שְׁגָגָה (H7684) — Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁגָגָה

𐤔𐤂𐤂𐤄

shᵉgâgâh

H7684 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁגג to err, go astray, make a mistake (unintentionally)

Definition

An unintentional mistake, especially a misdeed or transgression committed unknowingly or without willful intent; most often denotes unintentional violations of law or ritual requirements. In legal and ritual contexts, refers specifically to wrongdoing done in ignorance rather than by deliberate choice. May also refer more generally to an error, oversight, or involuntary fault.

Semantic Range

unintentional error, inadvertent transgression, sin committed in ignorance, mistake, oversight, error of judgment, unintended wrongdoing

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁגַג (sh-g-g), 'to stray, go astray (unintentionally), err.' The noun שְׁגָגָה is formed as a feminine abstract noun indicating the state or act of going astray or making a mistake. It retains the sense of involuntariness implied by the root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term שְׁגָגָה appears primarily in priestly and legal texts, especially in Leviticus and Numbers, to denote violations of divine law done without knowledge or intent—contrasted with willful transgressions (עָוֹן 'avon' or פֶּשַׁע pesha). The sacrificial system distinguishes atonement procedures for inadvertent (שְׁגָגוֹת) versus intentional offenses. Over time, the distinction became a key legal and theological category in Second Temple and Rabbinic literature. English translations like 'sin of ignorance' or 'unintentional sin' capture part of its meaning but miss the technical legal nuance and ritual implications in biblical settings. The term is not limited to ritual or sacrificial contexts; it can also apply to non-ritual mistakes or errors in judgment, though such uses are less frequent. Usage remains largely consistent from early priestly texts through exilic and post-exilic writings with little semantic drift.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁגַג; a mistake or inadvertent transgression; error, ignorance, at unawares; unwittingly.

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Root Family

שׁגג (sh-g-g) — to err, go astray unintentionally, make a mistake in ignorance

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H7683	שָׁגַג	the unwitting errer

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H7684-01`	בִּ/שְׁגָגָ֖ה	bishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	unintentionally	in unintentional error	9
`H7684-08`	בִ/שְׁגָגָה֙	vishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	unintentionally	in unintentional error	3
`H7684-05`	שְׁגָגָ֣ה	shegagah	`HNcfsa`	error	unintentional straying	2
`H7684-04`	לִ/שְׁגָגָה֒	lishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	inadvertently	unintentional error	1
`H7684-07`	שִׁגְגָת֧/וֹ	shigegato	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his error	his unintentional error	1
`H7684-03`	כִּ/שְׁגָגָ֕ה	kishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	like an error	like an unintentional transgression	1
`H7684-06`	שִׁגְגָתָֽ/ם	shigegatam	`HNcfsc/Sp3mp`	their error	their unintentional error	1
`H7684-02`	הַ/שֹּׁגֶ֛גֶת	hashogeget	`HTd/Vqrfsa`	who errs	the one erring unintentionally	1

Occurrences in Scripture

19 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H7684-08`	Leviticus 4:2	בִ/שְׁגָגָה֙	vishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	by mistake	in unintentional error
`H7684-01`	Leviticus 4:22	בִּ/שְׁגָגָ֖ה	bishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	unintentionally	in unintentional error
`H7684-08`	Leviticus 4:27	בִ/שְׁגָגָ֖ה	vishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	unintentionally	in unintentional error
`H7684-01`	Leviticus 5:15	בִּ/שְׁגָגָ֔ה	bishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	unintentionally	in unintentional error
`H7684-07`	Leviticus 5:18	שִׁגְגָת֧/וֹ	shigegato	`HNcfsc/Sp3ms`	his error	his unintentional error
`H7684-01`	Leviticus 22:14	בִּ/שְׁגָגָ֑ה	bishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	unintentionally	in unintentional error
`H7684-04`	Numbers 15:24	לִ/שְׁגָגָה֒	lishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	inadvertently	unintentional error
`H7684-05`	Numbers 15:25	שְׁגָגָ֣ה	shegagah	`HNcfsa`	error	unintentional straying
`H7684-06`	Numbers 15:25	שִׁגְגָתָֽ/ם	shigegatam	`HNcfsc/Sp3mp`	their error	their unintentional error
`H7684-01`	Numbers 15:26	בִּ/שְׁגָגָֽה	bishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	in error	in unintentional error
`H7684-08`	Numbers 15:27	בִ/שְׁגָגָ֑ה	vishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	unintentionally	in unintentional error
`H7684-02`	Numbers 15:28	הַ/שֹּׁגֶ֛גֶת	hashogeget	`HTd/Vqrfsa`	who errs	the one erring unintentionally
`H7684-01`	Numbers 15:29	בִּ/שְׁגָגָֽה	bishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	inadvertently	in unintentional error
`H7684-01`	Numbers 35:11	בִּ/שְׁגָגָֽה	bishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	unintentionally	in unintentional error
`H7684-01`	Numbers 35:15	בִּ/שְׁגָגָֽה	bishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	unintentionally	in unintentional error
`H7684-01`	Joshua 20:3	בִּ/שְׁגָגָ֖ה	bishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	unintentionally	in unintentional error
`H7684-01`	Joshua 20:9	בִּ/שְׁגָגָ֑ה	bishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	unintentionally	in unintentional error
`H7684-05`	Ecclesiastes 5:5	שְׁגָגָ֖ה	shegagah	`HNcfsa`		unintentional straying
`H7684-03`	Ecclesiastes 10:5	כִּ/שְׁגָגָ֕ה	kishegagah	`HR/Ncfsa`	like an error	like an unintentional transgression

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