שֶׁטֶף
𐤔𐤈𐤐
sheṭeph
H7858 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A sweeping flood or deluge; literal inundation by water, as well as figurative use for an overwhelming, destructive force (especially of enemies, disasters, or judgments). Denotes a sudden, forceful overflow or inundation, both in physical and metaphorical senses.
Semantic Range
flood, deluge, inundation, torrent, overwhelming force (of water or enemies), destruction, devastation, catastrophe
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שָׁטַף (to overflow, inundate, sweep away), sheṭeph is a noun form denoting that which is swept away or that which overflows—thus, a flood or deluge. The root refers to the action of pouring over or sweeping along, and the noun encapsulates the result or occurrence of such action.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שֶׁטֶף occurs rarely in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Daniel 11:22, Isaiah 28:2, 28:15), always in contexts highlighting overwhelming destructive force—most often catastrophic waters or, in metaphor, invading armies or calamities that overwhelm a nation or people. Distinct from מַבּוּל (mabbul, the worldwide flood of Genesis), שֶׁטֶף refers to any overpowering torrent or deluge, not limited to a global event. Its figurative use, especially in exilic and post-exilic texts, aligns physical inundation with the incursion or destruction wrought by foreign powers, thus broadening its semantic scope to any overwhelming judgment or disaster. Later translation traditions sometimes render it as 'flood,' but also as 'overflow' or 'destruction,' and English versions may obscure its figurative breadth. The term highlights not regular seasonal flooding but rather an exceptional, destructive cascade.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or שֵׁטֶף; from שָׁטַף; a deluge (literally or figuratively); flood, outrageous, overflowing.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שטף (š-ṭ-p) — to overflow, to sweep away, to inundate
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7858-02 |
לַ/שֶּׁ֣טֶף | lashetef | HRd/Ncmsa |
for the torrents | to the sweeping flood | 1 |
H7858-01 |
הַ/שֶּׁ֛טֶף | hashetef | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the flood | the sweeping flood | 1 |
H7858-03 |
לְ֭/שֵׁטֶף | leshetef | HR/Ncmsc |
for flood | for a sweeping flood of | 1 |
H7858-05 |
בַ/שֶּׁ֔טֶף | vashetef | HRd/Ncmsa |
with a flood | in the sweeping deluge | 1 |
H7858-04 |
וּ/בְ/שֶׁ֣טֶף | uveshetef | HC/R/Ncmsa |
but with an overflowing flood | and with a sweeping flood | 1 |
H7858-06 |
וְ/שֶׁ֣טֶף | veshetef | HC/Ncmsc |
is a flood | sweeping flood-of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7858-04 |
Nahum 1:8 | וּ/בְ/שֶׁ֣טֶף | uveshetef | HC/R/Ncmsa |
but with an overflowing flood | and with a sweeping flood |
H7858-03 |
Psalms 32:6 | לְ֭/שֵׁטֶף | leshetef | HR/Ncmsc |
for flood | for a sweeping flood of |
H7858-06 |
Proverbs 27:4 | וְ/שֶׁ֣טֶף | veshetef | HC/Ncmsc |
is a flood | sweeping flood-of |
H7858-02 |
Job 38:25 | לַ/שֶּׁ֣טֶף | lashetef | HRd/Ncmsa |
for the torrents | to the sweeping flood |
H7858-05 |
Daniel 9:26 | בַ/שֶּׁ֔טֶף | vashetef | HRd/Ncmsa |
with a flood | in the sweeping deluge |
H7858-01 |
Daniel 11:22 | הַ/שֶּׁ֛טֶף | hashetef | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the flood | the sweeping flood |