Lexical Summary shegal: queen Original Word: שֵׁגָל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance queen From shagal; a queen (from cohabitation) -- queen. see HEBREW shagal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shagel Definition (queen) consort NASB Translation queen (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שֵׁגָל noun feminine (queen-)consort Nehemiah 2:6; Psalm 45:10, + perh, Judges 5:see שְׁלָל (Palmyrene proper name, feminine שגּל Lzb372 SAC111 GACooke309; Thes1363 compare 'queen,' originally 'woman'; but ׳שׁ loan-word according to LagBN 51, 153 and not from √[שָׁגֵל]). [שֵׁגָל] noun feminine (royal) consort (compare Biblical Hebrew id.; √ unknown HptGu Ezr-Ne, p. 65 conjectures Assyrian šigrêti, harem-women); — plural suffix ֵשׁגְלָתָךְ Daniel 5:23, ֵשׁגְלָתֵהּ Daniel 5:2; Daniel 5:3. Topical Lexicon Occurrences Historical Background The two attestations of שֵׁגָל fall in markedly different settings. Nehemiah records a moment in the mid-fifth century B.C. Persian court, where Artaxerxes I converses with his royal consort as Nehemiah petitions to rebuild Jerusalem. Psalm 45 belongs to the liturgical collection of the sons of Korah and originated as a royal wedding hymn for a Davidic king. Together these contexts display the concept of a reigning monarch’s wife functioning publicly as a figure of dignity and influence. Contextual Analysis Nehemiah 2:6: “Then the king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked me, ‘How long will your journey take, and when will you return?’” Psalm 45:9: “Kings’ daughters are among Your honored women; at Your right hand stands the queen adorned with gold of Ophir.” Theological Significance 1. Covenant Reflection: In both passages the royal marriage illustrates covenant faithfulness. The queen’s position at the king’s side reflects the permanent, honored place granted to the covenant partner. Messianic Implications Psalm 45, explicitly applied to Jesus Christ in Hebrews 1:8-9, portrays the Messiah’s eternal kingship. Consequently, the queen becomes a prophetic type of the Messiah’s bride—the Church. As the shēgāl stands “at Your right hand,” so believers are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). The gold of Ophir symbolizes the imparted righteousness and glory bestowed on the redeemed (Isaiah 61:10). Practical Ministry Application • Dignity of Marriage: Both texts commend public honor toward marriage, encouraging pastors to celebrate and protect the marital covenant. Related Themes in Scripture Queenly honor: 1 Kings 2:19; Esther 1–2 Bride imagery: Isaiah 62:5; Matthew 25:1-13; Revelation 19:7-9 Royal priesthood of believers: 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6 Forms and Transliterations וְהַשֵּׁגַ֣ל ׀ והשגל שֵׁגַ֥ל שגל šê·ḡal šêḡal sheGal vehashsheGal wə·haš·šê·ḡal wəhaššêḡalLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 2:6 HEB: לִ֨י הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ וְהַשֵּׁגַ֣ל ׀ יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת אֶצְל֗וֹ NAS: said to me, the queen sitting KJV: said unto me, (the queen also sitting INT: said the king the queen sitting beside Psalm 45:9 2 Occurrences |
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