שִׂיד
𐤔𐤉𐤃
sîyd
H7874 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
Lime or whitewash, especially as used for coating or plastering walls. The primary lexical meaning refers to the processed white alkaline substance obtained through burning limestone, which is then mixed with water to create a paste used as a coating for masonry, graves, or other surfaces. In biblical usage, שִׂיד (sîyd) most often designates the material itself, though in some contexts it can refer to the act of applying lime (whitewashing) as well.
Semantic Range
lime (the mineral substance), whitewash, lime plaster, to cover or coat with lime, to mark with whitewash, reference to the process of burning limestone to create lime
Root / Etymology
The noun derives from the root שׂיד, possibly related by phonetic similarity to שׁוּד (to boil up), reflecting the process of heating limestone to produce lime. However, the root's historical development is not entirely clear, as שׂיד appears primarily as a noun rather than a verb. Cognates are found in Aramaic (שידא), Ugaritic (šdt), and possibly in Arabic (sayyid, in a different sense), all referring to lime or plaster.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical texts, שִׂיד is most commonly associated with use as a building or ritual material, notably for coating or marking stone surfaces (e.g., Deuteronomy 27:2-4; Isaiah 33:12), and whitewashing graves (cf. metaphorical use in later Second Temple literature). Its core meaning remains focused on the material substance, not the process. In postbiblical Hebrew, שִׂיד continues to denote lime, and the act of plastering is expressed with verbal forms derived from the noun or with other verbs. The English gloss 'plaster' or 'whitewash' catches the general sense but risks obscuring the specific mineralogical meaning of the term in Hebrew. In the Hebrew Bible, contrasts are occasionally drawn with other construction materials (e.g., clay, mortar). There is no evidence in biblical usage to connect שִׂיד with ritual purity; rather, the focus is practical and, secondarily, metaphorical.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
lemma שׂיד missing vowel, corrected to שִׂיד; a primitive root probably meaning to boil up (compare שׁוּד); used only as denominative from שִׂיד; to plaster; plaister.
Bantu Hebrew
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שׂיד (ś-y-d) — lime, whitewash, coat with lime
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7874-01 |
וְ/שַׂדְתָּ֥ | vesadeta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and plaster | and you lime-coated | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7874-01 |
Deuteronomy 27:2 | וְ/שַׂדְתָּ֥ | vesadeta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and plaster | and you lime-coated |
H7874-01 |
Deuteronomy 27:4 | וְ/שַׂדְתָּ֥ | vesadeta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and you shall plaster | and you lime-coated |