שְׂגָא
𐤔𐤂𐤀
sᵉgâʼ
H7680 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To increase, grow, become great or numerous; refers both to quantitative or qualitative expansion, particularly in the context of people, possessions, or status. In Aramaic biblical texts, it can denote the act of multiplying (in number or greatness) or causing someone or something to become greater or more significant.
Semantic Range
to increase in number, to grow, to become great, to be multiplied, to rise in status or prominence
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שׂ-ג-א (s-g-ʼ), which carries the core meaning 'to rise, be high, grow, increase'. The Aramaic שְׂגָא (sᵉgâʼ) is a cognate to Hebrew שָׂגָא, with parallel meanings in both languages. The form is Aramaic in origin and usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שְׂגָא occurs in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel and Ezra). Its usage is parallel to Hebrew vocabulary for growth and increase, but the Aramaic term appears specifically in imperial, exilic, and post-exilic settings where Aramaic was the lingua franca. It typically refers to people increasing in number (e.g., the children of Israel in exile), or to the growth and elevation of a kingdom, power, or individual. English versions typically translate as 'increase,' 'grow,' or 'be multiplied,' but these may not capture nuances of status or rank implied in some contexts. Unlike other Hebrew verbs for increase (e.g., רבה, gdl), שְׂגָא is distinctive for its Aramaic context and imperial overtones. The term does not carry inherently theological or moral connotations. In late Second Temple and subsequent periods, related roots continued to be used in Jewish Aramaic and Syriac for similar concepts of increase and greatness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׂגָא; to increase; grow, be multiplied.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂגא (ś-g-ʾ) — to increase, to grow, to become great
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7679 | שָׂגָא | one who makes great |
| H7689 | שַׂגִּיא | surpassingly great |
| H7690 | שַׂגִּיא | great, abundant |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7680-01 |
יִשְׂגֵּֽא | yisege | AVqi3ms |
be multiplied | he will increase | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7680-01 |
Daniel 3:31 | יִשְׂגֵּֽא | yisege | AVqi3ms |
be multiplied | he will increase |
H7680-01 |
Daniel 6:26 | יִשְׂגֵּֽא | yisege | AVqi3ms |
may-increase | he will increase |
H7680-01 |
Ezra 4:22 | יִשְׂגֵּ֣א | yisege | AVqi3ms |
should-grow | he will increase |