שָׁוֵה
𐤔𐤅𐤄
Shaveh
H7740 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun designating a geographic location, meaning 'plain' or 'open field.' In biblical usage, Shâvêh typically denotes a specific plain referenced in narrative contexts, particularly as a site of gathering or events such as encounters or battles. As a toponym, it retains the sense of a distinct, level area of land.
Semantic Range
plain (as an open or level place), site of assembly or meeting (by metonymy), proper name for a notable plain (Shaveh)
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁוָה (sh-v-h), meaning 'to be even, smooth, level.' The noun form שָׁוֵה derives from this root and is used as a place-name to signify a level place, i.e., a plain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שָׁוֵה appears in the Hebrew Bible predominantly in Genesis 14:17, where it designates the 'Valley of Shaveh,' the site where the king of Sodom met Abram after the defeat of Kedorlaomer and his allies. The narrative context underscores the function of Shaveh as a notable plain or open field suited for assembly, encounter, or transaction. The identification of its location has been debated, with later tradition associating it with areas near Jerusalem, although the biblical text provides no explicit geographic specifics. The term is not used as a common noun within the Hebrew Bible and functions strictly as a proper place-name. Most standard English translations transcribe 'Shaveh' without further explanation, sometimes footnoting its meaning as 'plain.' The designation should be distinguished from other Hebrew terms for plains or valleys, such as עֵמֶק ('valley') or בִּקְעָה ('broad plain'), as שָׁוֵה carries the direct sense of levelness while functioning as a proper name in context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁוָה; plain; Shaveh, a place in Palestine; Shaveh.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שוה (sh-w-h) — to be even, level, smooth, make equal
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3145 | יוֹשַׁוְיָה | And Yahweh-has-established |
| H3438 | יִשְׁוָה | and Yishvah |
| H3440 | יִשְׁוִי | to Yishvi |
| H3441 | יִשְׁוִי | the Yishvite |
| H7737 | שָׁוָה | I will make equal |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7740-02 |
שָׁוֵ֔ה | shaveh | HNp |
of Shaveh | Shaveh the Level-Plain | Shaveh | 1 |
H7740-01 |
בְּ/שָׁוֵ֖ה | beshaveh | HR/Np |
in Shaveh | in Shaveh Plain | in Shaveh | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7740-01 |
Genesis 14:5 | בְּ/שָׁוֵ֖ה | beshaveh | HR/Np |
in Shaveh | in Shaveh Plain | in Shaveh |
H7740-02 |
Genesis 14:17 | שָׁוֵ֔ה | shaveh | HNp |
of Shaveh | Shaveh the Level-Plain | Shaveh |