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שֹׁטֵט

𐤔𐤈𐤈

shôṭêṭ

H7850 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שוט to roam, wander, move to and fro

Definition

Active participle denoting one who roams, moves about restlessly, or wanders. In context, typically refers to someone or something that traverses, patrols, or moves hither and thither, often with the nuance of searching, inspecting, or patrolling rather than punitive action.

Semantic Range

to roam, move about, patrol, wander, go about, search, traverse

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root שׁוּט (shût), 'to go to and fro, roam, wander.' The verb שׁוט is attested in multiple passages (e.g., Amos 8:12, 2 Chronicles 16:9) with the sense of moving, roaming, or traversing. שֹׁטֵט is the Qal active participle, indicating ongoing or habitual action, 'one who roams' or 'one who moves about.' The Strong's gloss connects it with flogging or scourging based on the noun שׁוֹט (shot, 'whip' or 'scourge'), but this connection is secondary; the primary sense is wandering or roaming.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term is rare in the Hebrew Bible, most notably used in Zechariah 4:10 and 6:7 to describe the movement of the divine 'eyes' or chariots—symbolic agents moving through the earth. In these contexts, the emphasis is on active patrol or surveillance, not on inflicting punishment. The word is not commonly used to refer to corporal punishment tools (like 'scourge' or 'whip'); this connection appears to be later or secondary, derived from related nouns, and is likely influenced by translation tradition. English versions often translate 'roam,' 'range,' or 'patrol,' which aligns closely with the root meaning. In later Hebrew, meanings related to 'scourge' remain distinct from this form. The connection to a punitive object, as suggested by Strong's, conflates participial verbal use (patrolling, roaming) with nominal forms (whip, scourge), which are separate lexically and semantically.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

active participle of an otherwise unused root meaning (properly, to pierce; but only as a denominative from שׁוֹט); to flog; a goad; scourge.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שוט (sh-w-ṭ) — to roam, wander, move to and fro, traverse

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4880 מָשׁוֹט oar
H7750 שׂוּט rovers
H7751 שׁוּט the roaming ones
H7752 שׁוֹט with the whips
H7846 שֵׂט turn-asiders

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7850-01 וּ/לְ/שֹׁטֵ֤ט uleshotet HC/R/Ncmsa and-for-scourges and to a roaming-one and to a roaming-one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7850-01 Joshua 23:13 וּ/לְ/שֹׁטֵ֤ט uleshotet HC/R/Ncmsa and-for-scourges and to a roaming-one and to a roaming-one
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