סָגָן (sa.gan)
sa.gan
ruler
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sagan refers to a ruler, governor, or prefect, but with a specific nuance of subordination. It describes an official who holds authority under a higher power, such as a king or empire. This distinction separates it from terms for supreme sovereignty, marking the sagan as a subordinate administrator rather than the ultimate source of rule.
In the Old Testament, this word appears in contexts involving foreign empires and local governance. It is used to describe officials serving under Assyrian and Babylonian overlords, highlighting their role as intermediaries who enforce imperial will. The term also appears in lists of Persian or local administrators, emphasizing their function within a structured hierarchy.
The sources note that sagan often translates to "prefect" or "deputy," capturing the idea of one who acts on behalf of another. Its usage in books like Nehemiah and Jeremiah illustrates its application in both historical narratives and prophetic contexts, where it identifies key figures in the political landscape of the time.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sagan describes a ruler who holds authority under a higher power. It captures the idea of a deputy or prefect who acts on behalf of someone greater, such as a king or empire. This nuance reminds us that all human leadership is ultimately subordinate to God’s sovereignty.
In the Old Testament, sagan appears in contexts involving foreign empires and local governance. Officials like those in Ezra and Nehemiah served under Assyrian, Babylonian, or Persian overlords. They enforced imperial will while navigating their own communities. This shows how God works through structured hierarchies, even when they seem distant from His direct rule.
For your faith, this word offers comfort. It reminds you that no human authority is absolute. When you face difficult leaders or complex systems, remember that God remains the ultimate source of order and justice. You can trust Him to guide history, even when human rulers act as mere deputies in a larger plan.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ officials4×
- and/ the/ officials3×
- officials/ its1×
- officials1×
- and/ to the/ officials1×
- and/ officials/ its1×
- and/ officials1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/הַ/סְּגָנִ֗ים2×
- הַ/סְּגָנִ֔ים2×
- סְגָנֶ֑י/הָ1×
- סְגָנִים֙1×
- וּ/סְגָנֶ֙י/הָ֙1×
- וּ/סְגָנִֽים\׃1×
- וְ/לַ/סְּגָנִ֗ים1×
- וְ/הַ/סְּגָנִ֜ים1×
- הַ/סְּגָנִ֛ים1×
- הַ/סְּגָנִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 13:11
Then I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is God’s house forsaken?” I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Nehemiah confronts these subordinate officials directly because their neglect of God's house reveals a failure in their delegated stewardship.
-
Jeremiah 51:23
With you I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock. With you I will break in pieces the farmer and his yoke. With you I will break in pieces governors and deputies.
God declares He will break governors and deputies, showing that even powerful imperial administrators are subject to His judgment.
-
Ezra 9:2
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy offspring have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.”
The text highlights how these rulers, despite their high status, were chief in trespassing by mixing with foreign peoples.