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שִׁטָּה

𐤔𐤈𐤄

shiṭṭâh

H7848 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁטט to scourge, to lash, to whip

Definition

A species of tree native to the arid regions of Sinai and southern Canaan, most likely identified as the acacia (Acacia seyal or Acacia tortilis); its wood used for various construction and cultic purposes in ancient Israelite society. The term generally refers to the acacia tree or its wood, especially in contexts related to the construction of tabernacle furnishings.

Semantic Range

acacia tree, acacia wood, timber from the acacia tree, location marked by acacias (as in place names)

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁטַט (to scourge, whip, or lash, possibly relating to the thorny nature of the acacia), with an ending forming a feminine noun. The lexical form is feminine singular, though it most often appears in the plural (שִׁטִּים, 'acacias' or 'acacia wood').

Historical & Contextual Notes

שִׁטָּה primarily designates the acacia tree, which grows abundantly in desert and semi-desert areas east and south of Canaan. In the Torah and early monarchy texts, שִׁטָּה wood features significantly in accounts about the construction of the tabernacle, such as the ark, tables, poles, and altars, suggesting the acacia's importance due both to its availability and durability. The term appears most frequently in cultic or geographical contexts (e.g., 'Valley of Shittim'). The connection between 'scourging' and the acacia tree likely reflects the plant’s hard, thorny characteristics, but the actual usage in biblical texts is focused on the material and symbolic uses of the tree, not its thorns. Later translations (such as the Septuagint) render the word with terms for general timber or pine, reflecting unfamiliarity with the acacia in different regions. English use of 'shittim wood' (retained in some translations) is an attempt to transliterate the Hebrew rather than translate a known species.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine of a derivative (only in the plural שִׁטִּים; meaning the sticks of wood) from the same as שֹׁטֵט; the acacia (from its scourging thorns); shittah, shittim. See also בֵּית הַשִּׁטָּה.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁטט (š-ṭ-ṭ) — to scourge, to lash, to whip

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7851 שִׁטִּים in the Acacias

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7848-02 שִׁטִּֽים shitim HNcfpa acacia acacia trees acacia 26
H7848-03 שִׂטִּֽים sitim HNcfpa wood acacia timbers acacia timbers 1
H7848-01 שִׁטָּ֔ה shitah HNcfsa acacia acacia tree acacia tree 1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7848-02 Exodus 25:5 שִׁטִּֽים shitim HNcfpa wood acacia trees acacia
H7848-02 Exodus 25:10 שִׁטִּ֑ים shitim HNcfpa wood acacia trees acacia
H7848-02 Exodus 25:13 שִׁטִּ֑ים shitim HNcfpa acacia acacia trees acacia
H7848-02 Exodus 25:23 שִׁטִּ֑ים shitim HNcfpa acacia acacia trees acacia
H7848-02 Exodus 25:28 שִׁטִּ֔ים shitim HNcfpa acacia acacia trees acacia
H7848-02 Exodus 26:15 שִׁטִּ֖ים shitim HNcfpa acacia acacia trees acacia trees
H7848-02 Exodus 26:26 שִׁטִּ֑ים shitim HNcfpa acacia acacia trees acacia
H7848-02 Exodus 26:32 שִׁטִּ֔ים shitim HNcfpa acacia acacia trees acacia
H7848-02 Exodus 26:37 שִׁטִּ֔ים shitim HNcfpa acacia acacia trees acacia trees
H7848-02 Exodus 27:1 שִׁטִּ֑ים shitim HNcfpa acacia acacia trees acacia
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