שִׁגָּיוֹן
𐤔𐤂𐤉𐤅𐤍
Shigayon
H7692 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A type of poetic composition characterized by intense emotion, irregular structure, or passionate, wandering style. Used as a literary or liturgical heading for certain psalms, indicating a composition marked by passionate utterance or supplication. The word's semantic range encompasses a song or psalm of agitated or erratic rhythm, lyrical fervor, and impassioned appeal.
Semantic Range
lyric poem, emotional or passionate song, psalm with wandering form, irregular or rambling ode, musical or liturgical performance marked by emotional intensity
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁגה (to go astray, wander, err), shiggâyôwn appears as a noun formation denoting something characterized by wandering or deviation—here, referring to a poem or song of wandering (i.e., irregular) structure. The formation שִׁגָּיוֹן is likely a technical or musical term derived from this root, applied by biblical editors to certain psalms. The related feminine form שִׁגָּיֹנָה is found at Habakkuk 3:1.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שִׁגָּיוֹן (shiggâyôwn) appears as a superscription in Psalm 7 and, in the plural שִׁגָּיֹנוֹת (shigyonoth), in Habakkuk 3:1. In biblical usage, it was likely a technical musical or liturgical term indicating a specific style that was highly expressive and marked by strong emotion or possibly rhythmic irregularity. Ancient versions and commentators differ: some suggest the term denotes a 'lament,' others a 'wandering' or 'erratic' song. English translations (following the Septuagint and Vulgate) often transliterate rather than translate, leaving its precise meaning ambiguous and reflecting uncertainty already present in antiquity. No clear correlation exists between שִׁגָּיוֹן and regular poetic forms elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible, suggesting its designation was rare or specialized. It is important not to conflate this technical term with connotations of 'mistake' or 'sin,' although it is related to the broader root meaning of 'wandering.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or שִׁגָּיֹנָה; from שָׁגָה; properly, aberration, i.e. (technically) a dithyramb or rambling poem; Shiggaion, Shigionoth.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שגה (š-g-h) — to go astray, wander, err
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4870 | מִשְׁגֶּה | inadvertent error |
| H4879 | מְשׁוּגָה | my straying |
| H7681 | שָׁגֶא | Erring-One |
| H7686 | שָׁגָה | the straying ones |
| H7691 | שְׁגִיאָה | missteps |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7692-02 |
שִׁגְיֹנֽוֹת | shigeyonot | HNp |
Shigionoth | wandering impassioned songs | 1 |
H7692-01 |
שִׁגָּי֗וֹן | shigayon | HNp |
Shiggaion | wandering-ode | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7692-02 |
Habakkuk 3:1 | שִׁגְיֹנֽוֹת | shigeyonot | HNp |
Shigionoth | wandering impassioned songs |
H7692-01 |
Psalms 7:1 | שִׁגָּי֗וֹן | shigayon | HNp |
Shiggaion | wandering-ode |