7696. shaga

Lexicon

shaga: To err, to go astray, to wander

Original Word: שָׁגַע
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shaga`
Pronunciation: shaw-gaw'
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-gah')
Definition: To err, to go astray, to wander
Meaning: to rave through insanity

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

play the mad man

A primitive root; to rave through insanity -- (be, play the) mad (man).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be mad
NASB Translation
act the madman (1), behaving as a madman (1), demented (1), driven mad (1), mad fellow (1), madman (1), madmen (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[שָׁגַע] Pu`al be mad (Arabic coo, of male pigeon, utter long whinny, of camel (compare Hoffm^{ZAW iii (1883), 89} RS^{JPhil. Xiv. 119 f.} Goldziher^{Arab. Philol. i. 59 ff.} Lag^{BN 202}); Ethiopic be mad (n insert, Di¹⁰⁵⁵ Ba^{ES 50}); Assyrian šegû, rage, howl; on meaning in Hebrew see especially We^{Skizzen iii. 130}); —

Pu`al Participle as adjective : predicate וְהָיִיתָ מְשֻׁגָּע Deuteronomy 28:34 thou shalt be maddened (מִן because of), figurative for driven to despair; ׳מ of prophets, contemptuously Hosea 9:7, ׳כָּלאִֿישׁ מ וּמִתְנַבֵּא Jeremiah 29:26, as substantive 2 Kings 9:11; plural מְשֻׁגָּעִים 1 Samuel 21:16 madmen.

Hithpa`el shew madness; Participle אִישׁ מִשְׁתַּגֵּעַ 1 Samuel 21:15; Infinitive construct לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּעַ v.1 Samuel 21:16.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Greek entry in Strong's Concordance is G3105 (μαίνομαι, mainomai), which similarly denotes a state of madness or frenzy. This Greek term is used in the New Testament to describe individuals who are perceived as being out of their minds or acting irrationally, paralleling the Hebrew concept of שָׁגַע. An example of its usage is found in Acts 26:24, where Festus accuses Paul of being insane: "At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. 'You are out of your mind, Paul!' he shouted. 'Your great learning is driving you insane.'" Here, the accusation of madness is directed at Paul due to his fervent and passionate defense of his faith.

Usage: The term שָׁגַע (shaga) is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a state of madness or insanity, often implying a loss of rational control or behavior that is perceived as irrational or frenzied.

Context: The Hebrew verb שָׁגַע (shaga) appears in contexts where individuals are described as behaving in a manner that is considered irrational or insane. This term is often used to depict a state of mental disturbance or frenzy, which can be either literal or metaphorical. In the Berean Standard Bible, the usage of שָׁגַע is illustrated in passages where individuals are perceived as having lost their mental faculties or are acting in a way that defies normal understanding.

For example, in 1 Samuel 21:13, David feigns madness before Achish, the king of Gath, to avoid harm: "So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands, scribbling on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard." Here, the act of pretending to be insane is a strategic move by David, utilizing the perception of madness to ensure his safety.

The concept of madness in the Hebrew Bible can also be seen as a divine judgment or affliction, where God allows or causes individuals to experience a loss of sanity as a consequence of their actions or as a demonstration of His power. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God’s sovereignty over human affairs, including mental states.

Forms and Transliterations

הַמְשֻׁגָּ֥ע המשגע לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּ֖עַ להשתגע מְשֻׁגָּ֑ע מְשֻׁגָּ֖ע מְשֻׁגָּע֙ מְשֻׁגָּעִים֙ מִשְׁתַּגֵּ֔עַ משגע משגעים משתגע ham·šug·gā‘ hamshugGa hamšuggā‘ lə·hiš·tag·gê·a‘ lehishtagGea ləhištaggêa‘ mə·šug·gā‘ mə·šug·gā·‘îm meshugGa meshuggaIm məšuggā‘ məšuggā‘îm miš·tag·gê·a‘ mishtagGea mištaggêa‘

Englishman's Concordance

Deuteronomy 28:34
HEB: וְהָיִ֖יתָ מְשֻׁגָּ֑ע מִמַּרְאֵ֥ה עֵינֶ֖יךָ
NAS: You shall be driven mad by the sight
KJV: So that thou shalt be mad for the sight
INT: become shall be driven the sight eyes

1 Samuel 21:15
HEB: תִרְאוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִשְׁתַּגֵּ֔עַ לָ֛מָּה תָּבִ֥יאוּ
NAS: Do I lack madmen, that you have brought
KJV: Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought
INT: advise self he madmen that you have brought

1 Samuel 21:15
HEB: -16 חֲסַ֤ר מְשֻׁגָּעִים֙ אָ֔נִי כִּי־
NAS: one to act the madman
KJV: that ye have brought this [fellow] to play the mad man in my presence? shall this [fellow] come
INT: about lack to act I for

1 Samuel 21:15
HEB: אֶת־ זֶ֔ה לְהִשְׁתַּגֵּ֖עַ עָלָ֑י הֲזֶ֖ה
NAS: to act the madman in my presence?
INT: come this the madman and one

2 Kings 9:11
HEB: מַדּ֛וּעַ בָּֽא־ הַמְשֻׁגָּ֥ע הַזֶּ֖ה אֵלֶ֑יךָ
NAS: did this mad fellow come
KJV: wherefore came this mad [fellow] to thee? And he said
INT: how come mad this to you

Jeremiah 29:26
HEB: לְכָל־ אִ֥ישׁ מְשֻׁגָּ֖ע וּמִתְנַבֵּ֑א וְנָתַתָּ֥ה
NAS: over every madman who prophesies,
KJV: for every man [that is] mad, and maketh himself a prophet,
INT: every man madman prophesies to put

Hosea 9:7
HEB: אֱוִ֣יל הַנָּבִ֗יא מְשֻׁגָּע֙ אִ֣ישׁ הָר֔וּחַ
NAS: man is demented, Because
KJV: man [is] mad, for the multitude
INT: fool the prophet is demented man the inspired

7 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7696
7 Occurrences

ham·šug·gā‘ — 1 Occ.
lə·hiš·tag·gê·a‘ — 1 Occ.
mə·šug·gā‘ — 3 Occ.
mə·šug·gā·‘îm — 1 Occ.
miš·tag·gê·a‘ — 1 Occ.