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שַׂגִּיא

𐤔𐤂𐤉𐤀

saggîyʼ

H7690 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root שׂגא to be great, to grow, to increase

Definition

Aramaic adjective meaning 'great, large, much, many; very (as an adverb)'. Primarily denotes something of significant magnitude, quantity, importance, or intensity. In adverbial usage, intensifies an associated action or quality ('exceedingly', 'very much'). Functions both predicatively and attributively, describing the extent of objects, people, events, or abstract qualities.

Semantic Range

great, large, much, many, very (as adverb); exceedingly, numerous, intense, abundant, in large quantity, in great degree

Root / Etymology

From the Aramaic root שׂגא meaning 'to be great or increase.' Derived by nominal/adjectival formation from the root, signifying the state or quality of greatness or largeness. Cognate with Hebrew שָׂגִיא (sāgîʾ), but primarily used in Biblical Aramaic.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שַׂגִּיא appears only in Biblical Aramaic portions of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel and Ezra), replacing the Hebrew counterpart שָׂגִיא. It is used for both concrete largeness (e.g., a great statue, a large number of people) and abstract greatness (e.g., great wisdom, exceedingly). As an adverb, it conveys strong emphasis ('very', 'exceedingly'). English translations often vary between 'great', 'very', 'many', or 'much' depending on context; occasionally nuances such as intensity or importance are under-translated. No theological meaning is attached; the word is purely descriptive. The term does not carry the later ethnic or religious connotations of 'great ones' or 'elders' found in some post-biblical uses. In terms of period usage, it's confined to the Imperial Aramaic context of the exilic and early post-exilic era within the biblical corpus. Distinct from related terms like רַב (rab, 'great' in Hebrew and Aramaic), which may carry more of an official or honorific sense in Aramaic, whereas שַׂגִּיא chiefly expresses magnitude, quantity, or degree.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to שַׂגִּיא; large (in size, quantity or number, also adverbial); exceeding, great(-ly); many, much, sore, very.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׂגא (ś-g-ʾ) — to be great, to grow, to increase

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7679 שָׂגָא one who makes great
H7680 שְׂגָא he will increase
H7689 שַׂגִּיא surpassingly great

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7690-01 שַׂגִּ֔יא sagi AAamsa great great, abundant 11
H7690-02 שַׂגִּיאָן֙ sagian AAafpa great great ones 2

Occurrences in Scripture

13 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7690-01 Daniel 2:6 שַׂגִּ֔יא sagi AAamsa great great, abundant
H7690-01 Daniel 2:12 שַׂגִּ֑יא sagi AAamsa very great, abundant
H7690-01 Daniel 2:31 שַׂגִּ֔יא sagi AAamsa great great, abundant
H7690-02 Daniel 2:48 שַׂגִּיאָן֙ sagian AAafpa great great ones
H7690-01 Daniel 4:7 שַׂגִּֽיא sagi AAamsa great great, abundant
H7690-01 Daniel 4:9 שַׂגִּ֔יא sagi AAamsa abundant great, abundant
H7690-01 Daniel 4:18 שַׂגִּ֔יא sagi AAamsa abundant great, abundant
H7690-01 Daniel 5:9 שַׂגִּ֣יא sagi AAamsa greatly great, abundant
H7690-01 Daniel 6:15 שַׂגִּיא֙ sagi AAamsa greatly great, abundant
H7690-01 Daniel 6:24 שַׂגִּיא֙ sagi AAamsa very great, abundant
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