CategoryArchaic Word / Figurative Term
Modern Equivalentshaking; mocking gesture.
KJV Word TypeVerb / Gerund
DefinitionShaking or moving back and forth; in biblical usage, often a gesture of mockery, scorn, or derision.
Key Verses"They that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads." (Matthew 27:39)
KJV Usage NoteOften describes outward mocking behavior, especially when paired with the head.
Common MisunderstandingIt is not limited to animals wagging tails; in KJV contexts it may describe scornful human gestures.
EtymologyFrom Middle English waggen, meaning "to move back and forth."