שִׂנְאָה
𐤔𐤍𐤀𐤄
sinʼâh
H8135 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Intense animosity or aversion; strong antagonism or enmity directed toward a person, community, or object. In biblical contexts, שִׂנְאָה (sinʼâh) denotes the experience, expression, or object of active hatred. The term spans a range of intensity, from strong dislike or hostility, to enmity associated with violence or conflict, to lasting antipathy between communities or individuals.
Semantic Range
hatred, intense aversion, enmity, animosity, persistent hostility, ill will between individuals or groups, object of hate
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׂנֵא (to hate, be hostile toward). The noun שִׂנְאָה (sinʼâh) is a derivative form expressing the abstract concept—"hatred"—arising from the verbal root. The root focuses on a relational dynamic marked by deep opposition or rejection.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שִׂנְאָה is predominantly used to denote animosity between individuals, families, clans, or nations. It often refers to personal or interpersonal hatred (e.g., Genesis 29:33; Psalm 25:19), but can also describe collective hostility (e.g., Ezekiel 35:5, "everlasting hatred" between Edom and Israel). Occasionally, it refers to hatred directed against Israel or the Israelite people by other groups. The noun expresses not just momentary dislike but a persistent, sometimes implacable, enmity. Unlike the root איב (ʾ-y-b, "to be at enmity"), which may connote an adversarial relationship or enmity more broadly, שִׂנְאָה principally signifies the emotional or attitudinal dimension of hostility. In some translation traditions, later English renderings may use "hatred" or "enmity," while in post-biblical and later traditions, the scope expands to include broader communal or religious animosity. In most biblical passages, the term does not imply abstract or philosophical hatred; rather, it describes a lived, affective reality with social or political consequences. The concept can be contrasted with the noun אַהֲבָה (ahavah, "love") in poetic or wisdom literature. In legal and ethical contexts, the prohibition of "hating your fellow in your heart" uses the related verb, not the noun, but references the state described by שִׂנְאָה. The term remains semantically stable across periods, though frequency and emphasis may shift.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׂנֵא; hate; [phrase] exceedingly, hate(-ful, -red).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
שׂנא (Senuah) — to hate, be hateful, be an enemy
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5574 | סְנוּאָה | the Senuah |
Word Forms
9 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8135-05 |
שִׂנְאָה֙ | sineah | HNcfsa |
hatred | hatred | hatred | 7 |
H8135-01 |
בְּ/שִׂנְאָ֗ה | besineah | HR/Ncfsa |
in hatred | in hostility | in hatred | 2 |
H8135-08 |
וְ/שִׂנְאָה | vesineah | HC/Ncfsa |
and hatred | and hostility | and hatred | 2 |
H8135-02 |
בְּ/שִׂנְאַ֤ת | besineat | HR/Ncfsc |
in-hatred-of | in hatred-of | in hatred of | 1 |
H8135-03 |
הַ/שִּׂנְאָה֙ | hasineah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the hatred | the hostility | the hatred | 1 |
H8135-04 |
מִ/שִּׂנְאָתֶ֖י/ךָ | misineateykha | HR/Ncfpc/Sp2ms |
out of your hatred | your hatreds | from your hatred | 1 |
H8135-06 |
שִׂנְאָתָ֛/ם | sineatam | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
their hate | their hostility | their hate | 1 |
H8135-07 |
וּ/מִ/שִּׂנְאָת֣/וֹ | umisineato | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and because of his hatred | his hatred | and because of his hatred | 1 |
H8135-09 |
וְ/שִׂנְאַ֖ת | vesineat | HC/Ncfsc |
and hatred | and hatred of | and hatred of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
17 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8135-01 |
Numbers 35:20 | בְּ/שִׂנְאָ֖ה | besineah | HR/Ncfsa |
in hatred | in hostility | in hatred |
H8135-02 |
Deuteronomy 1:27 | בְּ/שִׂנְאַ֤ת | besineat | HR/Ncfsc |
in-hatred-of | in hatred-of | in hatred of |
H8135-07 |
Deuteronomy 9:28 | וּ/מִ/שִּׂנְאָת֣/וֹ | umisineato | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and because of his hatred | his hatred | and because of his hatred |
H8135-05 |
2 Samuel 13:15 | שִׂנְאָה֙ | sineah | HNcfsa |
hatred | hatred | hatred |
H8135-03 |
2 Samuel 13:15 | הַ/שִּׂנְאָה֙ | hasineah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the hatred | the hostility | the hatred |
H8135-01 |
Ezekiel 23:29 | בְּ/שִׂנְאָ֗ה | besineah | HR/Ncfsa |
in hatred | in hostility | in hatred |
H8135-04 |
Ezekiel 35:11 | מִ/שִּׂנְאָתֶ֖י/ךָ | misineateykha | HR/Ncfpc/Sp2ms |
out of your hatred | your hatreds | from your hatred |
H8135-09 |
Psalms 25:19 | וְ/שִׂנְאַ֖ת | vesineat | HC/Ncfsc |
and hatred | and hatred of | and hatred of |
H8135-05 |
Psalms 109:3 | שִׂנְאָ֣ה | sineah | HNcfsa |
hatred | hatred | hatred |
H8135-08 |
Psalms 109:5 | וְ֝/שִׂנְאָ֗ה | vesineah | HC/Ncfsa |
and hatred | and hostility | and hatred |
H8135-05 |
Psalms 139:22 | שִׂנְאָ֣ה | sineah | HNcfsa |
hatred | hatred | hatred |
H8135-05 |
Proverbs 10:12 | שִׂ֭נְאָה | sineah | HNcfsa |
Hatred | hatred | hatred |
H8135-05 |
Proverbs 10:18 | שִׂ֭נְאָה | sineah | HNcfsa |
hatred | hatred | hatred |
H8135-08 |
Proverbs 15:17 | וְ/שִׂנְאָה | vesineah | HC/Ncfsa |
and hatred | and hostility | and hatred |
H8135-05 |
Proverbs 26:26 | שִׂ֭נְאָה | sineah | HNcfsa |
hatred | hatred | hatred |
H8135-05 |
Ecclesiastes 9:1 | שִׂנְאָ֗ה | sineah | HNcfsa |
hatred | hatred | |
H8135-06 |
Ecclesiastes 9:6 | שִׂנְאָתָ֛/ם | sineatam | HNcfsc/Sp3mp |
their hate | their hostility | their hate |