English · KJV
H7694

שֵׁגָל

shêgâl /shay-gawl'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom שָׁגַל
Meaninga queen (from cohabitation)
KJV usagequeen.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shêgâl — 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 shêgâl, represented by H7694, refers to a queen. It appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. The definition, "a queen (from cohabitation)," suggests a specific role as a royal consort, emphasizing her relationship with the king.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two appearances of H7694 illustrate the queen's position in both ceremonial and practical contexts. In Psalms 45:9, the queen is depicted in a majestic setting, standing at the king's right hand in opulent attire, highlighting her honored status. In a more narrative account, Nehemiah 2:6 mentions the queen "sitting by" the king during a significant royal decision, indicating her proximity to power and influence in the court.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the role and context of the shêgâl:

  • H4428 melek (a king): This term is inseparable from H7694, as the queen's identity is defined by her relationship to the king. In both occurrences, she is presented alongside a king Nehemiah 2:6.
  • H1323 bath (a daughter): This word for daughter provides a point of comparison. The queen in Psalms 45:9 is mentioned distinctly from the "Kings' daughters," setting her apart with a unique and elevated status.
  • H3368 yâqâr (valuable... honourable women, precious): This adjective describes the company the queen keeps. She is placed "among thy honourable women," reinforcing her high standing and value within the royal court Psalms 45:9.
  • H681 ʼêtsel (near; by): This preposition of proximity physically places the queen "by" the king, signifying her close and intimate position within the seat of power Nehemiah 2:6.

Theological Significance

While rare, the use of H7694 carries significant weight regarding royal structure and status.

  • Proximity to Power: The queen is not a distant figure but one who is physically near the king. Her position "sitting by him" Nehemiah 2:6 implies a role of companionship and potential influence in royal affairs.
  • Supreme Honor: The depiction of the queen at the king's right hand is a position of supreme honor and prestige, further emphasized by her placement among "honourable women" Psalms 45:9.
  • Symbol of Royal Splendor: Adorned "in gold of Ophir" Psalms 45:9, the queen is a visible symbol of the kingdom's wealth and the majesty of the king she accompanies.

Summary

In summary, H7694 shêgâl is a specific and focused term for a queen, particularly a royal consort. Though used infrequently, its context in scripture paints a picture of a figure of great honor, influence, and splendor, defined entirely by her close relationship to the king. The word provides a glimpse into the personal and political dynamics of the royal court.

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 noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 1 grammatical form — 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.

  • שֵׁגַל

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.

H4428 מֶלֶךְ from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. H1323 בַּת from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and H3368 יָקָר from יָקַר; valuable (objectively or subjectively); brightness, clear, costly, excellent, fat, honourable women, preciou H681 אֵצֶל from אָצַל (in the sense of joining); a side; (as a preposition) near; at, (hard) by, (from) (beside), near (unto), towa

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Nehemiah and Psalms (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
Nehemiah
1
Psalms

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.