סַד
𐤎𐤃
çad
H5465 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A device used to confine or restrain a person's feet, most often translated as 'stocks'—a wooden or metal apparatus with holes or fastenings for the feet, intended for punitive confinement or public humiliation. In biblical usage, it primarily refers to a punitive restraint for prisoners, typically securing the feet, but the precise construction may vary by context.
Semantic Range
physical device for restraining the feet; stocks; punitive restraint apparatus; means of immobilization
Root / Etymology
Derived from an otherwise unattested root, likely related to the concept of restraining or holding fast. The word itself is not clearly connected to other known Semitic roots, and the etymology remains uncertain beyond its apparent meaning of immobilization or restraint.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term סַד (sad) appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Jeremiah 20:2; 29:26), referring specifically to an instrument of physical restraint in prison settings, employed by authorities to inflict additional humiliation or discomfort on prisoners. Its use is limited to later monarchic and exilic contexts, where judicial or penal practices had adopted such implements. ‘Stocks’ as a translation is accurate in general sense but may not exactly correspond to the precise construction described by later English penal devices. The term is distinct from related words such as מַהְפֶּכֶת (mahpeket, H4115, 'stocks') and אֲזִקִּים (ʾaziqqim, 'shackles/fetters'), which cover broader or different forms of physical restraint. English translations may obscure the specific penal connotations or social context of the term, which in ancient Near Eastern settings was both punitive and stigmatizing, often used for prophets or political prisoners. No evidence points to broader metaphorical or ritual usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to estop; the stocks; stocks.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סד (s-d) — restraining, confining, immobilizing
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5465-01 |
בַּ/סַּ֨ד | basad | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the stocks | restraining-stock | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences