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שָׁטַח

𐤔𐤈𐤇

shâṭach

H7849 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שטח to spread out, to expand, to stretch out, to lay flat

Definition

To spread out, stretch out, or expand spatially, typically in reference to physical objects like cloth, skin, or land. The verb often denotes the action of extending something in a flat or open manner, such as laying out a carpet, tent, or field, and occasionally refers metaphorically to displaying or exposing.

Semantic Range

to spread out (cloth, skins, or materials), to stretch out (in preparation or display), to expand spatially, to lay out for viewing or ritual, to expose (something to view or inspection)

Root / Etymology

The verb שָׁטַח derives from the root שׁ-ט-ח, which conveys the notion of spreading or stretching something out flat. Its base meaning is closely related to actions involving expansion or the unfolding of materials. While it shares semantic territory with roots like פרשׂ (paras, 'to spread out'), שָׁטַח typically carries a more physical, hands-on nuance of making something even or accessible by extending it.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׁטַח appears in the Hebrew Bible primarily in contexts involving the action of spreading or laying out physical materials, such as Isa 25:7 (God spreading a covering) or Isa 37:14 (Hezekiah spreading a letter before YHWH). The verb is used in everyday contexts (spreading cloth, skins, or provisions) as well as ritual contexts (spreading garments or offerings). Over time, the term did not undergo significant semantic shifts but maintained its core spatial and practical sense. Some post-biblical Hebrew employs derivatives in more idiomatic or metaphorical senses (e.g., to present a case or open one's heart), but these uses are rare in the Hebrew Bible. The word overlaps in function with פּרשׂ (H6566), which can have broader metaphorical flexibility or focus more specifically on unfolding, yet שָׁטַח more often stresses flattening or making something accessible. English translations like 'spread,' 'stretch out,' or 'lay out' generally reflect the core sense, though nuances like ritual display or making something prominent may be missed in idiomatic English.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to expand; all abroad, enlarge, spread, stretch out.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שטח (sh-ṭ-ḥ) — to spread out, to expand, to stretch out, to lay flat

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4894 מִשְׁטוֹחַ spreading-place of

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7849-04 וּ/שְׁטָחוּ/ם֩ ushetachum HC/Vqq3cp/Sp3mp and-they-shall-spread-them and they spread them out flat 1
H7849-01 שָׁט֔וֹחַ shatocha HVqa spread out to spread out flat 1
H7849-05 וַ/תִּשְׁטַ֥ח vatishetach HC/Vqw3fs and spread out and she spread out 1
H7849-02 שִׁטַּ֖חְתִּי shitacheti HVpp1cs I have spread out I spread out flat 1
H7849-06 וַ/יִּשְׁטְח֤וּ vayishetechu HC/Vqw3mp and they spread they spread out 1
H7849-03 שֹׁטֵ֥חַ shotecha HVqrmsa enlarges spreading-out one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7849-06 Numbers 11:32 וַ/יִּשְׁטְח֤וּ vayishetechu HC/Vqw3mp and they spread they spread out
H7849-01 Numbers 11:32 שָׁט֔וֹחַ shatocha HVqa spread out to spread out flat
H7849-05 2 Samuel 17:19 וַ/תִּשְׁטַ֥ח vatishetach HC/Vqw3fs and spread out and she spread out
H7849-04 Jeremiah 8:2 וּ/שְׁטָחוּ/ם֩ ushetachum HC/Vqq3cp/Sp3mp and-they-shall-spread-them and they spread them out flat
H7849-02 Psalms 88:10 שִׁטַּ֖חְתִּי shitacheti HVpp1cs I have spread out I spread out flat
H7849-03 Job 12:23 שֹׁטֵ֥חַ shotecha HVqrmsa enlarges spreading-out one
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