סָגַר
𐤎𐤂𐤓
çâgar
H5462 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To shut, close, or confine; to shut or close (a door, gate, city, etc.), to enclose or imprison (persons), to deliver over (into someone's power or custody), to surrender. The word is used both in literal senses (such as shutting doors or enclosing within walls) and figuratively (such as handing someone over, or causing restriction or confinement).
Semantic Range
to shut (doors, gates), to close up, to enclose, to confine, to imprison, to surrender, to deliver up, to hand over, to be shut in, to stop (up), to surrender (enemies), to block access
Root / Etymology
The verb derives from the root סגר, which expresses the basic idea 'to shut' or 'to close.' Its simplest stem usage (Qal) denotes the physical act of shutting or closing something, while more nuanced stems (such as Hiphil) and contexts expand to surrendering or handing over, often through the metaphor of 'shutting someone in' someone's hand or power.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, סָגַר is often used to describe the physical act of shutting doors, gates, or windows (e.g., Genesis 7:16); it can also refer to the action of closing someone in confinement or prison (Judges 3:23; 1 Samuel 23:7). In some narratives, it denotes surrender or being delivered over (e.g., 1 Samuel 23:7–14) — especially when an enemy is described as being 'shut up' or delivered into someone’s hand, which extends the semantic range from the concrete to the metaphoric. The root occurs across all periods of biblical Hebrew, though surrender/deliver is more common in narrative and historical contexts. English translations sometimes obscure the difference between 'shut,' 'enclose,' and 'deliver up.' The sense of 'straitly'/'pure' reflects later idiomatic or intensified uses, but this is context-dependent and not a primary lexical meaning. Not to be confused with סָגָר (sagâr), a noun for 'bolt' or 'bar.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to shut up; figuratively, to surrender; close up, deliver (up), give over (up), inclose, [idiom] pure, repair, shut (in, self, out, up, up together), stop, [idiom] straitly.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סגר (s-g-r) — to shut, to close, to enclose
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4525 | מַסְגֵּר | the metal-forger |
| H4526 | מִסְגֶּרֶת | the enclosing frame |
| H5458 | סְגוֹר | enclosed covering of |
| H5463 | סְגַר | and he shut |
| H5464 | סַגְרִיד | confining downpour |
Word Forms
50 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5462-15 |
סָג֑וּר | sagur | HNcmsa |
pure | shut-in one | 13 |
H5462-12 |
סָגַ֥ר | sagar | HVqp3ms |
shut | he shut | 6 |
H5462-34 |
וַ/יִּסְגֹּ֥ר | vayisegor | HC/Vqw3ms |
and closed | and he shut | 6 |
H5462-36 |
וְ/הִסְגִּ֧יר | vehisegir | HC/Vhq3ms |
and he shall shut up | and he handed over | 5 |
H5462-37 |
וְ/הִסְגִּיר֧/וֹ | vehisegiro | HC/Vhq3ms/Sp3ms |
and he shall isolate it | and he delivered him over | 4 |
H5462-07 |
הִסְגִּ֣יר | hisegir | HVhp3ms |
he has delivered | he delivered over | 3 |
H5462-39 |
וְ/סָגַ֖ר | vesagar | HC/Vqp3ms |
and he shall shut | and he shut | 2 |
H5462-31 |
וַ/יַּסְגֵּ֣ר | vayaseger | HC/Vhw3ms |
and he gave over | and he handed over | 2 |
H5462-16 |
סִגַּ֨ר | sigar | HVpp3ms |
has delivered | he shut in | 2 |
H5462-49 |
יִסָּגֵֽרוּ | yisageru | HVNi3mp |
they shall be shut | they will be shut in | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
91 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5462-34 |
Genesis 2:21 | וַ/יִּסְגֹּ֥ר | vayisegor | HC/Vqw3ms |
and he closed | and he shut |
H5462-34 |
Genesis 7:16 | וַ/יִּסְגֹּ֥ר | vayisegor | HC/Vqw3ms |
and shut | and he shut |
H5462-12 |
Genesis 19:6 | סָגַ֥ר | sagar | HVqp3ms |
shut | he shut |
H5462-13 |
Genesis 19:10 | סָגָֽרוּ | sagaru | HVqp3cp |
they shut | they shut |
H5462-12 |
Exodus 14:3 | סָגַ֥ר | sagar | HVqp3ms |
has shut | he shut |
H5462-36 |
Leviticus 13:4 | וְ/הִסְגִּ֧יר | vehisegir | HC/Vhq3ms |
then the priest shall isolate | and he handed over |
H5462-37 |
Leviticus 13:5 | וְ/הִסְגִּיר֧/וֹ | vehisegiro | HC/Vhq3ms/Sp3ms |
then the priest shall isolate him | and he delivered him over |
H5462-45 |
Leviticus 13:11 | יַסְגִּרֶ֔/נּוּ | yasegirenu | HVhi3ms/Sp3ms |
shall isolate him | he will shut him in |
H5462-37 |
Leviticus 13:21 | וְ/הִסְגִּיר֥/וֹ | vehisegiro | HC/Vhq3ms/Sp3ms |
and the priest shall isolate him | and he delivered him over |
H5462-37 |
Leviticus 13:26 | וְ/הִסְגִּיר֥/וֹ | vehisegiro | HC/Vhq3ms/Sp3ms |
the priest shall shut him up | and he delivered him over |