שִׁגָּעוֹן (shig.ga.on)
shig.ga.on
madness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shiggaon denotes a state of madness or derangement. It appears only three times in the Old Testament, specifically in Deuteronomy 28:28, II Kings 6:18, and Zechariah 12:4. In each instance, it describes a divine judgment where God inflicts confusion or insanity upon enemies or disobedient people.
This term is not used for mental illness in the modern medical sense, but rather as a supernatural disorientation. In Deuteronomy, it is part of the curses for breaking the covenant, describing a condition where one is struck with madness, blindness, and confusion of heart. The word carries a heavy theological weight, illustrating how God can remove clarity and reason from those who oppose His purposes.
The rarity of shiggaon highlights its severity. It is reserved for moments of extreme divine intervention. Translators typically render it as "madness" or "derangement," capturing the loss of rational thought and purpose. The word serves as a stark reminder that true understanding comes from alignment with God, while opposition leads to spiritual and mental chaos.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shiggaon describes a profound loss of clarity, appearing only three times in Scripture to depict divine judgment. It is not a term for modern medical conditions but rather a supernatural disorientation inflicted upon those who oppose God’s purposes. In Deuteronomy 28:28, it stands alongside blindness and astonishment as part of the covenant curses, illustrating the chaos that follows rebellion.
This rarity underscores its severity. When God strikes with shiggaon, He removes the ability to reason or navigate life’s path, leaving only confusion. It serves as a stark warning that true understanding flows from alignment with Him. Opposition leads not just to external trouble but to an internal collapse of sense and direction.
Yet this word also highlights the value of divine wisdom. While madness blinds, God’s truth illuminates. For believers, it is a reminder to seek His guidance daily, knowing that He offers clarity where the world offers only chaos. May you rest in the peace that comes from walking in His light.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with/ madness2×
- with <the>/ madness1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ/שִּׁגָּע֑וֹן1×
- בְּ/שִׁגָּע֖וֹן1×
- בְ/שִׁגָּע֖וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 28:28
Yahweh will strike you with madness, with blindness, and with astonishment of heart.
This verse places shiggaon within a triad of judgments—madness, blindness, and astonishment—showing it as a comprehensive loss of spiritual and physical perception for covenant breakers.
-
Zechariah 12:4
In that day,” says Yahweh, “I will strike every horse with terror and his rider with madness. I will open my eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.
Here the word describes God striking enemy horses with madness to protect Judah, demonstrating His power to disable opposition through supernatural confusion rather than mere military force.