Biblical Word for the Day: Shigionoth (שִׁגְיֹנוֹת)

I'm teaching on Habakkuk 3 at church this morning. Verse 1 reads

“A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. According to Shigionoth” (Hab 3:1, HCSB)

What does Shigionoth (שִׁגְיֹנוֹת) mean? Well, Shigionoth is the plural of the Hebrew Shiggaion (שִׁגָּיוֹן), and it refers to a musical term that relates to how a psalm should be performed. The same term shows up in Psalm 7, for instance.

However, in trying to find out exactly how the direction of Shigionoth/Shiggaion should be understood, I ran into not a whole lot of agreement. Here are just two examples from a number of descriptions I found when consulting various Bible dictionaries in Accordance:

SHIGGAION (Heb. šiggāyôn),

SHIGIONOTH (šig̱yōnôṯ)

A term appearing in the superscription of Ps. 7 and in a plural form at Hab. 3:1, which is the superscription of a psalm (vv. 2–19). The term may indicate that these are songs to be performed in a lament or dirge style (cf. Akk. šegu, “lament”) or that their structure and performance are varied from part to part (cf. Heb. šāg̱â, “wander”).

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible, s.v. “SHIGGAION SHIGIONOTH,” 1210.

SHIGGAION (Shı̆ gā′ ŏn) Transliteration of a Hebrew technical term used in psalm titles (Ps. 7; Hab. 3). Suggested translations include “frenzied” or “emotional.” Some think the basic meaning is “to wander” in reference to a wandering style of thought or melody or to the unconnected expressions of a lament.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, s.v. “SHIGGAION,” 1486.

Based on the context of Habakkuk, the element of lament or dirge suggested from the Eerdmans Dictionary seems to make more sense, which is how I'm teaching it this morning.