Word Study for H7679 (שָׂגָא)

sâgâʼ /saw-gaw'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto grow, i.e. (causatively) to enlarge, (figuratively) laud

KJV usageincrease, magnify.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of sâgâʼ — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word śāgâʼ, represented by H7679, is a primitive root meaning to grow, enlarge, or figuratively, to laud or magnify. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. The term's meaning centers on the concept of enlargement, whether describing God's physical expansion of nations or humanity's figurative exaltation of His work.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two appearances of H7679 highlight its distinct applications. In Job 12:23, it describes God's sovereign power over world affairs: "He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them." Here, the word refers to the literal growth of a people, demonstrating divine control over history. In contrast, Job 36:24 shifts the focus to a human act of worship, stating, "Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold." In this verse, the word is used figuratively to mean exalting or praising God's deeds.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide deeper context for the actions and objects associated with H7679:

H6467 pôʻal (an act or work): This is the object that is to be magnified in Job 36:24. God's work is presented as something to be recognized and praised, as it is perfect and a source of gladness Deuteronomy 32:4.
H2142 zâkar (to mark, to remember): This action directly precedes the command to "magnify" God's work, showing that remembrance is a catalyst for praise Job 36:24. Scripture frequently calls on people to remember God, His name, and His covenant Psalms 20:7.
H5148 nâchâh (to guide; straiten): This term is used in direct contrast to God's power to increase nations, as He also has the power to straiten them, showing the full scope of His authority Job 12:23. On a personal level, the same root is used for God's gentle guidance Psalms 23:3.
H7849 shâṭach (to expand; enlarge): Used in parallel with H7679, this word reinforces the theme of God's power to enlarge the nations according to His will Job 12:23.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7679 is demonstrated in its dual application:

Sovereignty over Nations: The use in Job 12:23 underscores God's absolute control over the destiny of peoples. The act of "increasing" them is not random but a direct and deliberate exercise of His divine will.
Praise as a Human Duty: In Job 36:24, the word defines a key aspect of worship. To magnify God's work is to verbally and mentally exalt its greatness, fulfilling a fundamental human responsibility to give God glory for what He has done.
Connecting Divine Action and Human Response: The two occurrences of H7679 are theologically linked. The same divine power that increaseth the nations is the very work that humanity is commanded to magnify. God's actions in the world are the direct cause and substance of our praise.

Summary

In summary, H7679 is a powerful term that, despite its rare use, connects divine sovereignty with human worship. It encapsulates both God's authority to increase and enlarge on a global scale and our corresponding duty to magnify His work in praise. The word śāgâʼ teaches that observing God's power in action should naturally lead to an outpouring of adoration.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

תַשְׂגִּיא
מַשְׂגִּיא

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

2 verses, all in Job — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.