שִׂיג
a withdrawal (into a private place)
Definition
The noun שִׂיג (sîyg) refers to a withdrawal or retreat into a private, secluded place. It is derived from the verb שׂוּג (sûg, H7734), meaning 'to move away' or 'to turn aside.' In its sole biblical occurrence, it is used by Elijah in a sarcastic taunt, suggesting the god Baal has withdrawn into seclusion, perhaps to relieve himself or is otherwise preoccupied and unavailable (1 Kings 18:27). The core meaning centers on the act of removing oneself from public view or engagement.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in 1 Kings 18:27. The context is Elijah's mockery of the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He suggests their god is not answering because he is on a 'שִׂיג'—a withdrawal into privacy. The usage is deliberately humorous and derogatory, implying Baal is absent for a mundane, bodily reason rather than being a powerful deity.
Etymology
Derived from the root שׂוּג (sûg, H7734), which means 'to go, to turn aside, to move away.' שִׂיג is a noun form indicating the act or state of such a movement—specifically, a withdrawal or retreat. Related words from this root can carry senses of recession or turning aside from a path.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant in its context. Elijah's taunt uses a term for a mundane, private withdrawal to starkly contrast the living God of Israel, who is publicly present and active, with the silent, absent idols. It underscores the biblical theme of God's accessibility and responsiveness versus the impotence of false gods. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of 1 Kings 18 by highlighting the prophetic satire and the core truth of Yahweh's supremacy.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, gods were often believed to have human-like needs and behaviors. Elijah's sarcastic suggestion that Baal was on a 'שִׂיג' (a private withdrawal) would have been a culturally understood insult, implying the god was engaged in a base, physical function and was therefore not a transcendent, attentive deity. This contrasts sharply with the Israelite understanding of Yahweh's holiness and constant engagement.
סֵתֶר (sēther, H5643) — a hiding place or secret place, more about concealment than the act of withdrawing. מְנוּסָה (mᵊnûsâ, H4498) — a place of flight or refuge, implies fleeing to safety rather than a private retreat.
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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