שַׁיִת
𐤔𐤉𐤕
shayith
H7898 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A general term for wild, uncultivated vegetation, including thorny plants, briers, weeds, brush, and undergrowth that proliferates in neglected or desolate land. Used especially to denote the wild growth or thorns that overrun fields, vineyards, or previously inhabited areas after abandonment or judgment. The term does not specify a single species but encompasses a range of problematic, nuisance vegetation.
Semantic Range
wild growth, thorns, briers, scrub, brush, weeds, undergrowth, overgrown vegetation, untended plants
Root / Etymology
From the root שִׁית (to set, put, place), with שַׁיִת likely referring to that which is set or left on the ground, i.e., wild or leftover growth. The derivation emphasizes vegetation that is left to overtake a field, as opposed to intentionally planted or cultivated crops. Although connected grammatically to the idea 'to put, to set,' the lexical development is toward vegetation that grows without human intention as a result of neglect.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שַׁיִת appears primarily in poetic or prophetic passages (e.g., Isaiah 5:6, 7:23-25; Hosea 10:8) describing the consequences of neglect or divine judgment—where once-fertile land reverts to wild, thorny growth, symbolizing desolation and abandonment. It is regularly paired with terms such as שָׁמִיר (brier, bramble), emphasizing the negative transformation from productive land to wilderness. English translations often render the term as 'thorns,' 'briers,' or 'weeds,' but these do not fully capture the non-specific and collective sense of all wild, uncontrolled growth. There is no indication that שַׁיִת refers to the later flora of Hellenistic or Roman Judea; it is a native, typically Israelite period term for problematic vegetation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שִׁית; scrub or trash, i.e. wild growth of weeds or briers (as if put on the field); thorns.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שית (š-y-t) — to put, set, place
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6246 | עֲשִׁת | I will set |
| H7896 | שִׁית | I will set |
| H7897 | שִׁית | garment of |
| H8351 | שֵׁת | Appointed One |
| H8352 | שֵׁת | Appointed One |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7898-03 |
וָ/שָׁ֑יִת | vashayit | HC/Ncmsa |
and thorns | and wild overgrowth | 4 |
H7898-01 |
שַׁ֨יִת֙ | shayit | HNcmsa |
thorns | wild overgrowth | 1 |
H7898-04 |
וְ/לַ/שַּׁ֖יִת | velashayit | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and for thorns | and for the wild overgrowth | 1 |
H7898-02 |
שִׁית֥/וֹ | shito | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his thorns | his wild overgrowth | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7898-03 |
Isaiah 5:6 | וָ/שָׁ֑יִת | vashayit | HC/Ncmsa |
and thorns | and wild overgrowth |
H7898-04 |
Isaiah 7:23 | וְ/לַ/שַּׁ֖יִת | velashayit | HC/Rd/Ncmsa |
and for thorns | and for the wild overgrowth |
H7898-03 |
Isaiah 7:24 | וָ/שַׁ֖יִת | vashayit | HC/Ncmsa |
and thorns | and wild overgrowth |
H7898-03 |
Isaiah 7:25 | וָ/שָׁ֑יִת | vashayit | HC/Ncmsa |
and thorns | and wild overgrowth |
H7898-03 |
Isaiah 9:17 | וָ/שַׁ֖יִת | vashayit | HC/Ncmsa |
and thorns | and wild overgrowth |
H7898-02 |
Isaiah 10:17 | שִׁית֥/וֹ | shito | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his thorns | his wild overgrowth |
H7898-01 |
Isaiah 27:4 | שַׁ֨יִת֙ | shayit | HNcmsa |
thorns | wild overgrowth |