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שְׁמִטָּה

𐤔𐤌𐤈𐤄

shᵉmiṭṭâh

H8059 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Remission, particularly the mandated release from debt or cessation of agricultural activity occurring at fixed intervals (every seventh year, as described in the Torah); the legal or ritualized 'release' of financial or agricultural obligations, especially as part of the sabbatical year practice. The term denotes both the act and the period of suspension, release, or letting drop.

Semantic Range

remission (of debts), release (from obligations), suspension (of agricultural labor), sabbatical year, the act or period of release

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root שׁמט (sh-m-ṭ), which carries the core sense of 'to let drop, release, let fall.' The noun שְׁמִטָּה derives from the verbal root, signifying 'a letting go' or 'release.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

שְׁמִטָּה is chiefly used in the context of the Israelite legal and agricultural practice known as the sabbatical year (Leviticus 25:2-7; Deuteronomy 15:1-11), when land is left fallow and debts are released. The term appears primarily in post-patriarchal, Torah legislation contexts, where it represents an important socio-economic institution designed to provide relief and reset inequalities. The use of שְׁמִטָּה outside legal codes is rare in the Hebrew Bible. In much later Jewish tradition, 'shemittah' continues as the rabbinic term for the sabbatical year, with expanded interpretations, but these reflect post-biblical developments. English translations such as 'release' or 'remission' capture part of the meaning, but do not reflect the full ritual and social connotations the term carried for Israelites.

Translation Consistency

primary "release" 5 occurrences

“Release” is the most natural, commonly used English word that covers the full SILEX range (remission of debts, release from obligations, suspension of activity, the sabbatical-year release). It is more idiomatic than “remission” and more accurate than “mandated,” and works well as a consistent base term for all forms of שְׁמִטָּה in the translation.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁמַט; remission (of debt) or suspension of labor); release.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁמט (sh-m-ṭ) — to let drop, to release, to let fall

Root שׁמט to let drop, to release, to let fall

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8059-01 הַ/שְּׁמִטָּה֒ hashemitah HTd/Ncfsa of release the release the release 3
H8059-02 שְׁמִטָּֽה shemitah HNcfsa a release mandated release mandated release 2

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8059-02 Deuteronomy 15:1 שְׁמִטָּֽה shemitah HNcfsa a release mandated release mandated release
H8059-01 Deuteronomy 15:2 הַ/שְּׁמִטָּה֒ hashemitah HTd/Ncfsa the-release the release the release
H8059-02 Deuteronomy 15:2 שְׁמִטָּ֖ה shemitah HNcfsa release mandated release mandated release
H8059-01 Deuteronomy 15:9 הַ/שְּׁמִטָּה֒ hashemitah HTd/Ncfsa of-release the release the release
H8059-01 Deuteronomy 31:10 הַ/שְּׁמִטָּ֖ה hashemitah HTd/Ncfsa of release the release the release
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