Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "wag" is often associated with gestures of scorn, derision, or mockery. The act of wagging, particularly in the context of wagging the head, is a physical expression of contempt or ridicule. This gesture is mentioned in several passages throughout the Bible, illustrating the disdain or disbelief of onlookers in various narratives.
Old Testament ReferencesOne of the most notable instances of head-wagging occurs in the Psalms, where it is used to describe the mockery faced by the righteous sufferer. In
Psalm 22:7, a messianic psalm that Christians traditionally associate with the suffering of Jesus Christ, the psalmist laments, "All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads." This verse captures the scorn directed at the psalmist, which is later echoed in the New Testament during the crucifixion of Jesus.
Another Old Testament reference is found in
2 Kings 19:21 and its parallel in
Isaiah 37:22, where the prophet Isaiah speaks against the Assyrian king Sennacherib. The text describes the daughter of Zion as despising and mocking the Assyrian king, "shaking her head behind you." This imagery conveys the confidence and defiance of Jerusalem in the face of its enemies, assured of God's deliverance.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the act of wagging the head is explicitly mentioned during the crucifixion of Jesus. In
Matthew 27:39, it is recorded, "And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads." This gesture by the passersby signifies their disbelief and mockery of Jesus' claim to be the Son of God and the King of the Jews. The act of wagging the head here fulfills the prophecy found in
Psalm 22, linking the Old Testament anticipation of the Messiah's suffering with its New Testament realization.
Cultural and Theological SignificanceThe gesture of wagging the head in biblical times was a powerful non-verbal expression of scorn and derision. It was a public display of contempt, often used to humiliate or belittle someone perceived as defeated or disgraced. In the biblical context, it underscores the theme of righteous suffering and the mockery faced by God's chosen servants.
From a theological perspective, the instances of head-wagging in the Bible highlight the rejection and misunderstanding of God's messengers by the world. For Christians, the fulfillment of these gestures in the life of Jesus Christ serves as a poignant reminder of His suffering and the scorn He endured for the sake of humanity's redemption. The mockery He faced, as prophesied in the Psalms, is seen as part of the divine plan for salvation, demonstrating the depth of His sacrifice and the fulfillment of Scripture.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To move one way and the other with quick turns; to shake to and fro; to move vibratingly; to cause to vibrate, as a part of the body; as, to wag the head.
2. (v. i.) To move one way and the other; to be shaken to and fro; to vibrate.
3. (v. i.) To be in action or motion; to move; to get along; to progress; to stir.
4. (v. i.) To go; to depart; to pack oft.
5. (n.) The act of wagging; a shake; as, a wag of the head.
6. (n.) A man full of sport and humor; a ludicrous fellow; a humorist; a wit; a joker.
Greek
4525. saino -- towag the tail, hence to greet, flatter, disturb... to
wag the tail, hence to greet, flatter, disturb. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
saino Phonetic Spelling: (sah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I move, disturb
...Strong's Hebrew
5128. nua -- to quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter... shaken (4), shook (1), stagger (3), staggered (1), swing to and fro (1), to and
fro (1), tremble (1), trembled (2), unstable (1), vagrant (2),
wag (2), wander
...2179. zinneb -- to cut off or smite the tail
... curtail, smite the hindmost. A primitive root meaning towag; used only as a
denominative from zanab; to curtail, ie Cut off the rear -- smite the hindmost....
3960. lashan -- to use the tongue, slander
... accuse, slander. A primitive root; properly, to lick; but used only as a denominative
from lashown; towag the tongue, ie To calumniate -- accuse, slander....
Library
Theory of Book I.
... that man and no other, whatever be the consequence in the way of offending
well-to-do supporters whose dream it has been that son of theirs shall "wag his...
Through-The-Week Activities for Boys' Organized Classes
... GAMES. Observation, Agility, Strength, Fun"Indoor and Outdoor Quoits. SIGNALING.
Semaphore WigWag Heliograph Wireless. WOODCRAFT....
"Two Missing" --"Go Ye. "
... And yet she seemed to give a bit of awag to her tired tail as though she would
say, "There it is"I've done as you bade me"it's back."....
"Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing. "
... goo yun. 2 Ke ke noo uh muh we shin suh Man wawag nuh guh moo win: Mah
noo nin guh wee jee we goon Ewh ke sah ge e wa win. 3 Wa...
"Children of the Heavenly King. "
... Ba mah je' wa. 2 Ke sha Muh ne doo uh yaud Ke de zhaum we wee jewag; Me
e we de koo se waug Noon goom moo je ge ze waud. 3 O pah...
I Will Run in My Affections, to Him who Heals Freely
... 8. Restrain him that he come not, andwag at me his head, and stamp on me his heel,
and rejoice that the voice of his fame, thus troubles the world; and be...
The Duty of Every Day
... because it began to calculate how many thousands of seconds there are in the year,
and that twice that number of times it would have towag backwards and...
Wesley Likes a Soft Cushion
... Come; we are all attention." After repeating this twice or thrice, thewag could
not stand it; but, with two or three curses, walked clear off....
An Hymn of Heavenly Love
... Are now contain'd, found any being-place,. Ere flitting Time couldwag his
eyas [17] wings. About that mighty bound which doth embrace....
Was Christ's a Real Death?
... reappearance to be true, ever reported that he had been revived from a merely apparent
death: on the contrary, the truth of those accountswag the object of...
Thesaurus
Wag (7 Occurrences)... vt) To move one way and the other with quick turns; to shake to and fro; to move
vibratingly; to cause to vibrate, as a part of the body; as, to
wag the head.
...Wage (39 Occurrences)
Walk (315 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To be in motion; to act; to move; towag. 5. (vi) To behave; to pursue a
course of life; to conduct one's self. 6. (vi) To move off; to depart....
Wagon (3 Occurrences)
... suburbs. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. WAGON, WAGGON.wag'-un. See CART.
Multi-Version Concordance Wagon (3 Occurrences). Numbers...
Waggon (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia WAGON, WAGGON.wag'-un. See CART.
Multi-Version Concordance Waggon (1 Occurrence). Numbers 7:3 and...
Wafted (1 Occurrence)
Derision (24 Occurrences)
... They hiss andwag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city
that men called The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?...
Mincing (1 Occurrence)
... Luther renders the word by "wag" or "waggle," thus representing "the affected
gait of coquettish females.". Noah Webster's Dictionary....
Clap (11 Occurrences)
... They hiss andwag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city
that men called The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?...
Scoff (18 Occurrences)
... They hiss andwag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city
that men called The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?...
Resources
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