שִׁגָּיוֹן (shig.ga.von)
shig.ga.von
Shiggaion
N:N-M-TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-T
Word Overview
The Hebrew word shiggaion appears only twice in the Bible, both as a musical heading for psalms (Psalm 7 and Habakkuk 3). Its exact meaning remains uncertain, but most scholars link it to the root shagah, which means "to stumble" or "reel." This suggests the term describes a specific style of song—perhaps wild, passionate, or marked by rapid shifts in rhythm.
Because it is used only as a title, we cannot be sure if it refers to the meter, the emotional tone, or the occasion for which the psalm was written. The connection to stumbling may imply a song of distress or intense agitation, fitting the contexts of both David’s plea for protection and Habakkuk’s vision of divine judgment.
Translators typically leave shiggaion untranslated, preserving its mystery. This approach acknowledges that while we can guess at its musical character, the precise nature of this ancient poetic form has been lost to time. The word serves as a reminder of the rich variety of worship expressions in Scripture, even when their technical details are no longer fully clear.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shiggaion appears only twice in Scripture, attached to Psalm 7 and Habakkuk 3. Its meaning is lost to time, but scholars link it to a root meaning "to stumble" or "reel." This suggests the music was wild, passionate, or marked by rapid shifts in rhythm. It likely describes a song of intense agitation or distress.
When you encounter this term, remember that worship is not always calm or orderly. David used this style to cry out for protection from enemies. Habakkuk used it while wrestling with God’s judgment. Your own prayers can be just as raw, messy, and urgent. God hears the stumbles of your heart.
This word reminds us that Scripture embraces the full range of human emotion. You do not need to sanitize your feelings before God. Whether you are reeling from fear or shaking with awe, there is a place for your voice in worship. The Bible holds space for your deepest struggles.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- shiggionoth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁגְיֹנֽוֹת\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Habakkuk 3:1
A prayer of Habakkuk, the prophet, set to victorious music.
This heading frames Habakkuk's prayer as a passionate, possibly chaotic musical composition reflecting his struggle with divine judgment.