שֵׂחַ
𐤔𐤇
sêach
H7808 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A musing or inward meditation; an internal act of thought, often reflecting a deep, personal consideration. Less commonly, the term may refer to the resulting idea or subject of such meditation. Its primary use is in poetic or sapiential contexts, where it signifies silent, introspective communication (with oneself or, implicitly, with the divine).
Semantic Range
meditation, inward thought, contemplation, subject of meditation, silent reflection
Root / Etymology
Root שׂיחַ (s-y-ch), meaning 'to muse, meditate, consider, speak inwardly.' The noun שֵׂחַ is a derivative formation, signifying the result or act of meditating or reflecting, with a focus on internal rather than outward speech. Distinct from roots designating overt speech (e.g., אמר, דבר).
Historical & Contextual Notes
שֵׂחַ appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible and is associated with silent contemplation rather than external dialogue. It is closely related in both form and meaning to שִׂיחַ (siʾach), which can mean both 'plant' and 'conversation/meditation' depending on context. In post-exilic and later Hebrew, terms related to שׂיח are more likely to refer to outward speech, but in biblical use, שֵׂחַ almost exclusively describes the process or content of inner thought—what modern readers might call 'rumination' or 'meditative reflection.' In translation tradition, this term has been rendered as 'meditation,' 'thought,' or 'communion,' but the nuance of interiority is sometimes missed.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
for שִׂיחַ; communion, i.e. (reflexively) meditation; thought.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂיח (s-y-ḥ) — to muse, meditate, consider inwardly
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7879 | שִׂיחַ | in my meditation |
| H7880 | שִׂיחַ | the sprouting shrubs |
| H7881 | שִׂיחָה | meditative reflection |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7808-01 |
שֵּׂח֔/וֹ | secho | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
is his thought | his inward meditation | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7808-01 |
Amos 4:13 | שֵּׂח֔/וֹ | secho | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
is his thought | his inward meditation |