What does שָׁגַע (shaga) mean in the Bible?
שָׁגַע (shaga): Mental derangement expressed through uncontrolled speech or behavior; often feigned or performed rather than clinically insane
Hebrew · H7696
שָׁגַע
To rave through insanity
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שָׁגַעH7696
Pronunciationshaga
What does שָׁגַע (shaga) mean in the Bible?
שָׁגַע (shaga): Mental derangement expressed through uncontrolled speech or behavior; often feigned or performed rather than clinically insane
Full entry for שָׁגַע (H7696) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7696?
The BSB source-word alignment has 7 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (1), driven mad (1), insane (1), is insane (1), madman (1).
Where does שָׁגַע (shaga) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 28:34. Its strongest book concentrations include 1 Samuel (3), 2 Kings (1), Deuteronomy (1), Hosea (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It. . .1×Jeremiah 29:26
driven mad1×Deuteronomy 28:34
insane1×Hosea 9:7
is insane1×1 Samuel 21:14
madman1×2 Kings 9:11
madmen1×1 Samuel 21:15
to rave1×1 Samuel 21:15
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 28:34מְשֻׁגָּ֑עtodriven madVerb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular1 Samuel 21:14מִשְׁתַּגֵּ֔עַtois insaneVerb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular1 Samuel 21:15מְשֻׁגָּעִים֙tomadmenVerb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural1 Samuel 21:15לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּ֖עַtoto ravePreposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct2 Kings 9:11הַמְשֻׁגָּ֥עtomadmanArticle | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singularJeremiah 29:26מְשֻׁגָּ֖עto. . .Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singularHosea 9:7מְשֻׁגָּע֙toinsaneVerb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 28:34
Aligned rows7
Books represented5
Deuteronomy11 Samuel32 Kings1Jeremiah1Hosea1
Source forms
הַמְשֻׁגָּ֥ע1xham·šug·gā‘2 Kings 9:11
לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּ֖עַ1xlə·hiš·tag·gê·a‘1 Samuel 21:15
מְשֻׁגָּ֑ע1xmə·šug·gā‘Deuteronomy 28:34
מְשֻׁגָּ֖ע1xmə·šug·gā‘Jeremiah 29:26
מְשֻׁגָּע֙1xmə·šug·gā‘Hosea 9:7
מְשֻׁגָּעִים֙1xmə·šug·gā·‘îm1 Samuel 21:15
מִשְׁתַּגֵּ֔עַ1xmiš·tag·gê·a‘1 Samuel 21:14
Parsing patterns
Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular3xDeuteronomy 28:34, Jeremiah 29:26, Hosea 9:7
Article | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular1x2 Kings 9:11
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct1x1 Samuel 21:15
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular1x1 Samuel 21:14
Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural1x1 Samuel 21:15
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Mental derangement expressed through uncontrolled speech or behavior; often feigned or performed rather than clinically insane
Strong'sH7696
Lexical occurrences7 versesWord forms2 forms5 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkHosea 9:7-9Source Gloss
to rave through insanity
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Mental derangement expressed through uncontrolled speech or behavior; often feigned or performed rather than clinically insane
to rave through insanity BDB: be mad Usage: (be, play the) mad (man).
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms5
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject4×
Participle passive1Sam 21:16 · Deut 28:34 · Hos 9:7 · Jer 29:264×
Hithpaelreflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others1×
Participle active1Sam 21:151×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
to be mad
Showing 1 selected witness from 7 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שָׁגַע is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
Reveals contempt for divine message.Hosea 9:7-9