← H5455 H5457 →

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "bow" 3 occurrences

'Bow' is the most natural, common English verb that covers ritual reverence and homage in this semantic range. It matches the majority of existing renderings and can be inflected naturally (bow/bows/bowed) or paired with 'down' where the text implies full prostration. While 'prostrate' is more specific, 'bow' better fits typical English usage and consistency requirements.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"prostrated" (1x) "it" (1x) "prostrate myself" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to prostrate oneself (in homage); fall down.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

סגד (çâgad) — to bow down, to prostrate oneself, to pay homage

Root סגד to bow down, to prostrate oneself, to pay homage
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5457 סְגִד we will prostrate ourselves

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5456-01 אֶסְגּֽוֹד esegod HVqi1cs I-fall-down I will prostrate myself I will prostrate myself 1
H5456-02 ל֤/וֹ lo HR/Sp3ms to it not to it 1
H5456-03 וַ/יִּסְגָּד vayisegad HC/Vqw3ms and-he-bows-down and he prostrated himself and he prostrated himself 1
H5456-04 יִסְגָּד yisegad HVqi3ms he bows down he will prostrate himself he bows down 1
H5456-05 יִסְגְּד֖וּ yisegedu HVqi3mp they bow down they will prostrate themselves they bow down 1
H5456-06 יסגוד ysgvd HVqi3ms he bows down he will prostrate himself he bows down 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5456-03 Isaiah 44:15 וַ/יִּסְגָּד vayisegad HC/Vqw3ms and-he-bows-down and he prostrated himself and he prostrated himself
H5456-06 Isaiah 44:17 יסגוד ysgvd HVqi3ms he bows down he will prostrate himself he bows down
H5456-04 Isaiah 44:17 יִסְגָּד yisegad HVqi3ms he bows down he will prostrate himself he bows down
H5456-02 Isaiah 44:17 ל֤/וֹ lo HR/Sp3ms to it not to it
H5456-01 Isaiah 44:19 אֶסְגּֽוֹד esegod HVqi1cs I-fall-down I will prostrate myself I will prostrate myself
H5456-05 Isaiah 46:6 יִסְגְּד֖וּ yisegedu HVqi3mp they bow down they will prostrate themselves they bow down
← H5455 Hebrew Lexicon H5457 →