Lexical Summary Shage or Shageh: To err, to go astray, to wander Original Word: שָׁגֶא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shage Probably from shagah; erring; Shage, an Israelite -- Shage. see HEBREW shagah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shagah Definition father of one of David's heroes NASB Translation Shagee (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׁגֵה (שָׁגֵא van d. H.) proper name, masculine father of a hero of David 1 Chronicles 11:34. — B Σωλα, A Σαγη, ᵐ5L Σαμαια. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Shage (Strong’s Hebrew 7681, שָׁגֶא) appears once, in the catalog of David’s elite warriors: “... Jonathan son of Shage the Hararite” (1 Chronicles 11:34). The parallel roster in 2 Samuel 23 omits Shage’s name, showing that the Chronicler preserved a detail otherwise lost. Historical Setting The Chronicler compiled 1 Chronicles during or after the exile to remind the returning community of its covenant heritage. By naming Shage, the writer reinforces the continuity between the restored community and David’s united kingdom. Shage belonged to “the thirty,” a corps of seasoned fighters who risked their lives for David both before and after he became king (1 Chronicles 11:10–25). The title “Hararite” probably denotes origin in the hill country of Judah or Ephraim, indicating that David’s support base already spanned tribal boundaries—a foreshadowing of the future unity under the Messiah. Personal and Familial Significance Though Scripture records no exploits of Shage himself, the text highlights his son. Jonathan’s valor reflects on his father’s character and training, illustrating how faithfulness in one generation often bears fruit in the next (Psalm 78:5–7). Shage’s inclusion in the list testifies that God values not only public victories but also the silent forging of character and legacy. Theological Implications 1. Divine Memory: Even unnamed deeds are remembered in God’s record (Hebrews 6:10). Ministry Applications • Hidden Service: Shage encourages believers who labor without recognition. Their obedience may raise up “Jonathans” whose public ministry surpasses their own (3 John 4). Christological Reflection David’s mighty men prefigure the followers of the Son of David. Jesus gathers disciples from diverse backgrounds (“Hararites,” fishermen, tax collectors) and assigns each a place in His mission. The seemingly obscure disciple, like Shage, contributes to the advance of God’s kingdom, ultimately magnifying the true King (Luke 22:28–30; Revelation 19:14). Lessons for Today Shage’s solitary mention challenges contemporary believers to embrace quiet faithfulness, invest in others, and trust that God weaves every obedient life into His redemptive narrative. Forms and Transliterations שָׁגֵ֖ה שגה šā·ḡêh šāḡêh shaGehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 11:34 HEB: יוֹנָתָ֥ן בֶּן־ שָׁגֵ֖ה הַהֲרָרִֽי׃ ס NAS: the son of Shagee the Hararite, KJV: the son of Shage the Hararite, INT: Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite |