שַׂגִּיא
(superlatively) mighty
Definition
The Hebrew word שָׁגִּיא (saggîyʾ) is an adjective meaning 'great,' 'mighty,' or 'excellent,' often in a superlative sense. It describes something of surpassing magnitude or power. In its two biblical occurrences, both in the book of Job, it is used exclusively to describe the transcendent nature of God. In Job 36:26, it emphasizes that God is 'great beyond our knowledge,' highlighting His incomprehensibility. In Job 37:23, it declares God is 'excellent in power,' focusing on His unsearchable might and justice.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times in the poetic speeches of Elihu in the book of Job (Job 36:26, 37:23). Its usage is exclusively theological, applied directly to God to describe His supreme and unsearchable attributes. The pattern is one of exalting God's nature as beyond human comprehension and measurement, used in the context of defending God's justice and majesty.
Etymology
Derived from the root שַׁגָא (sâgâʾ, H7679), which means 'to increase,' 'grow,' or 'be great.' The form שָׁגִּיא is an adjective in the intensive (Piel) stem, conveying a sense of being made great or being exceedingly great. It is related to Aramaic words for 'great' or 'much.'
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is a rare and potent descriptor of God's transcendent majesty. It underscores key doctrines of God's incomprehensibility (Job 36:26) and His supreme, inscrutable power and justice (Job 37:23). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches Bible reading by highlighting the poetic and theological intensity of Elihu's argument, which prepares the reader for God's own speech from the whirlwind, emphasizing that God's greatness fundamentally exceeds human categories.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, terms for 'greatness' were often used of kings and deities. Using שָׁגִּיא exclusively for Yahweh in the Bible sets Him apart, asserting that His greatness is of a wholly different, infinite order compared to any human ruler or pagan god, a central theme in the wisdom literature's exploration of theodicy.
גַדוֹל (gádôl, H1419) — The common adjective for 'great' or 'large,' used for people, objects, and God; רַב (rav, H7227) — Often denotes 'many' or 'abundant,' focusing on quantity or magnitude; עֶצּוֹם (ʿatsûm, H6099) — Means 'mighty' or 'powerful,' often with a connotation of strength and force.
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.
Full methodology & sources →