שְׁגָגָה (she.ga.gah)
she.ga.gah
unintentionally
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 17 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shega-gah refers to a sin committed through error or inadvertence rather than with deliberate intent. Occurring seventeen times in the Old Testament, primarily within Leviticus and Numbers, it describes actions that violate God’s commands by mistake. This concept distinguishes accidental transgressions from rebellious defiance, acknowledging that human fallibility often leads to unintentional wrongdoing.
The term highlights a specific category of guilt where the offender did not act with malice or knowledge. In the legal codes of Leviticus 4 and Numbers 15, shega-gah determines the type of sacrifice required for atonement. The text distinguishes these errors from high-handed sins, which are treated with far greater severity because they represent a conscious rejection of divine authority.
Translators typically render this word as "unintentional sin" or "sin of error." This precision matters because it reflects a nuanced understanding of moral responsibility in ancient Israelite law. The presence of such a category shows that the covenant community recognized the complexity of human action, providing a path for restoration even when mistakes were made without evil intent.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shega-gah reminds us that God understands the difference between a rebellious heart and a stumbling foot. In ancient Israel, this term covered sins committed by mistake or ignorance, showing that the law accounted for human frailty. It was not an excuse for carelessness, but a recognition that we often miss the mark without meaning to.
This distinction offers comfort today. We all make errors in judgment or act in ways we later regret. The provision for unintentional sin shows that God’s justice is paired with mercy. When we turn back to Him with a sincere heart, He provides a way for restoration rather than immediate condemnation.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- by/ inadvertence13×
- to/ inadvertence1×
- like/ an inadvertence1×
- inadvertence/ their1×
- inadvertence/ his1×
- [was] inadvertence1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בִּ/שְׁגָגָֽה\׃3×
- בִּ/שְׁגָגָ֖ה2×
- בִּ/שְׁגָגָ֑ה2×
- בִ/שְׁגָגָ֖ה2×
- שִׁגְגָתָֽ/ם\׃1×
- שִׁגְגָת֧/וֹ1×
- שְׁגָגָ֣ה1×
- לִ/שְׁגָגָה֒1×
- כִּ/שְׁגָגָ֕ה1×
- בִּ/שְׁגָגָֽה\׃\ \ס1×
- בִּ/שְׁגָגָ֔ה1×
- בִ/שְׁגָגָה֙1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 4:2
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone sins unintentionally, in any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and does any one of them,
This verse introduces the legal framework for unintentional sins, establishing that even accidental violations of God's commands require atonement.
-
Numbers 15:25
The priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they shall be forgiven; for it was an error, and they have brought their offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh, and their sin offering before Yahweh, for their error.
Here the text explicitly links the concept of error with forgiveness, showing that the community is cleansed when the proper offering is made for mistakes.
-
Numbers 35:11
then you shall appoint for yourselves cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the man slayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.
This verse extends the principle beyond ritual law to criminal justice, providing cities of refuge for those who kill unintentionally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shega-gah mean in the Bible?
How is shega-gah different from a high-handed sin?
Why does the Bible distinguish between intentional and unintentional sins?
Every Occurrence (17 verses across 4 books)
Leviticus 6 verses
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone sins unintentionally, in any of the things which Yahweh has…
Leviticus 4:22“‘When a ruler sins, and unwittingly does any one of all the things which Yahweh his God has commanded not to be done,…
Leviticus 4:27“‘If anyone of the common people sins unwittingly, in doing any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be…
Leviticus 5:15“If anyone commits a trespass, and sins unwittingly regarding Yahweh’s holy things, then he shall bring his trespass…
Leviticus 5:18He shall bring a ram without defect from of the flock, according to your estimation, for a trespass offering, to the…
Leviticus 22:14“‘If a man eats something holy unwittingly, then he shall add the fifth part of its value to it, and shall give the…