[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 Isaiah 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 Ezekiel 23:6 14t.; suffix סְגָנֶיהָ Jeremiah 51:57 + Jeremiah 51:58 (where read probably סְגָנָיו ᵐ5 Gie); —

1 prefects of Assyr. and Babylonian Ezekiel 23:6,12,23; Jeremiah 51:23,57 (all + מַּחוֺת), Isaiah 41:25, of king of Medes Jeremiah 51:28 (+ מַּחוֺת).

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