שֵׁד
𐤔𐤃
shêd
H7700 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A supernatural being regarded as malignant or harmful in biblical and extra-biblical Hebrew texts. In the Hebrew Bible, the term designates a type of hostile spirit or demon, understood as existing apart from the world of human beings and the divine, often associated with foreign worship or feared as destructive agents. The semantic range includes 'demon, evil spirit, (foreign) supernatural being.'
Semantic Range
demon, evil spirit, supernatural being (malevolent), foreign god (in polemical contexts)
Root / Etymology
The word שֵׁד is often linked to the root שׁוּד (to act violently, devastate, lay waste), based on phonetic similarity; however, this connection is not entirely secure and is debated among scholars. The term appears to be borrowed or influenced by cognate terms in Akkadian (šēdu, a type of protective or harmful spirit, depending on context), suggesting ancient Near Eastern background. Actual attestation of a productive Hebrew root for this meaning is not found outside these related forms.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שֵׁד appears only twice (Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalm 106:37), both times referring to foreign deities or supernatural beings to whom the Israelites were warned not to offer sacrifices. These occurrences do not present detailed mythology, but the context marks them as dangerous or malignant powers. There is no evidence in the biblical corpus for a systematic demonology akin to later Jewish, Christian, or Near Eastern traditions; instead, the term functions as a polemical label for entities associated with non-Yahwistic worship. Unlike the later English term 'devil' or 'demon,' which can take on specific theological connotations, שֵׁד in the Hebrew Bible is not personified as a chief adversary or cosmic force. In later rabbinic and magical literature, שֵׁדִים become a frequent subject of lore, but this development reflects a later religious context. Standard English translations often use 'demons' or 'devils,' but these choices may not fully convey the term's ancient Israelite nuance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שׁוּד; a doemon (as malignant); devil.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שוד (sh-w-d) — to deal violently, devastate, lay waste
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7701 | שֹׁד | to devastation |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7700-01 |
לַ/שֵּׁדִים֙ | lashedim | HRd/Ncmpa |
to demons | to the devastating spirits | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7700-01 |
Deuteronomy 32:17 | לַ/שֵּׁדִים֙ | lashedim | HRd/Ncmpa |
to demons | to the devastating spirits |
H7700-01 |
Psalms 106:37 | לַ/שֵּֽׁדִים | lashedim | HRd/Ncmpa |
to the demons | to the devastating spirits |