שָׂהֵד
𐤔𐤄𐤃
sâhêd
H7717 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A person who serves as a witness, especially one who testifies or affirms as a factual observer in legal proceedings or covenant events; also denotes testimony itself or the function of bearing record. The word is used to refer both to human witnesses and, in legal or ritual contexts, to documentary or symbolic forms of evidence.
Semantic Range
witness (person), witness (act), legal testimony, record, documentary witness
Root / Etymology
Root/Etymology: Derived from the root שָׂהֵד, likely a secondary form related to עוּד (ʿûd, 'to return, repeat, bear witness'), though the exact root שֵׂהֵד is otherwise unattested and thus remains uncertain. The apparent semantic connection is 'to testify' or 'bear witness' through the nominal form.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Historical & Contextual Notes: The term שָׂהֵד appears only in later biblical texts, notably in Aramaic sections and post-exilic writings (e.g., Daniel and Ezra), reflecting growing administrative and legal complexities during the Persian period. It typically denotes a legal witness—someone eligible to testify in official or judicial matters. Usage is distinct from the more common Hebrew root עֵד (ʿēd), also meaning 'witness.' שָׂהֵד is particularly connected to contexts of Persian imperial administration and is cognate with Aramaic שָׁהֵד ('witness'), mirroring the increasing influence of Aramaic legal and governmental terminology in the late biblical period. English renderings such as 'witness' may obscure the legal-technical character it often carries in these specific texts. There is no occurrence of this term in the earlier monarchic or patriarchal periods; its presence in the Hebrew Bible is limited to exilic and post-exilic writings, indicating an adaptation of foreign legal vocabulary.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to testify; a witness; record.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂהד (ś-h-d) — to bear witness, to testify
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3026 | יְגַר שַׂהֲדוּתָא | Cairn-of-Testimony |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7717-01 |
וְ֝/שָׂהֲדִ֗/י | vesahadi | HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
and my record | and my witness | and my record | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7717-01 |
Job 16:19 | וְ֝/שָׂהֲדִ֗/י | vesahadi | HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
and my record | and my witness | and my record |