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שָׁנַן

𐤔𐤍𐤍

shânan

H8150 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To sharpen or whet, typically referring to the action of making a physical object (such as a sword, arrow, or other implement) sharp by grinding or honing; used figuratively for the act of impressing something upon someone with vigor, especially instructions, words, or teachings. The primary sense involves both literal sharpening and metaphorical urging or reinforcing through repetition or emphasis.

Semantic Range

to sharpen (a physical object), to whet, to hone, to pierce (intensively), to engrave (figuratively), to impress upon, to inculcate, to teach vigorously or with emphasis

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁנַן (sh-n-n), meaning 'to sharpen' or 'to whet.' The verb is a denominative formation likely referring to the act of making a point or edge keen, both physically and in a transferred, intellectual sense. Semitic cognates (e.g., Akkadian 'sanānu' – to be sharp) support the notion of physical sharpening as the core meaning.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, שָׁנַן appears both in literal contexts (e.g., sharpening swords or arrows: Deut 32:41, Psalm 64:4) and in figurative contexts, most notably in the command to Israelite parents to 'impress' (Deut 6:7, 11:19) the words of instruction upon their children. Here, the verb connotes not just rote repetition but also a forceful making-sharp, impressing or engraving teachings so they will stick. The figurative sense develops from the physical act of sharpening, extending to mental or moral instruction. English translations often render the figurative sense as 'teach diligently' or 'inculcate'; however, the underlying imagery is more vivid, suggesting repeated, emphatic instruction as sharpening a tool. Related roots such as לָמַד (to teach, train) focus more on procedural instruction or skill-building, whereas שָׁנַן conveys the forceful, enduring insertion of truth or memory. In later Hebrew, the sense of penetrating or engraving persists, especially regarding memorization. The word is used in both early and later biblical periods, and the metaphorical extension appears specifically in Israelite religious curricula, emphasizing the permanence and seriousness of transmitted teachings.

Translation Consistency

primary "sharpen" 7 occurrences

The primary and most common sense of שָׁנַן in the SILEX range is to make an edge keener — to sharpen or whet. 'Sharpen' is a natural, widely understood verb that also fits typical figurative uses (e.g., sharpening understanding, sharpening instruction) and matches the majority of attested English renderings.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"impress" (1x) "pricked" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to point (transitive or intransitive); intensively, to pierce; figuratively, to inculcate; prick, sharp(-en), teach diligently, whet.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

שנן (shên) — to sharpen, be pointed, make sharp

Root שנן to sharpen, to whet, to make pointed
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8127 שֵׁן in a tooth
H8128 שֵׁן her tooth
H8148 שְׁנִינָה sharpened taunt

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8150-06 שְׁנוּנִ֔ים shenunim HVqsmpa are sharp sharpened ones those having been sharpened 3
H8150-01 אֶשְׁתּוֹנָֽן eshetonan HVri1cs I was pricked I sharpen myself was pricked 1
H8150-02 שָֽׁנֲנ֣וּ shananu HVqp3cp they have sharpened they sharpened they have sharpened 1
H8150-03 שָׁנְנ֣וּ shanenu HVqp3cp have sharpened they sharpened have sharpened 1
H8150-04 שַׁנּוֹתִי֙ shanoti HVqp1cs I sharpen I have sharpened I have sharpened 1
H8150-05 שָׁנ֑וּן shanun HVqsmsa sharp sharpened sharpened 1
H8150-07 וְ/שִׁנַּנְתָּ֣/ם veshinanetam HC/Vpq2ms/Sp3mp and you shall impress them and you shall keenly sharpen them and you shall impress them 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8150-07 Deuteronomy 6:7 וְ/שִׁנַּנְתָּ֣/ם veshinanetam HC/Vpq2ms/Sp3mp and you shall impress them and you shall keenly sharpen them and you shall impress them
H8150-04 Deuteronomy 32:41 שַׁנּוֹתִי֙ shanoti HVqp1cs I sharpen I have sharpened I have sharpened
H8150-06 Isaiah 5:28 שְׁנוּנִ֔ים shenunim HVqsmpa are sharp sharpened ones those having been sharpened
H8150-06 Psalms 45:6 שְׁנ֫וּנִ֥ים shenunim HVqsmpa are sharp sharpened ones those having been sharpened
H8150-03 Psalms 64:4 שָׁנְנ֣וּ shanenu HVqp3cp have sharpened they sharpened have sharpened
H8150-01 Psalms 73:21 אֶשְׁתּוֹנָֽן eshetonan HVri1cs I was pricked I sharpen myself was pricked
H8150-06 Psalms 120:4 שְׁנוּנִ֑ים shenunim HVqsmpa sharp sharpened ones those having been sharpened
H8150-02 Psalms 140:4 שָֽׁנֲנ֣וּ shananu HVqp3cp they have sharpened they sharpened they have sharpened
H8150-05 Proverbs 25:18 שָׁנ֑וּן shanun HVqsmsa sharp sharpened sharpened
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