שֵׁאת
𐤔𐤀𐤕
shêʼth
H7612 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Elevation, swelling, rising ground (topographically); figuratively, dignity, majesty, or pride. While sometimes associated with devastated or desolate areas due to its context of raised or elevated landscape, its primary lexical meaning refers to something lifted or raised—be that land, status, or figurative pride. In poetic or prophetic contexts, can denote an elevated place, a swelling movement, or metaphorically, exaltation or arrogance.
Semantic Range
elevation, swelling, rising ground, eminence, dignity, majesty, pride, acceptance, exaltation
Root / Etymology
The word שֵׁאת derives from the root שָׂאָה (ś-ʼ-h), meaning 'to lift, raise, carry.' Though related forms reference acts of lifting or bearing, שֵׁאת is a nominal form denoting what is lifted or rises.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The interpretation of שֵׁאת has been varied historically, often due to its limited attestation in the Hebrew Bible (notably Gen 4:7 and Job 41:25 [MT 41:17]). Early translations and some lexicons (including Strong's) associated the word with devastation or desolation, likely under the influence of similar-sounding roots (שָׁאָה, 'to waste, devastate'), but this is linguistically distinct. In Genesis 4:7, the word is best rendered as 'lifting up' or 'elevation' (referring to acceptance or favor); in Job 41:25, it describes the majestic 'rising' or 'swelling' of Leviathan (possibly the creature's back). Over time, the semantic range developed abstract senses of dignity or pride tied to the idea of external elevation. Modern scholarship distinguishes between this root and the separate root שָׁאָה ('to destroy'), even though historical conflation existed, especially in translation traditions influenced by the Septuagint and Vulgate.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁאָה; devastation; desolation.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂאה (ś-ʾ-h) — to lift, raise, carry, bear
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7721 | שׂוֹא | in rising |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7612-01 |
הַ/שֵּׁ֥את | hashet | HTd/Ncfsa |
desolation | the elevation | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7612-01 |
Lamentations 3:47 | הַ/שֵּׁ֥את | hashet | HTd/Ncfsa |
desolation | the elevation |