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סְגִד

𐤎𐤂𐤃

çᵉgid

H5457 verb

SILEX Entry

Root סגד to bow down, prostrate, pay homage

Definition

To prostrate oneself in homage or reverence before a superior, deity, or idol; the act of bowing down as an external gesture of submission, respect, or religious worship. In biblical Aramaic, it typically refers to the formal act of paying homage, often in a religious or imperial context, rather than a general cultural gesture.

Semantic Range

to prostrate oneself before a deity or idol; to pay homage or show submission to a king or high official; to perform ceremonial bowing as a ritual act; to worship (in the sense of a physical act of reverence)

Root / Etymology

Aramaic סְגִד (segid), corresponding to the Hebrew root סגד meaning 'to bow down, pay homage, worship.' The root is of West Semitic origin, attested in various Semitic languages, and conveys the core idea of bowing or prostrating as a sign of submission or honor.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the biblical Aramaic sections (primarily Daniel and Ezra), סְגִד denotes both religious veneration (directed toward deities or idols) and secular homage (e.g., court protocol before a king or high official). The verb almost always implies a formal, physical act—bowing deeply, kneeling, or lying face down (prostration)—rather than an internal attitude or abstract reverence. In contrast to Hebrew שָׁחָה (shachah), which can be used more generally for bowing or showing respect, סְגִד in Aramaic is more narrowly associated with ritual or ceremonial actions, particularly in idolatrous or imperial contexts. The word appears in narratives describing imperial worship or the required acts of reverence in polytheistic settings, such as before Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue in Daniel. English translations customarily render it 'worship' or 'pay homage,' but these may obscure the very physical, external nature of the act reflected in the original context. The concept of 'worship' implied here should be understood in an ancient Near Eastern context of tangible bodily submission, rather than later abstract religious devotion.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to סָגַד; {to prostrate oneself (in homage)}; worship.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

סגד (s-g-d) — to bow down, prostrate, pay homage

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5456 סָגַד I will prostrate myself

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5457-02 סָֽגְדִין֙ sagedin AVqrmpa worshiping those prostrating themselves 3
H5457-06 וְ/יִסְגֻּ֑ד veyisegud AC/Vqi3ms and worships and he will bow in homage 3
H5457-05 וְ/תִסְגְּדוּן֙ vetisegedun AC/Vqi2mp and worship and you will prostrate yourselves 2
H5457-01 נִסְגֻּֽד nisegud AVqi1cp we will worship we will prostrate ourselves 1
H5457-07 יִסְגְּדוּן֙ yisegedun AVqi3mp worship they will prostrate themselves 1
H5457-03 סְגִ֑ד segid AVqp3ms worshipped he prostrated himself 1
H5457-04 תִסְגְּד֔וּן tisegedun AVqi2mp you worship you will prostrate yourselves 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5457-03 Daniel 2:46 סְגִ֑ד segid AVqp3ms worshipped he prostrated himself
H5457-05 Daniel 3:5 וְ/תִסְגְּדוּן֙ vetisegedun AC/Vqi2mp and worship and you will prostrate yourselves
H5457-06 Daniel 3:6 וְ/יִסְגֻּ֑ד veyisegud AC/Vqi3ms and worships and he will bow in homage
H5457-02 Daniel 3:7 סָֽגְדִין֙ sagedin AVqrmpa worshipping those prostrating themselves
H5457-06 Daniel 3:10 וְ/יִסְגֻּ֖ד veyisegud AC/Vqi3ms and worship and he will bow in homage
H5457-06 Daniel 3:11 וְ/יִסְגֻּ֑ד veyisegud AC/Vqi3ms and worships and he will bow in homage
H5457-02 Daniel 3:12 סָגְדִֽין sagedin AVqrmpa worship those prostrating themselves
H5457-02 Daniel 3:14 סָֽגְדִֽין sagedin AVqrmpa worshiping those prostrating themselves
H5457-05 Daniel 3:15 וְ/תִסְגְּדוּן֮ vetisegedun AC/Vqi2mp and worship and you will prostrate yourselves
H5457-04 Daniel 3:15 תִסְגְּד֔וּן tisegedun AVqi2mp you worship you will prostrate yourselves
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