What does algum mean?
Algum is the name of a precious wood mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in the account of King Solomon's reign. According to 2 Chronicles and 1 Kings, Solomon's trading expeditions — aided by Hiram of Tyre — brought back algum timber along with gold, ivory, and exotic animals, and the wood was used to make supports for the Temple, steps, and musical instruments such as harps and lyres. The Hebrew original is usually rendered 'almuggim', giving rise to the two English spellings 'algum' and 'almug'. Scholars have long debated what tree the word actually refers to, with candidates including red sandalwood and other aromatic timbers from Ophir or India. Because it survives only in ancient texts, algum is encountered today almost solely in Bible study, archaeology, and lexical reference works rather than everyday language.
nounAlgum is a kind of valuable wood, mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, that King Solomon obtained for use in the Temple at Jerusalem; it is generally identified with a fragrant timber such as sandalwood or red sandalwood imported from distant lands.
- A valuable, possibly fragrant wood imported in antiquity and used by King Solomon for the Temple, its vessels, and musical instruments.
"Solomon's fleet brought back algum wood from Ophir to panel the Temple and craft its harps and lyres."
"The king's ships of Tarshish carried gold, silver, ivory, apes, peacocks, and algum wood back to Jerusalem."
"Craftsmen shaped the algum timber into staircases for the Temple and into harps and lyres for the Levite musicians."
Rarely used; the word normally appears in singular form when referring to the wood as a material.
"The inventory listed several shipments of algum woods among the treasures of the palace."
The exact identity of Solomon's precious algum wood has puzzled scholars for centuries — it may be sandalwood, but nobody knows for certain.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of algum
Algum derives from the Hebrew 'almuggim' (אַלְגּוּמִים), the term used in the biblical accounts of Solomon's Temple. The word entered English through early modern Bible translations, where differing transliteration traditions produced both 'algum' (following the Septuagint's rendering) and 'almug' (following the Hebrew more directly). Its ultimate origin outside Hebrew is uncertain, as the precise species of tree it denoted has never been conclusively identified.
How algum is actually used
Algum appears almost exclusively in biblical and scholarly contexts, chiefly in translations of 2 Chronicles and 1 Kings. It is never encountered in ordinary modern speech, and discussions of it are largely academic, concerning debates over which actual species of tree the Hebrew term denotes.
Easily confused with algum
Almug is simply an alternative transliteration of the same biblical word (from the Hebrew 'almuggim'), so the two spellings refer to identical wood rather than different substances.