שִׂטְנָה
𐤔𐤈𐤍𐤄
Sitenah
H7856 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Siṭnâh refers primarily to enmity, opposition, or accusation and, in its sole biblical occurrence, is the name given to a well associated with strife or adversarial dispute. Its semantic range encompasses meanings such as accusation, enmity, opposition, or conflict, and in Genesis 26:21 specifically, as the toponym for a well marked by local hostility.
Semantic Range
enmity, opposition, accusation, conflict; specific place name for a well marked by dispute
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שׂטן (ś-ṭ-n), meaning 'to be an adversary' or 'to oppose.' The word שִׂטְנָה uses the -āh feminine noun ending, indicating action or the state of enmity. While it shares phonetic similarity to the later Aramaic term for 'accusation' or 'hostility,' in biblical Hebrew its direct link is with the context of opposition or contention, particularly as a proper noun.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שִׂטְנָה appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 26:21), as the name given by Isaac to a well over which there was dispute between his shepherds and those of Gerar. The name encapsulates the adversarial nature of the encounter, aligning with the broader semantic field of opposition signified by the root שׂטן. Later, Aramaic uses of the cognate term in Persian-period texts (e.g., Ezra 4:6) refer more specifically to written accusations or hostile acts, but in the patriarchal context it is more general, meaning 'strife' or 'opposition.' The translation 'Sitnah' in English Bibles loses the semantic force of the original, reducing the word to a place name without conveying its implication of conflict. Use and nuance are thus specific to the narrative context, and the word should be understood as naming not merely a location, but the dispute characterizing it.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
the same as שִׂטְנָה; Sitnah, the name of a well in Pal; Sitnah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂטן (ś-ṭ-n) — be adversarial, oppose, accuse
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7853 | שָׂטַן | to oppose him |
| H7854 | שָׂטָן | the adversary |
| H7855 | שִׂטְנָה | written accusation |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7856-01 |
שִׂטְנָֽה | sitenah | HNp |
Sitnah | Enmity | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7856-01 |
Genesis 26:21 | שִׂטְנָֽה | sitenah | HNp |
Sitnah | Enmity |