שָׂגָא
to grow, i.e. (causatively) to enlarge, (figuratively) laud
Definition
The Hebrew verb שָׂגָא (sâgâʼ) fundamentally means 'to grow' or 'to increase,' often implying a significant or abundant expansion. In its causative form, it means 'to enlarge' or 'to make great,' as seen in Job 36:24, where people are called to 'magnify' God's work. Figuratively, it carries the sense of 'to praise' or 'to laud,' focusing on making something great in reputation or esteem. Both of its biblical occurrences are in the book of Job, where it is used to describe God's sovereign actions in enlarging nations and the human response of magnifying His works.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the poetic book of Job. In Job 12:23, it describes God's sovereign power to 'increase' or 'enlarge' nations, highlighting His control over political fortunes. In Job 36:24, it is used in an imperative call for humans to 'magnify' God's work, shifting to a figurative sense of praise and recognition of His greatness. The usage pattern shows a movement from God's objective action (causing growth) to the human subjective response (praising that growth).
Etymology
שָׂגָא is a primitive root verb. It is related to the more common root שׂגג (śgg, H7685), which means 'to go astray' or 'to err,' suggesting a possible original semantic field of 'exceeding a boundary,' whether in growth or in error. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'segû' (to be large), supporting its core meaning of increase or enlargement.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects God's sovereign action with human worship. In Job 12:23, it underscores God's absolute control over the rise and fall of nations, a key theme of divine providence. In Job 36:24, it prescribes the proper human response to God's works: intentional praise and magnification. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by showing that 'magnifying' God is not just an emotional feeling but an active recognition and proclamation of the growth and greatness He orchestrates in history.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, the growth of a nation (Job 12:23) was directly tied to divine favor and power. To 'magnify' a deity's works (Job 36:24) was a common cultural response to perceived divine intervention, akin to public praise and testimony. The word's rarity in biblical Hebrew may indicate it was a specialized poetic term for emphatic growth or praise.
גָּדַל (gādal, H1431) — more common verb for 'to grow' or 'to become great,' often used for physical growth or honor. רָבָה (rāḇâ, H7235) — focuses on numerical increase or multiplication. פָּאַר (pā'ar, H6286) — means 'to glorify' or 'to beautify,' with a stronger emphasis on splendor rather than increase in size.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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