שַׁיִן
𐤔𐤉𐤍
shayin
H7890 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Bodily waste fluid; specifically, urine, as the product excreted by humans or animals. In its singular occurrence, it refers directly and literally to urine, with no euphemism or secondary meanings, and is used in the context of a derisive or humiliating threat.
Semantic Range
urine, bodily waste fluid, piss (vulgar English equivalent); specifically, the product of urination
Root / Etymology
From an otherwise unattested root presumed to mean 'to urinate;' the root is not found elsewhere in Hebrew. The noun שַׁיִן (shayin) is derived directly from this hypothesized root, likely via nominal formation typical for bodily substances. The connection to other Semitic roots (e.g., cognates in related languages) is possible but not confirmed; etymology uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שַׁיִן appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (2 Kings 18:27 = Isaiah 36:12), both reflecting the same incident during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem and preserved in parallel narrative. The term is used in a vivid and derogatory threat by the Assyrian official (the Rabshakeh) describing a siege so extreme that those surrounded would be compelled to consume their own excrement and drink their own urine. The directness and crudity of the term was likely intended for shock value. In English translations, 'urine' or the archaic 'piss' have sometimes been used, though more euphemistic or clinical renderings appear in some versions. There is no evidence that שַׁיִן developed any additional technical or metaphorical meaning in later periods. Terms for bodily excretions rarely appear in biblical text, and שַׁיִן is less common than other Hebrew euphemisms for uncleanness or filth; compare stronger taboos and more common circumlocutions in later Hebrew for related bodily functions. Its use is restricted to this narrative context, with no attested usage in later Hebrew literature, liturgical, or ritual terminology. In the ancient Near East, blunt references to waste were rare in formal contexts but could appear in threats, curses, or invective.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to urinate; urine; piss.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שין (sh-y-n) — to urinate, discharge urine
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7890-01 |
שיני/הם | shynyhm | HNcmpc/Sp3mp |
their urine | their urine | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7890-01 |
2 Kings 18:27 | שיני/הם | shynyhm | HNcmpc/Sp3mp |
urine | their urine |
H7890-01 |
Isaiah 36:12 | שיני/הם | shynyhm | HNcmpc/Sp3mp |
their urine | their urine |