English · KJV
H7688

שָׁגַח

shâgach /shaw-gakh'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto peep, i.e. glance sharply at
KJV usagelook (narrowly).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shâgach — 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 shâgach, represented by H7688, is a primitive root defined as to peep, i.e. glance sharply at; look (narrowly). It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, consistently conveying an action of intense, focused observation rather than a general or passive glance.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H7688 describes different forms of sharp observation. In the context of divine oversight, God "looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth" from his dwelling place Psalms 33:14. It is also used to describe human scrutiny, where onlookers will "narrowly look" upon a fallen king and "consider" him Isaiah 14:16. The word also appears in a more intimate setting, where a beloved "looketh forth at the windows" in anticipation Song of Solomon 2:9.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the specific meaning of H7688:

  • H7200 râʼâh: This is a broader term meaning to see, literally or figuratively. It often appears in conjunction with more specific verbs. For instance, in Isaiah 14:16, those who first "see" (râʼâh) the fallen king then proceed to "narrowly look" (shâgach) upon him.
  • H995 bîyn: This word means to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand. It is frequently paired with acts of seeing to signify a deeper perception. The act of narrowly looking in Isaiah 14:16 leads directly to considering or understanding the situation.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H7688 lies in its portrayal of a specific kind of focused sight.

  • Divine Scrutiny: The use of the word in Psalms 33:14 implies that God's observation of the earth is not passive but a sharp, penetrating gaze from His place of habitation.
  • Intense Human Consideration: In Isaiah 14:16, the act of looking "narrowly" is linked to the act of considering, showing that this gaze is one of deep analysis and contemplation, often in response to a significant event.
  • Anticipatory Peeping: The context of Song of Solomon 2:9 uses the word to describe the lover who "looketh forth at the windows," highlighting a glance that is sharp, quick, and filled with personal intent.

Summary

In summary, H7688 is a highly specific verb that moves beyond the general act of seeing. It consistently signifies a focused, sharp, and narrow look. Whether describing God's watchfulness over the earth, humanity's scrutiny of a fallen power, or the eager glance of a lover, shâgach emphasizes the intensity and purpose behind the act of looking.

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 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • יַשְׁגִּיחוּ
  • מַשְׁגִּיחַ
  • הִשְׁגִּיחַ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7200 רָאָה a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransit H995 בִּין a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand; attend, consider, be cunning, dilig

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

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms, Song of Solomon, and Isaiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1
Psalms
1
Song of Solomon
1
Isaiah

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.