שָׁחַד
𐤔𐤇𐤃
shâchad
H7809 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To offer or give something of value to another, especially a person in authority, with the intention of influencing their actions; to bribe or provide a payoff. The primary lexical meaning centers on the act of giving a gift or inducement for private advantage, usually with connotations of illegality or corruption, but occasionally more generally as a reward.
Semantic Range
to offer a bribe, to corrupt with a gift, to give a payoff, to appoint a reward (for illicit gain); potentially, to influence by donation (in post-biblical Hebrew the root is almost exclusively negative, but in earlier periods a rare neutral sense is possible)
Root / Etymology
Root: שׁ־ח־ד (שׁחד). The root likely means 'to give a present,' particularly one with the intent to influence. The noun שֹׁחַד (shochad) refers specifically to a bribe or gift given for improper influence. The verb form שָׁחַד means 'to offer a bribe' or 'to act as a briber.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb שָׁחַד appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, with its usage largely confined to legal and prophetic contexts, where bribery is condemned as a corrupt practice undermining justice (cf. Deuteronomy 10:17; 16:19; Ezekiel 22:12). The term specifically denotes a payment or gift designed to sway those in positions of authority, particularly judges and officials. Its semantic field is more focused than broader terms for 'gift' (e.g., מַתָּנָה). Over time, the association with judicial corruption became fixed, and later translations typically render the word as 'bribe.' In ancient Israelite society, bribery was regarded as a serious moral and legal offense, often contrasted with the righteous administration of justice. While similar practices were known in neighboring cultures, the biblical texts tend to emphasize the illicit and dishonorable nature of שָׁחַד, as opposed to merely a customary offering.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to donate, i.e. bribe; hire, give a reward.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁחד (š-ḥ-d) — to give, to present, to influence by gift, to bribe
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7809-01 |
שִׁחֲד֥וּ | shichadu | HVqv2mp |
bribe | Offer a bribe! | 1 |
H7809-02 |
וַ/תִּשְׁחֳדִ֣י | vatishechodi | HC/Vqw2fs |
and you bribed | and you bribed | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7809-02 |
Ezekiel 16:33 | וַ/תִּשְׁחֳדִ֣י | vatishechodi | HC/Vqw2fs |
and you bribed | and you bribed |
H7809-01 |
Job 6:22 | שִׁחֲד֥וּ | shichadu | HVqv2mp |
bribe | Offer a bribe! |