Shiggaion
Who they were
Shiggaion is a musical term that appears in the title of Psalm 7, which reads, "A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite." The exact meaning of Shiggaion is uncertain, as it is not used elsewhere in the Bible and its etymology is unclear.
Some scholars suggest that Shiggaion may refer to a specific style or genre of music, possibly related to lamentation or a highly emotional and energetic form of expression. Others propose that it could indicate a particular type of musical accompaniment or instrumentation.
The context of Psalm 7 provides some insight into the possible meaning of Shiggaion. In this psalm, David passionately pleads for God's protection and justice against the accusations and attacks of his enemies. The psalm is characterized by strong emotions, vivid imagery, and a sense of urgency. Therefore, Shiggaion may denote a musical style that complements and enhances the intense and fervent nature of the psalm's content.
However, due to the limited information available, the precise meaning and application of Shiggaion in biblical music remain uncertain.
Every mention
Psalms 1 mention
What the dictionary says
From the verb shagah, “to reel about through drink,” occurs in the title of Ps. 7. The plural form, shigionoth, is found in Hab. 3:1.
Sources
- STEPBible TIPNR · Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References · CC BY 4.0 · github.com/STEPBible/STEPBible-Data
- Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (1869) · Public domain