לְשַׁד
𐤋𐤔𐤃
lᵉshad
H3955 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A moist, nutritious substance; specifically, juice, sap, or marrow—the life-sustaining or invigorating fluid of plants or animals. In some contexts, refers to a soft, rich cake or confection, typically sweet and fatty, made with the essence or richness of foods. Can denote general freshness or moisture that contributes to vitality.
Semantic Range
juice, sap, marrow, moisture, vigor, soft/fatty cake, richness, freshness
Root / Etymology
Root: uncertain. The Hebrew לְשַׁד (lᵉshad) is derived from an etymologically obscure root, not attested elsewhere in Biblical Hebrew. The word is likely related to the idea of something soft, rich, or juicy, potentially connected by sense to the root ל-ש-ד but this root is otherwise unrecognized in the Hebrew verbal system. Some have noted possible kinship with Arabic and Aramaic words for 'moisture' or 'marrow.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
לְשַׁד appears rarely in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in passages highlighting richness, vitality, or natural abundance (e.g., Numbers 11:8 describing the taste of manna, Job 21:24 referring to 'marrow' or richness in bones, Psalm 32:4 for loss of vitality). In Numbers 11:8, לְשַׁד describes the moist, cake-like quality of manna, suggesting a nourishing, flavor-rich food. In Job and the Psalms, context points to internal nourishing fluids—marrow or sap—and thus figuratively describes vigor or internal freshness. In later Hebrew and rabbinic literature, it is understood contextually as marrow, sap, or the rich, nutritious part of food. Standard translations often oscillate between 'moisture,' 'juice,' 'marrow,' or 'cake,' but none fully encompasses all senses. לְשַׁד is somewhat distinct from חֵלֶב (ḥēlev, 'fat'), though they share the association with nourishing abundance. The term's limited use and uncertain root make it an evocative, poetic word suggesting both literal and figurative sustenance or vitality.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root of uncertain meaning; apparently juice, i.e.; (figuratively) vigor; also a sweet or fat cake; fresh, moisture.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
לשד (l-š-d) — moisture, sap, marrow, richness, juicy vitality
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3955-02 |
לְשַׁדִּ֑/י | leshadi | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my-moisture | my marrow | 1 |
H3955-01 |
לְשַׁ֥ד | leshad | HNcmsc |
fresh oil | sap-of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3955-01 |
Numbers 11:8 | לְשַׁ֥ד | leshad | HNcmsc |
fresh oil | sap-of |
H3955-02 |
Psalms 32:4 | לְשַׁדִּ֑/י | leshadi | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my-moisture | my marrow |