Lexical Definition

‎סָגָן‎ çâgân (saw-gawn') ruler ^H:N-M
from an unused root meaning to superintend

prince, ruler.

• a prefect of a province

1) ruler, prefect, governor, a subordinate ruler
1a) prefects (of Assyria and Babylon)
1b) petty rulers or officials

See Greek: ἄρχων · βασιλεύς · ἡγέομαι · στρατηγός · στρατηγός

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: se.gan (‎ס‎ְ‎ג‎ַ‎ן‎ "prefect" סְגַן)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[‎סָגָן‎, ‎סֶ֫גֶן‎] noun masculine prefect, ruler (loan-word from Assyrian šaknu, prefect of conquered city or province (√ šakânu, set, appoint Dl^{HWB 659}, compare Schr^{COT Isa 41:25}; apparently = Late Hebrew ‎סָגָן‎, ‎סֶגֶן‎, Aramaic ‎סִגְנָא‎ a superior (not high) priest; Mandean ‎אשגאנדא‎ WBrandt^{Mand. Schriften 169} a candidate for priesthood; compare Jen in Brandt^ib.; hence perhaps Greek ζωγάνης, compare Lewy^{Fremdw. 129}); — only plural ‎סְגָנִים‎ Ezek 23:6 + 14 t.; suffix ‎סְגָנֶיהָ‎ Jer 51:57 + vJer 51:58 (where read probably ‎סְגָנָיו‎ ᵐ5 Gie); —

1. prefects of Assyr. and Babylonian Ezek 23:6; Ezek 23:12; Ezek 23:23; Jer 51:23; Jer 51:57 (all + ‎פַּחוֺת‎), Isa 41:25, of king of Medes Jer 51:28 (+ ‎פַּחוֺת‎).

2. petty rulers, officials of Judah (only Nehemiah Ezra in sources): distinguished from ‎חֹרִים‎ nobles Neh 2:16; Neh 4:8*; Neh 4:13*; Neh 5:7; Neh 7:5 alone, Neh 2:16; Neh 12:40; Neh 13:11 + ‎יְהוּדִים‎ Neh 5:17 (see also Neh 2:16); + ‎שָׂרִים‎ Ezra 9:2. compare Biblical Aramaic ‎סְגַן‎.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References