שְׁדֵפָה
𐤔𐤃𐤐𐤄
shᵉdêphâh
H7711 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A scorching, blighting wind or condition that causes crops to wither or be blasted, usually as a result of hot east wind or drought; primarily denotes destruction of agricultural produce by extreme heat or drought-related blight, but not limited to a specific disease; used specifically for the phenomenon of scorched or dried-out grain in the context of famine or divine judgment.
Semantic Range
blight (of grain or crops), scorching by wind, blasted by heat, dried out by drought, agricultural devastation
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁדַף, which means 'to scorch, blast, blight.' The noun שְׁדֵפָה derives from this root and refers to the condition resulting from such scorching or blight, specifically the dried or blasted state of crops. Related noun שִׁדָּפוֹן also derives from the same root, with a similar meaning but used in slightly different contexts.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term appears chiefly in agricultural contexts where blight, scorching, or disaster befalls crops—typically grain. It is most notably found in the Joseph narrative (Genesis 41:6, 23, 27), describing the effect of the hot east wind on ears of grain, leading to their shriveling and destruction. The word is closely associated with natural disasters or as part of the language of divine judgment (see Deuteronomy 28:22), signaling agricultural crisis. Unlike other Hebrew terms for blight that may indicate specific diseases (e.g., mildew, rust), שְׁדֵפָה emphasizes the burning, drying effect of wind or drought rather than fungal or insect infestation. In classical translations, often rendered 'blight,' 'scorched,' or 'blasted,' but English translations may not capture its specific environmental nuance. In later Hebrew (post-biblical), the term becomes less common, being largely restricted to biblical and poetic usage.
Translation Consistency
“Blight” is the most natural, widely understood English word that covers the full SILEX range — scorched, blasted, or dried-out crops and agricultural devastation. It functions as both noun and verb, matching Hebrew usage and the attested renderings (scorching, blasting, blight) while remaining simple and consistent for all forms of H7711.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or שִׁדָּפוֹן; from שָׁדַף; blight; blasted(-ing).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
שדף (sh-d-p) — to scorch, to blast, to blight
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7710 | שָׁדַף | and scorched ones |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7711-01 |
בַּ/שִּׁדָּפ֣וֹן | bashidafon | HRd/Ncmsa |
with blight | in the scorching-blight | with scorching-blight | 2 |
H7711-02 |
שִׁדָּפ֨וֹן | shidafon | HNcmsa |
blasting | scorching blight | blasting | 2 |
H7711-04 |
וּ/בַ/שִּׁדָּפ֖וֹן | uvashidafon | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and with blight | and in the scorching-blight | and with blight | 1 |
H7711-03 |
וּ/שְׁדֵפָ֖ה | ushedefah | HC/Ncfsa |
and-blighted-grain | and scorching-blight | and scorching blight | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7711-04 |
Deuteronomy 28:22 | וּ/בַ/שִּׁדָּפ֖וֹן | uvashidafon | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and with blight | and in the scorching-blight | and with blight |
H7711-02 |
1 Kings 8:37 | שִׁדָּפ֨וֹן | shidafon | HNcmsa |
blasting | scorching blight | blasting |
H7711-03 |
2 Kings 19:26 | וּ/שְׁדֵפָ֖ה | ushedefah | HC/Ncfsa |
and-blighted-grain | and scorching-blight | and scorching blight |
H7711-01 |
Amos 4:9 | בַּ/שִּׁדָּפ֣וֹן | bashidafon | HRd/Ncmsa |
with blight | in the scorching-blight | with scorching-blight |
H7711-01 |
Haggai 2:17 | בַּ/שִּׁדָּפ֤וֹן | bashidafon | HRd/Ncmsa |
with blight | in the scorching-blight | with scorching-blight |
H7711-02 |
2 Chronicles 6:28 | שִׁדָּפ֨וֹן | shidafon | HNcmsa |
blasting | scorching blight | blasting |