שְׁנָת
𐤔𐤍𐤕
shᵉnâth
H8153 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A period or state of sleep, characterized by rest or cessation of activity, whether nightly or metaphorical. Used to indicate literal physical sleep, or in some contexts, a stupor or inactivity. Occasionally employed idiomatically in reference to a divinely induced trance or deep sleep.
Semantic Range
sleep (as a physical state), sleep (as a period of inactivity), deep sleep, trance, divinely induced stupor
Root / Etymology
From the root יָשֵׁן (ישן), which fundamentally means 'to sleep' or 'to be asleep.' The noun form שְׁנָת arises from this verbal root, denoting the abstract concept or state of 'sleep.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
שְׁנָת appears chiefly in poetic and formal contexts within the Hebrew Bible. It denotes ordinary human sleep (e.g., during the night), but also occurs in passages describing a deep or induced sleep as an act of divine intervention (Genesis 2:21; Isaiah 29:10). In these cases, shᵉnâth can refer to a trance-like state or supernatural slumber imposed for a specific purpose. The word is distinct from similar terms such as תַּנּוּמָה (tannûmah, H8572), which emphasizes slumber or drowsiness, and it does not inherently connote laziness as does תַּרְדֵּמָה (tardēmah, H8639), which often refers to a deep or overwhelming sleep. Later rabbinic and post-biblical Hebrew continued to use derivatives of this root for both literal and metaphorical senses of sleep. English translations typically render the term as 'sleep,' but should be read with attention to context, especially where divine agency or metaphorical meanings are in view.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from יָשֵׁן; sleep; sleep.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
ישן (Yashen) — to sleep, to become old, to remain
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3462 | יָשֵׁן | I sleep |
| H3464 | יָשֵׁן | sleeping one |
| H3465 | יָשָׁן | the aged one |
| H3466 | יְשָׁנָה | the Ancient-place |
| H8142 | שֵׁנָה | from their sleep |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8153-01 |
שְׁנַ֣ת | shenat | HNcfsc |
sleep | year-of | sleep | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8153-01 |
Psalms 132:4 | שְׁנַ֣ת | shenat | HNcfsc |
sleep | year-of | sleep |