שְׁפַט
𐤔𐤐𐤈
shᵉphaṭ
H8200 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
Verb: to judge, to render judgment, to govern by deciding legal cases or disputes. In Aramaic biblical usage, שְׁפַט describes the act of making decisions in a formal, adjudicative context, often carried out by individuals in authoritative roles, such as elders or magistrates. The term encompasses the full judicial process from considering evidence and hearing cases to rendering a verdict or sentence based on community norms or legal tradition.
Semantic Range
to render judgment, to govern, to decide disputes, to act as a magistrate or judicial authority, to sentence or deliver a verdict
Root / Etymology
Root: שׁ־פ־ט (שפט), meaning 'to judge, govern, rule as judge.' The Aramaic form שְׁפַט is directly cognate with the Hebrew verb שָׁפַט (shafat), sharing both form and meaning. The core root conveys the notion of acting as a judge or magistrate, though in its derived verbal use it may focus on the action of making a judicial decision or ruling.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שְׁפַט appears in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible, notably in Daniel and Ezra, retaining the central semantic field of judicial activity found in its Hebrew cognate שָׁפַט. In ancient Near Eastern societies, judges served as key administrative and legal figures, often within local or royal governing structures. The term does not assume modern judicial offices but refers more broadly to those empowered to hear disputes, interpret statutes or traditions, and make binding decisions for their communities. In some later translations, such as the King James Version, 'magistrate' or 'judge' may appear, but these should not impose anachronistic notions of courts or legalism onto the biblical context. The distinction between שְׁפַט as a verb (to judge) and the noun שֹׁפֵט (judge/officer) is important; the latter means 'one who judges,' while שְׁפַט typically refers to the action. Unlike some other terms for legal officials, such as דָּיָּן (dayyan, a later rabbinic term), שְׁפַט and its variants are rooted in the local communal justice of the biblical world. Compared with other verbs for legal process, שָׁפַט/shafat in both Hebrew and Aramaic carries an emphasis on governance through judgment rather than solely punitive function.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁפַט; to judge; magistrate.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שפט (š-p-ṭ) — to judge, govern, decide legal cases
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3092 | יְהוֹשָׁפָט | to YHWH-has-judged |
| H478 | אֱלִישָׁפָט | El has judged |
| H4941 | מִשְׁפָּט | according to your ruling |
| H8196 | שְׁפוֹט | Pronounce judgment! |
| H8199 | שָׁפַט | in his being judged |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8200-01 |
שָׁפְטִ֞ין | shafetin | AVqrmpa |
magistrates | judging ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8200-01 |
Ezra 7:25 | שָׁפְטִ֞ין | shafetin | AVqrmpa |
magistrates | judging ones |