Original Word: שָׂגַב
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sagab
Pronunciation: sah-GAHB
Phonetic Spelling: (saw-gab')
KJV: defend, exalt, be excellent, (be, set on) high, lofty, be safe, set up (on high), be too strong
NASB: exalted, high, set me securely on high, lifted, raises, safe, securely on high
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to be lofty, especially inaccessible
2. (causatively) to make lofty
3. (by implication), safe, strong
{literally and figuratively}

defend, exalt, be excellent, be, set on high, lofty, be safe, set up on high,

A primitive root; to be (causatively, make) lofty, especially inaccessible; by implication, safe, strong; used literally and figuratively --defend, exalt, be excellent, (be, set on) high, lofty, be safe, set up (on high), be too strong.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be (inaccessibly) high
NASB Translation
exalted (7), high (4), lifted (1), raises (1), safe (1), securely on high (1), set him securely on high (1), set me securely on high (2), set you securely on high (1), sets the securely (1), unassailable (1).

[שָׂגַב] verb be (inaccessibly) high (compare ᵑ7 שְׂגַב Pa`el [from Hebrew] exalt); — Qal Perfect

13feminine singular שָֽׂגְבָה Deuteronomy 2:36, of city, with מִן, be (too) high for capture.

23masculine plural שָֽׂגְבוּ Job 5:11 of person, be high in prosperity.

Niph`al Perfect3masculine singular נִשְׂגַּב Isaiah 2:11,17; נִשְׂגָָּֽכProverbs 18:10; 3 feminine singular נִשְׂגְּבָה Psalm 139:6 Participle נִשְׂגָּב Isaiah 12:4 +; feminine singular נִשְׂגָּבָה Isaiah 26:5 +; —

1 be high, walls Isaiah 30:13; Proverbs 18:11; city Isaiah 26:5; God's knowledge Psalm 139:6 (unattainable).

2 be (safely) set on high, Proverbs 18:10.

3 be exalted, of God Isaiah 2:11,17; Isaiah 33:5; his name Isaiah 12:4; Psalm 148:13.

Pi`el Imperfect3masculine singular יְשַׂגֵּב Isaiah 9:10; Psalm 107:41; suffix יְשַׂגֶּבְךָ Psalm 20:2, etc.; — transitive with accusative:

1 set (securely) on high, Psalm 20:2; Psalm 69:30; Psalm 91:14; c, מִן, of foe Psalm 59:2, affliction Psalm 107:41.

2 exalt, in effective hostility, with עַל, Isaiah 9:10.

Pu`al Imperfect3masculine singular יְשֻׂגָ֑ב Proverbs 29:25 be set (securely) on high.

Hiph`il Imperfect3masculine singular יַשְׂגִּיב Job 36:22 God acts exaltedly בְּכֹחוֺ.

Concept and Imagery

The verb שָׂגַב portrays height that is inaccessible to an enemy. It conveys two intertwined ideas: (1) to set or be set securely on high, and (2) to be exalted, lifted above ordinary reach. Throughout Scripture the word therefore moves easily between the literal (a city too high to capture, Deuteronomy 2:36) and the metaphorical (divine protection, Psalm 20:1).

God as Protective Stronghold

Several psalms apply שָׂגַב to the LORD’s saving activity:
• “May the name of the God of Jacob protect you” (Psalm 20:1).
• “Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise against me” (Psalm 59:1).
• “Because he loves Me, I will deliver him; because he knows My name, I will protect him” (Psalm 91:14).

Here the verb heightens the covenant promise that those who trust Yahweh are lifted beyond danger. The protection is not merely future; it is experienced in present trouble as a spiritual elevation above hostile forces.

The Name of the LORD as Elevated Refuge

Wisdom literature tightens the link between elevation and the divine name:
• “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10).

The tower image underlines permanence; running to the name points to personal faith. A verse later, Proverbs contrasts the vain “high wall” imagined by wealth (18:11), warning that substitutes for the true refuge will collapse (cf. Isaiah 30:13).

Reversal of Human Circumstances

Job highlights God’s elevating concern for the downtrodden:
• “He sets the lowly on high, so that mourners are lifted to safety” (Job 5:11).

Psalm 107:41 echoes the same reversal: “But He lifts the needy from affliction.” Divine elevation always carries ethical weight; God opposes pride yet raises the humble.

Humbling the Proud and Exalting the LORD

Isaiah uses שָׂגַב both for the LORD’s unique exaltation and for the collapse of human arrogance:
• “The proud look of man will be humbled… the LORD alone will be exalted on that day” (Isaiah 2:11, cf. 2:17).
• “The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness” (Isaiah 33:5).

The same verb thus warns nations and individuals: loftiness that is self-sought invites judgment (Isaiah 26:5; 9:11), while loftiness bestowed by God signals His glory and the security of His people.

Cognitive Wonder and Worship

Psalm 139:6 applies the term to knowledge: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” Here the unattainable height throws the worshiper into awe. Psalm 148:13 calls all creation to praise because “His name alone is exalted,” making divine elevation a summons to universal worship.

Historical Notes

In Deuteronomy 2:36 Israel testifies that “not one city was too high for us,” crediting victory to the LORD. The conquest narrative grounds later metaphors: the God who grants physical capture of high fortresses can spiritually lift or protect His people. Isaiah’s references likely arose during Assyrian threat; proclaiming the LORD “exalted” encouraged Judah to rely on Him rather than on political alliances.

Theological Significance

1. Sovereign Security: שָׂגַב underlines that ultimate safety is positional—being placed by God where evil cannot reach.
2. Exclusivity of Divine Elevation: every occurrence that exalts humans does so by divine agency; self-exaltation meets divine opposition.
3. Union of Protection and Praise: the same verb links sanctuary and doxology, showing that the God who elevates is also worthy of elevation in worship.

Ministry Application

• Pastoral Care: direct the fearful to the “strong tower” of the LORD’s name; security is found in covenant relationship, not circumstance.
• Preaching Against Pride: Isaiah’s usage warns congregations that any self-made high ground will be levelled; only Christ-grounded exaltation endures.
• Discipleship: cultivate the humility that God promises to lift (Job 5:11; Psalm 107:41; 1 Peter 5:6).

Eschatological Overtones

Isaiah 2 anticipates “that day” when the LORD alone is exalted, echoing later apocalyptic hopes (Revelation 19:16). The final safety of the redeemed—“hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3)—fulfills the protective height implicit in שָׂגַב.

Intertextual Echoes in the New Testament

Though the Hebrew term itself does not occur, its themes surface:
• “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12) mirrors Job 5:11.
• “The name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9) reflects Psalm 148:13 and Isaiah 12:4.
• Believers are “raised up with Him and seated… in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 2:6), the ultimate realization of being set “on high.”

Summary

שָׂגַב weaves through Scripture as a thread of secure elevation—God lifts, shields, and alone is lofty. It rebukes pride, comforts the lowly, and summons all creation to exalt the incomparable name of the LORD.

אֲ֝שַׂגְּבֵ֗הוּ אשגבהו וְנִשְׂגַּ֧ב וְנִשְׂגָּֽב׃ וַיְשַׂגֵּ֣ב וַיְשַׂגֵּ֧ב וישגב ונשגב ונשגב׃ יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְךָ֗ יְשֻׂגָּֽב׃ יַשְׂגִּ֣יב ישגב׃ ישגבך ישגיב נִ֝שְׂגְּבָ֗ה נִ֝שְׂגָּבָ֗ה נִשְׂגָּ֖ב נִשְׂגָּ֣ב נִשְׂגָּבָ֑ה נשגב נשגבה שָׂ֣גְבוּ שָׂגְבָ֖ה שגבה שגבו תְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי׃ תשגבני׃ ’ă·śag·gə·ḇê·hū ’ăśaggəḇêhū asaggeVehu niś·gā·ḇāh niś·gāḇ niś·gə·ḇāh niśgāḇ niśgāḇāh nisGav nisgaVah niśgəḇāh nisgeVah śā·ḡə·ḇāh śā·ḡə·ḇū śāḡəḇāh śāḡəḇū sageVah Sagevu tə·śag·gə·ḇê·nî təśaggəḇênî tesaggeVeni vaysagGev venisGav way·śag·gêḇ wayśaggêḇ wə·niś·gaḇ wə·niś·gāḇ wəniśgaḇ wəniśgāḇ yaś·gîḇ yaśgîḇ yasGiv yə·śag·geḇ·ḵā yə·śug·gāḇ yəśaggeḇḵā yesaggevcha yəśuggāḇ yesugGavInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts