Lexical Summary saggi: exalted Original Word: שַׂגִּיא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance excellent, great From saga'; (superlatively) mighty -- excellent, great. see HEBREW saga' NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom saga Definition great NASB Translation exalted (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שַׂגִּיא adjective great; — of God, absolute אֵל שַׂגִּיא Job 36:20; construct שַׂגִּיאכֹֿח Job 37:24. Topical Lexicon Overview The adjective שַׂגִּיא (saggiʾ) accents the overwhelming greatness of God. While other Hebrew terms (gadol, rav, kabbod) speak of magnitude, saggiʾ is reserved for a superlative magnitude that transcends measurement or comparison. Each occurrence underscores that the Creator’s power and wisdom are immeasurably above the created order. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Job 36:26 – “Behold, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.” Both texts form part of Elihu’s speeches, where saggiʾ functions as the climactic adjective in declarations of God’s incomprehensible majesty. Thematic Significance Divine Transcendence: Each verse highlights how finite minds cannot exhaust God’s greatness. This finds resonance in Psalm 145:3, “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; His greatness is unsearchable.” Power Coupled with Moral Perfection: In Job 37:23 God’s unparalleled might is inseparable from perfect justice. Scripture consistently couples greatness with righteousness (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 99:4). Revelation through Creation: Elihu links saggiʾ to observable phenomena—wind, rain, thunder (Job 36:27-33; 37:2-18)—inviting worship grounded in the created order (Romans 1:20). Historical and Cultural Context In Ancient Near Eastern thought, power could be arbitrary, but Israel’s Scriptures proclaim a God whose greatness is matched by ethical integrity. Job, set outside Israel’s borders, reinforces that this truth is universal, not tribal. The patriarchal milieu assumed long life as a sign of honor, yet God’s “years” defy enumeration, eclipsing cultural ideals of longevity. Intercanonical Connections The Septuagint renders saggiʾ with ὑπερμεγέθης (hyper-megethēs), “exceedingly great,” influencing later Jewish liturgy and informing New Testament doxologies: “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20). The same logic undergirds Hebrews 7:25, where Christ’s exalted priesthood saves “to the uttermost.” Ministerial and Devotional Applications Worship: Meditation on saggiʾ safeguards against reducing God to manageable proportions, fostering reverent awe (Ecclesiastes 5:2). Suffering and Trust: Job’s context shows that recognizing God’s greatness steadies faith when explanations are withheld. Preaching and Teaching: Sagacity in ministry arises when human wisdom bows before saggiʾ—encouraging proclamation that exalts God rather than elevating technique or personality (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). Pastoral Care: Assuring believers that God’s greatness includes justice prevents despair when oppression seems unchecked (Psalm 97:2). Related Hebrew Words • גָּדוֹל (gadol) – great in size or importance. Saggiʾ differs by stressing surpassing, incomparable magnitude, often in poetic or wisdom literature. See Also Psalm 145:3; Isaiah 40:12-17; Romans 11:33-36; Revelation 19:6 Forms and Transliterations גיא שַׂ֭גִּיא שַׂגִּיא־ שגיא־ gi gî śag·gî- saggi śaggî-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 36:26 HEB: הֶן־ אֵ֣ל שַׂ֭גִּיא וְלֹ֣א נֵדָ֑ע NAS: God is exalted, and we do not know KJV: Behold, God [is] great, and we know INT: Behold God is exalted not know Job 37:23 2 Occurrences |
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