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שָׁוָה

𐤔𐤅𐤄

shâvâh

H7737 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To make equal, balance, or level; to resemble or be like (someone or something); to place, compose, or set in a particular arrangement. The term is used of making physical surfaces even, making something equivalent in value, adjusting or measuring up against something, and figuratively expressing likeness or comparison between persons or things. In some contexts, it can also carry the nuance of making profitable, suitable, or advantageous.

Semantic Range

to level a surface, to make equal or equivalent, to evaluate or judge equivalence, to resemble/be like, to compare, to counterbalance, to set or compose, to value or estimate worth, to profit/bring advantage

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁוה (sh-w-h), which fundamentally means 'to be level' or 'to be even.' The form שָׁוָה functions as both a Qal and Hiphil verb; its verbal meanings develop from the root’s sense of evenness or similarity into broader applications of balance, equivalence, comparison, and suitability.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁוָה occurs across various genres, from poetry and prophecy to wisdom literature. In physical contexts (Isa 40:4), it means to make level or even, such as 'level the rough ground.' More often, however, it is used metaphorically—such as with people being compared (Ps 89:7), or behaviors being weighed or judged as similar or suitable in wisdom literature (Eccl 2:17; 2:23). The verb also carries bookkeeping/mathematical connotations—reckoning value or profit (Job 30:19, 'it avails me nothing,' i.e., it brings no profit). In rabbinic and post-biblical Hebrew, the root develops further towards evaluation and equivalence. English translations often reduce the word to 'equal,' 'compare,' or 'value,' but its semantic field is broader. Contrast with דָּמָה (damah, 'to be like, resemble'), which overlaps in usage but can carry implications of likeness by appearance or nature rather than arrangement or value; שָׁוָה leans more towards making equivalent or leveling by an act of arranging, setting, or valuing. In later periods, the term came to be used in legal and liturgical writings for setting values and equations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to level, i.e. equalize; figuratively, to resemble; by implication, to adjust (i.e. counterbalance, be suitable, compose, place, yield, etc.); avail, behave, bring forth, compare, countervail, (be, make) equal, lay, be (make, a-) like, make plain, profit, reckon.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

שׁוה (Shaveh) — to be even, to level, to make equal, to resemble

Root שׁוה to be even, to level, to make equal, to resemble
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7738 שָׁוָה you will be devastated
H7740 שָׁוֵה in Shaveh Plain

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7737-06 שִׁוִּ֤יתִי shiviti HVpp1cs I have set I have made equal I have set 5
H7737-07 שֹׁוֶ֖ה shoveh HVqrmsa equal the one who makes equal profit 3
H7737-02 מְשַׁוֶּ֥ה meshaveh HVprmsa makes even the one who equalizes the one who makes even 2
H7737-13 יִֽשְׁווּ yishevu HVqi3mp can compare they will be equal can compare 2
H7737-01 אַשְׁוֶה asheveh HVhi1cs shall I liken I will make equal shall I make equal 1
H7737-03 נִשְׁתָּוָֽה nishetavah HVDp3fs are alike she made herself equal are alike 1
H7737-04 שָׁ֥וָה shavah HVqp3ms it profited she was equal it profited 1
H7737-05 שִׁוָּ֣ה shivah HVpp3ms he level he made equal he made level 1
H7737-08 תְּשַׁוֶּ֥ה teshaveh HVpi2ms you bestow you make equal you bestow 1
H7737-09 תִּשְׁוֶה tisheveh HVqi2ms you be like you will be equal you be equal 1

Occurrences in Scripture

21 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7737-02 2 Samuel 22:34 מְשַׁוֶּ֥ה meshaveh HVprmsa makes even the one who equalizes the one who makes even
H7737-05 Isaiah 28:25 שִׁוָּ֣ה shivah HVpp3ms he level he made equal he made level
H7737-06 Isaiah 38:13 שִׁוִּ֤יתִי shiviti HVpp1cs I made level I have made equal I have composited myself
H7737-10 Isaiah 40:25 וְ/אֶשְׁוֶ֑ה veesheveh HC/Vqi1cs or shall I be equal and I will make equal and I will be equal
H7737-11 Isaiah 46:5 וְ/תַשְׁו֑וּ vetashevu HC/Vhi2mp and make equal and you will make equal and will you make equal
H7737-12 Hosea 10:1 יְשַׁוֶּה yeshaveh HVpi3ms he brings forth he makes equal he produced
H7737-06 Psalms 16:8 שִׁוִּ֬יתִי shiviti HVpp1cs I have set I have made equal I have set
H7737-02 Psalms 18:34 מְשַׁוֶּ֣ה meshaveh HVprmsa makes even the one who equalizes the one who makes level
H7737-08 Psalms 21:6 תְּשַׁוֶּ֥ה teshaveh HVpi2ms you bestow you make equal you bestow
H7737-06 Psalms 89:20 שִׁוִּ֣יתִי shiviti HVpp1cs I have provided I have made equal I have set
H7737-06 Psalms 119:30 שִׁוִּֽיתִי shiviti HVpp1cs I have set I have made equal I have set
H7737-06 Psalms 131:2 שִׁוִּ֨יתִי shiviti HVpp1cs I have composed I have made equal I have set
H7737-13 Proverbs 3:15 יִֽשְׁווּ yishevu HVqi3mp compare they will be equal will equal
H7737-13 Proverbs 8:11 יִֽשְׁווּ yishevu HVqi3mp can compare they will be equal can compare
H7737-09 Proverbs 26:4 תִּשְׁוֶה tisheveh HVqi2ms you be like you will be equal you be equal
H7737-03 Proverbs 27:15 נִשְׁתָּוָֽה nishetavah HVDp3fs are alike she made herself equal are alike
H7737-04 Job 33:27 שָׁ֥וָה shavah HVqp3ms it profited she was equal it profited
H7737-01 Lamentations 2:13 אַשְׁוֶה asheveh HVhi1cs shall I liken I will make equal shall I make equal
H7737-07 Esther 3:8 שֹׁוֶ֖ה shoveh HVqrmsa profitable the one who makes equal profit
H7737-07 Esther 5:13 שֹׁוֶ֖ה shoveh HVqrmsa worth the one who makes equal worth
H7737-07 Esther 7:4 שֹׁוֶ֖ה shoveh HVqrmsa equal the one who makes equal who is equal
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