סָגַד
𐤎𐤂𐤃
çâgad
H5456 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To prostrate oneself, especially as an act of homage or reverence before a superior, deity, or object. Commonly expresses ritual bowing or submission, often in a formal religious or courtly context. The verb denotes the act of lowering one's body—usually face to the ground—as a physical gesture of respect, honor, or worship.
Semantic Range
to prostrate oneself in reverence or worship; to fall down in homage before a person or object; to bow as a formal sign of respect
Root / Etymology
Root: סגד. The root conveys the idea of physical bowing, lowering oneself, or prostration. The form סָגַד is usually taken as a denominative verb from cognate languages (Akkadian, Ugaritic) with similar meanings. There are no clearly attested Hebrew noun derivatives from סגד in the Tanakh, and the root is not widely used outside of late biblical and post-biblical Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
סָגַד occurs only in exilic or post-exilic biblical texts, specifically in Daniel (Daniel 3) and Isaiah 44:15, and is characteristically used for acts of prostration before an image or idol. Its usage notably overlaps with שָׁחָה (shachah), a more common verb for bowing down or worshiping, but סָגַד tends to appear mainly in Daniel where there are Aramaic influences and in contexts reflecting foreign court protocols or idolatrous rites. English translations often render it as 'worship' or 'bow down,' but the act described is a physical, visible gesture rather than inward devotion. In later Jewish tradition and in other Semitic languages, similar roots continue to denote ritual prostration or formal homage. The distinction between סָגַד and שָׁחָה lies mainly in chronology and context: סָגַד is rare and often specifically associated with foreign (usually Babylonian or Persian) ceremonial acts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to prostrate oneself (in homage); fall down.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סגד (s-g-d) — bowing down, prostration, paying homage
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5457 | סְגִד | we will prostrate ourselves |
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5456-03 |
וַ/יִּסְגָּד | vayisegad | HC/Vqw3ms |
and-he-bows-down | and he prostrated himself | 1 |
H5456-02 |
ל֤/וֹ | lo | HR/Sp3ms |
to it | not | 1 |
H5456-05 |
יִסְגְּד֖וּ | yisegedu | HVqi3mp |
they bow down | they will prostrate themselves | 1 |
H5456-06 |
יסגוד | ysgvd | HVqi3ms |
he bows down | he will prostrate himself | 1 |
H5456-04 |
יִסְגָּד | yisegad | HVqi3ms |
he bows down | he will prostrate himself | 1 |
H5456-01 |
אֶסְגּֽוֹד | esegod | HVqi1cs |
I-fall-down | I will prostrate myself | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5456-03 |
Isaiah 44:15 | וַ/יִּסְגָּד | vayisegad | HC/Vqw3ms |
and-he-bows-down | and he prostrated himself |
H5456-06 |
Isaiah 44:17 | יסגוד | ysgvd | HVqi3ms |
he bows down | he will prostrate himself |
H5456-04 |
Isaiah 44:17 | יִסְגָּד | yisegad | HVqi3ms |
he bows down | he will prostrate himself |
H5456-02 |
Isaiah 44:17 | ל֤/וֹ | lo | HR/Sp3ms |
to it | not |
H5456-01 |
Isaiah 44:19 | אֶסְגּֽוֹד | esegod | HVqi1cs |
I-fall-down | I will prostrate myself |
H5456-05 |
Isaiah 46:6 | יִסְגְּד֖וּ | yisegedu | HVqi3mp |
they bow down | they will prostrate themselves |