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שָׁדַף

𐤔𐤃𐤐

shâdaph

H7710 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׁ־ד־ף to scorch, to blast, to strike with parching or withering force

Definition

To strike or burn with intense heat or wind, resulting in withering, scorching, or blighting of plants or crops. In context, most often refers to the destructive effect of parching winds or extreme heat that damages vegetation. Occasionally used metaphorically for being destroyed, ruined, or devastated.

Semantic Range

to scorch, to blast (by wind or heat), to blight, to wither (of plants), to be destroyed or devastated by parching, to be struck and ruined (especially by natural forces)

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁ־ד־ף (sh-d-ph). The verb form means 'to scorch' or 'to blast,' generally by wind or parching. The core root meaning relates to striking harshly or causing destruction through harsh impact, especially of natural elements like wind or heat.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׁדַף is a rare verb, primarily attested in agricultural or poetic contexts (e.g., Gen 41:6, 23, 27; Ps 121:6). In the Joseph narrative, it most often refers to ears of grain scorched by the east wind, illustrating environmental vulnerability and disaster for crops. The action is typically attributed to the harsh 'east wind' (קָדִים‎, qādîm), which is characteristic of hot, arid desert air causing rapid desiccation. Unlike חָרַב (ḥārav, 'to dry up') or יָבֵשׁ (yāvēsh, 'to become dry'), שָׁדַף emphasizes sudden, destructive blighting or burning---not merely absence of moisture, but active devastation. Later translations often render it 'blasted' or 'scorched,' but this may not adequately carry the agricultural threat and intensity implied. The term does not appear to have theological connotations; it is a primarily descriptive verb for a specific type of environmental harm. Its usage did not develop markedly beyond this environmental focus in biblical times. In later Hebrew, the root remains rare and does not develop significant additional nuance.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to scorch; blast.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁדף (sh-d-ph) — to scorch, to blast, to strike with parching force

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7711 שְׁדֵפָה scorching blight

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7710-01 שְׁדֻפ֣וֹת shedufot HVqsfpc blasted scorched ones scorched 2
H7710-02 וּ/שְׁדוּפֹ֣ת ushedufot HC/Vqsfpc and blighted/scorched and scorched ones and scorched ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7710-02 Genesis 41:6 וּ/שְׁדוּפֹ֣ת ushedufot HC/Vqsfpc and blighted/scorched and scorched ones and scorched ones
H7710-01 Genesis 41:23 שְׁדֻפ֣וֹת shedufot HVqsfpc blasted scorched ones scorched
H7710-01 Genesis 41:27 שְׁדֻפ֖וֹת shedufot HVqsfpc blasted scorched ones scorched ones
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