LORD gave David victory wherever he went” (2 Samuel 8:6).
5. Later Kingdoms – 1 Kings 20:29 and 2 Kings 13:7 contrast Israel’s triumph over 100,000 Aramean infantry with the later decimation that leaves only “ten thousand foot soldiers.” Such statistics illustrate the ebb and flow of covenant blessing and judgment.
6. Prophetic Imagery – Jeremiah 12:5 employs the term figuratively: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have wearied you, how can you compete with horses?” The ordinary pace of infantry becomes a baseline for spiritual endurance.

Historical Background of Infantry Warfare

In the ancient Near East, infantry comprised farmers and tradesmen summoned seasonally for campaigns. They carried shields, spears, and short swords, forming dense ranks that decided most battles. Chariots and cavalry added speed but were expensive and limited by terrain; thus ragli forces remained the primary measure of national military capacity. Biblical writers reflect this reality: victory over large numbers of foot soldiers signified a decisive win, while the reduction of infantry signaled national vulnerability.

Theological Reflections

1. Dependence on God rather than Technology – The repeated contrast between foot soldiers and horses or chariots (e.g., Jeremiah 12:5) reinforces themes found elsewhere: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7).
2. Covenant Multiplication – The enumeration of six hundred thousand men on foot fulfills the Abrahamic promise that Israel would become “as the stars of the sky” (Genesis 22:17).
3. Judgment and Mercy – Large infantry losses (1 Samuel 4:10; 2 Kings 13:7) show that numbers cannot shield a disobedient people, whereas miraculous deliverance (1 Kings 20:29) testifies to God’s mercy toward a repentant remnant.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Perseverance: Jeremiah’s comparison of foot racing and horse racing calls believers to grow in endurance before heavier trials arrive.
• Service: Like ancient infantry, most ministry is carried out by ordinary “foot soldiers” of the faith. Every believer has a strategic part in the advance of the gospel.
• Leadership: Enumerations of ragli remind church leaders to know, equip, and mobilize their people—as Moses numbered Israel and David organized his troops.

Summary

רָגְלִי portrays the everyday yet indispensable element of God’s people—those who move forward step by step. Whether marching out of Egypt, standing in tribal assemblies, or engaging enemies under David, the “men on foot” embody reliance on divine strength. Their account invites the modern church to walk faithfully, trusting the LORD who still grants victory to those who advance on foot under His command.

רַגְלִ֑י רַגְלִ֔י רַגְלִ֖י רַגְלִ֛י רַגְלִ֥ים ׀ רַגְלִֽי׃ רגלי רגלי׃ רגלים raḡ·lî raḡ·lîm ragLi raḡlî ragLim raḡlîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts