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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שָׁגַע H7696
Pronunciation shaga
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 mad 1× Deuteronomy 28:34
insane 1× Hosea 9:7
is insane 1× 1 Samuel 21:14
madman 1× 2 Kings 9:11
madmen 1× 1 Samuel 21:15
to rave 1× 1 Samuel 21:15
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 28:34 מְשֻׁגָּ֑ע to driven mad Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular 1 Samuel 21:14 מִשְׁתַּגֵּ֔עַ to is insane Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular 1 Samuel 21:15 מְשֻׁגָּעִים֙ to madmen Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural 1 Samuel 21:15 לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּ֖עַ to to rave Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct 2 Kings 9:11 הַמְשֻׁגָּ֥ע to madman Article | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular Jeremiah 29:26 מְשֻׁגָּ֖ע to . . . Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular Hosea 9:7 מְשֻׁגָּע֙ to insane Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Deuteronomy 28:34
Aligned rows 7
Books represented 5
Deuteronomy 1 1 Samuel 3 2 Kings 1 Jeremiah 1 Hosea 1
Source forms
הַמְשֻׁגָּ֥ע 1x ham·šug·gā‘ 2 Kings 9:11
לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּ֖עַ 1x lə·hiš·tag·gê·a‘ 1 Samuel 21:15
מְשֻׁגָּ֑ע 1x mə·šug·gā‘ Deuteronomy 28:34
מְשֻׁגָּ֖ע 1x mə·šug·gā‘ Jeremiah 29:26
מְשֻׁגָּע֙ 1x mə·šug·gā‘ Hosea 9:7
מְשֻׁגָּעִים֙ 1x mə·šug·gā·‘îm 1 Samuel 21:15
מִשְׁתַּגֵּ֔עַ 1x miš·tag·gê·a‘ 1 Samuel 21:14
Parsing patterns
Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular 3x Deuteronomy 28:34, Jeremiah 29:26, Hosea 9:7
Article | Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular 1x 2 Kings 9:11
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct 1x 1 Samuel 21:15
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular 1x 1 Samuel 21:14
Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine plural 1x 1 Samuel 21:15
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Mental derangement expressed through uncontrolled speech or behavior; often feigned or performed rather than clinically insane
Strong's H7696
Lexical occurrences 7 verses Word forms 2 forms 5 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Hosea 9:7-9 Source Gloss
to rave through insanity
Extended definition Source: 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 groups 2 Aligned forms 5
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 4×
Participle passive 1Sam 21:16 · Deut 28:34 · Hos 9:7 · Jer 29:26 4×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 1×
Participle active 1Sam 21:15 1×
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
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain