שָׁבָץ
𐤔𐤁𐤑
shâbâts
H7661 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State of confusion, turmoil, or distress resulting from being entangled or ensnared—primarily figurative for mental or emotional hardship characterized by perplexity or anguish. The word is rare, occurring in poetic and prophetic texts, and conveys the sense of being caught in a web of difficulty or distress, especially psychological or existential.
Semantic Range
entanglement (literal); perplexity, mental confusion, turmoil, anguish, distress (figurative)
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁבַץ (sh-b-ts), which primarily means 'to weave, plot, interweave, or interlace.' The nominal form שָׁבָץ takes on the meaning of an 'entanglement' or 'something intricately woven,' which by extension came to signify the figurative sense of perplexity or distress resulting from being ensnared in life's complications.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term שָׁבָץ is rare in biblical usage, found primarily in poetic and prophetic literature such as Isaiah. Its use is metaphorical, depicting complex mental or emotional distress, particularly the experience of being unable to find a way out of a difficult situation—hence 'perplexity' or 'anguish.' Standard English translations typically render it as 'anguish' or 'perplexity,' but these do not fully capture the image of intricate entanglement inherent in the root meaning (woven or interlaced). The word is thematically related to the root עבט (to entwine or wrap up), but שָׁבָץ more directly evokes the sense of internal, psychological complexity or confusion. Its use is limited to contexts describing profound inner distress, especially in times of national or personal crisis.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁבַץ; entanglement, i.e. (figuratively) perplexity; anguish.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שבץ (sh-b-ts) — to weave, interlace, embroider, be intricate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4865 | מִשְׁבְּצָה | filigree gem-settings of |
| H7636 | שָׁבִיס | the interwoven hair-nets |
| H7660 | שָׁבַץ | inlaid ones |
| H8665 | תַּשְׁבֵּץ | interwoven patterned fabric |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7661-01 |
הַ/שָּׁבָ֑ץ | hashavats | HTd/Ncmsa |
the anguish | the entanglement | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7661-01 |
2 Samuel 1:9 | הַ/שָּׁבָ֑ץ | hashavats | HTd/Ncmsa |
the anguish | the entanglement |