שַׂגִּיא (sag.gi)
sag.gi
greatly
A:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective saggiy’ functions as an intensifier meaning "great," "much," or "exceedingly." It modifies nouns to emphasize magnitude, whether referring to physical size, quantity, or degree. In the biblical text, it appears eight times, primarily within the books of Daniel and Ezra, where it describes significant events or substantial amounts.
Its usage often highlights the overwhelming nature of what is being described. For instance, in Ezra 5:14, it qualifies the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple, underscoring their considerable value. Similarly, in Daniel 2:37, it describes Nebuchadnezzar’s dominion as "great," marking the scale of his power. The word serves to amplify the noun it accompanies, ensuring the reader grasps the full weight or extent of the subject.
This term does not carry complex theological nuance but acts as a straightforward descriptor of scale. Translators typically render it as "great" or "much," depending on context. Its presence in historical narratives helps establish the backdrop of significant political and material realities, framing the actions of kings and the restoration efforts of the people within a context of substantial impact.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read that God’s people faced great opposition or saw great blessings, it is easy to feel small. The Hebrew word saggiy reminds us that magnitude is not just about size; it is about presence. Whether describing the vast dominion of a king or the heavy burden on a prophet’s heart, this word highlights moments where human reality meets divine sovereignty.
For your faith, this means you do not face challenges alone. The same God who oversees great empires also holds the details of your life. When trouble feels overwhelming, remember that God’s power exceeds any obstacle. His grace is sufficient for every 'great' difficulty you encounter.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- exceedingly3×
- many2×
- great2×
- much1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שַׂגִּ֔יא2×
- שַׂגִּיאָן֙1×
- שַׂגִּיאָ֔ן1×
- שַׂגִּֽיא\׃1×
- שַׂגִּ֣יא\׀1×
- שַׂגִּ֣יא1×
- שַׂגִּ֑יא1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 2:31
“You, O king, saw, and behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before you; and its appearance was terrifying.
This verse uses the word to describe a terrifyingly large image, showing how human power can appear immense and intimidating before God.
-
Daniel 7:28
“Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Here it describes Daniel’s deep inner turmoil, illustrating that even prophets experience great emotional weight when receiving difficult visions.
-
Ezra 5:11
Thus they returned us answer, saying, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.
The term qualifies the 'great king' who originally built the temple, connecting current restoration efforts to God’s historical faithfulness through powerful leaders.