Original Word: אָגֵא
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Age'
Pronunciation: oh-LAHM
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-gay')
KJV: Agee
NASB: Agee
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. Age, an Israelite

Agee

Of uncertain derivation (compare 'Agag); Age, an Israelite -- Agee.

see HEBREW 'Agag

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
the father of one of David's heroes
NASB Translation
Agee (1).

אָגֵא proper name, masculine (fugitive ?) father of a hero of David 2 Samuel 23:11 (insert also 1 Chronicles 11:13 Dr^Sm).

Overview

Agee is named once in Scripture as the father of Shammah, one of the three chief warriors in David’s elite corps (2 Samuel 23:11). Though the text gives no personal exploits of Agee himself, the setting in which his son’s valor is recorded casts light on the family’s heritage of faith and courage.

Biblical occurrence

“Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the troops fled from the Philistines.” (2 Samuel 23:11)

Historical context

David’s reign was marked by constant skirmishes with the Philistines. Lists of “the Three” and “the Thirty” (2 Samuel 23; 1 Chronicles 11) memorialize those whose bravery secured Israel’s borders and strengthened the monarchy. Agee’s son stands in this list, placing the family in the turbulent transition from Saul’s fractured kingdom to David’s consolidated rule. The title “Hararite” likely points to an origin in the highlands of Judah or Benjamin, regions that supplied many of David’s followers during his wilderness years.

Genealogical significance

Ancient Hebrew narratives frequently identify individuals through paternal lineage, underscoring the importance of heritage in covenant history. By naming Agee, the writer affirms that Shammah’s courage did not arise in a vacuum; it was rooted in a family whose identity and faith were sufficiently known to the chronicler and his audience. Agee’s inclusion also reminds readers that behind every celebrated figure stand unnamed mothers and fathers whose faithfulness shapes future generations (Proverbs 22:6).

Shammah’s stand at Lehi

The lentil field episode (2 Samuel 23:11–12) reveals the kind of upbringing Shammah likely received. While Israel’s troops retreated, Shammah “took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines; so the LORD brought about a great victory.” A father who cultivated a respect for the covenant God and the land’s produce may well have inspired such tenacity. The scene highlights that ordinary places—a field of lentils—become arenas for extraordinary faith when God’s people refuse compromise (Judges 3:31 parallels).

Theological reflections

1. Covenant inheritance: The field symbolizes the portion God allotted to His people (Deuteronomy 11:24). Defending it honored the Lord’s promise.
2. Intergenerational faith: Agee’s brief mention signals that legacies are measured not only by personal deeds but by the spiritual caliber of one’s offspring (Psalm 112:1–2).
3. Divine agency through human vessels: The inspired writer credits the victory to “the LORD,” yet He acted through Shammah. Agee’s household thus becomes a testimony to God’s pattern of working through families yielded to Him (Genesis 18:19).

Ministry lessons

• Nurturing courage: Parents and mentors today shape future “mighty men” and “mighty women” by modeling steadfast devotion amid cultural pressure.
• Stewardship of the ordinary: Fields of lentils—daily responsibilities, vocations, congregational tasks—are worth defending when they are part of God’s provision.
• Remembering the nameless: Congregations should honor not only public leaders but also the unseen influencers whose faith forms the next generation.

Related scriptural echoes

• Shamgar’s oxgoad victory (Judges 3:31) illustrates similar lone courage.
• Timothy’s faith, traced to his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5), reaffirms the biblical pattern of familial influence.
• The roll call of Hebrews 11 implicitly includes unnamed parents whose faith produced champions.

Summary

Agee’s solitary appearance in Scripture demonstrates how God weaves individual families into the broader tapestry of redemption. Though silent in deed, his name endures alongside his son’s valor, reminding believers that faithful parenthood and steadfast heritage can leave an indelible mark on the kingdom of God.

אָגֵ֖א אגא ’ā·ḡê ’āḡê aGeInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts