Bible Word Study
סְגַר
çᵉgar · null
סְגַר
Definition
The Aramaic noun סְגַר (çᵉgar) means 'a shutting up' or 'a closure,' specifically referring to the act of being sealed or confined. It appears only in Daniel 6:22, where Daniel tells King Darius that God 'shut the lions' mouths' (סְגַר פֻּם אַרְיָוָתָא). Here, it describes a divine, protective sealing that prevents harm. As an Aramaic term, it corresponds directly to the Hebrew verb סָגַר (sagar, H5462), which carries meanings like to shut, close, or deliver up, but in this context, it emphasizes God's sovereign control over danger.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel. It occurs in Daniel 6:22 within a narrative context where Daniel is miraculously preserved in the lions' den. The usage is specific to describing God's intervention to 'shut' the mouths of the lions, highlighting a protective, restraining action. There are no other biblical occurrences, making its usage unique to this dramatic account of divine rescue.
Etymology
סְגַר is an Aramaic noun derived from the common Semitic root s-g-r, meaning 'to shut' or 'to close.' It corresponds directly to the Hebrew verb סָגַר (sagar, H5462), which appears in verses like 2 Kings 4:4-5 (shutting a door) and Isaiah 24:10 (a city shut up). The Aramaic form retains the core sense of closure but is used specifically in the context of Daniel's divinely orchestrated deliverance.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it illustrates God's sovereign power to restrain evil and protect His faithful servants. In Daniel 6:22, the 'shutting' of the lions' mouths is not merely a physical act but a demonstration of divine authority over creation and danger. Understanding this Aramaic term enriches the reading of Daniel's story by emphasizing that deliverance comes from God's active intervention, reinforcing themes of trust and providence in the face of persecution. In the ancient Near Eastern context, being 'shut up' with lions was a form of execution, making this term resonate with life-or-death stakes. The cultural understanding of lions as symbols of royal power and lethal threat (used by Persian rulers for punishment) heightens the miracle. The word's usage reflects a setting where divine intervention was sought against overwhelming forces, differing from modern contexts where such dangers are less immediate. סָגַר (sagar, H5462) — The corresponding Hebrew verb meaning to shut, close, or deliver up, used in various physical and metaphorical contexts. אָטַם (atam, H331) — A Hebrew verb meaning to shut or stop, often used for closing ears or lips (e.g., Psalm 58:4).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]