שָׁפַת
𐤔𐤐𐤕
shâphath
H8239 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
to put, set, place, or position (an object or person), particularly in a determined place or arrangement; by extension, to establish, appoint, impose, or assign a status, responsibility, or burden; in some contexts, to arrange as in arranging food (e.g. a cooking pot over a fire), or to cause to be set upon. The verb conveys the intentional action of placing something or someone in a deliberate spatial or situational position.
Semantic Range
to set (a pot) on a fire, to put in place, to arrange or position an object, to establish or assign (a responsibility or status), to impose or bring upon, to ordain, to appoint
Root / Etymology
Root: שׁפת. The root שׁ-פ-ת indicates the act of setting, placing, or positioning something carefully or purposefully. The verb שָׁפַת (shâphath) is derived directly from this root and carries the core concept of putting or arranging something, particularly in a spatial or situational context. The semantic development extends from literal physical placement—such as setting a pot on a fire or an object in a location—to metaphorical uses such as the establishment or imposition of something (responsibility, judgment, or status) upon a person or group.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁפַת appears primarily in contexts involving the placement of objects, especially cooking vessels on a fire or hearth (cf. Exod 12:9; 2 Kgs 4:38). Its usage occasionally broadens to the appointing or establishing of burdens or responsibilities (e.g. Job 36:16, 'to set upon'), but this figurative sense is less common. Unlike more common verbs for 'placing' (e.g. שׂוּם, נָתַן), שָׁפַת has a specialized nuance of deliberate positioning, often for a specific function (e.g. preparing food) or official imposition. In most cases, standard English translations narrow the meaning to 'set' or 'put,' but these do not always capture the deliberate, functional positioning inherent in the Hebrew. In post-biblical Hebrew, its use declines; related nouns such as שַׁפּוּד (spit, skewer) retain aspects of this semantic field. There is no clear theological overlay on the term, and its usage does not significantly shift across biblical periods, though its metaphorical extensions are attested mainly in poetic or wisdom literature.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to locate, i.e. (generally) hang on or (figuratively) establish, reduce; bring, ordain, set on.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁפת (š-p-t) — to set, to put, to place, to arrange
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8239-01 |
שְׁפֹת֙ | shefot | HVqv2ms |
Set on | Set in place | 3 |
H8239-03 |
תִּשְׁפֹּ֥ת | tishepot | HVqi2ms |
you will ordain | you set in place | 1 |
H8239-02 |
תִּשְׁפְּתֵֽ/נִי | tishepeteni | HVqi2ms/Sp1cs |
you lay me | you will set me | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
5 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8239-01 |
2 Kings 4:38 | שְׁפֹת֙ | shefot | HVqv2ms |
Set on | Set in place |
H8239-03 |
Isaiah 26:12 | תִּשְׁפֹּ֥ת | tishepot | HVqi2ms |
you will ordain | you set in place |
H8239-01 |
Ezekiel 24:3 | שְׁפֹ֤ת | shefot | HVqv2ms |
Set on | Set in place |
H8239-01 |
Ezekiel 24:3 | שְׁפֹ֔ת | shefot-2 | HVqv2ms |
set it on | Set in place |
H8239-02 |
Psalms 22:16 | תִּשְׁפְּתֵֽ/נִי | tishepeteni | HVqi2ms/Sp1cs |
you lay me | you will set me |