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שָׁעַע

𐤔𐤏𐤏

shâʻaʻ

H8173 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׁ-ע-ע to delight, to indulge, to fondle, to play

Definition

To delight in, to take pleasure, to be fond of; also, to indulge or amuse oneself. In certain contexts, can bear the sense of seeking or expressing delight, or engaging in lighthearted play or dallying. Rarely, the root can be associated with gazing (typically with intent or fondness). In some late poetic or post-biblical usages, possible connotations of comfort or seeking entertainment appear.

Semantic Range

to delight in, to take pleasure, to amuse oneself, to indulge, to comfort, to dandle (a child), to fondle, to play, to be soft or pliant, to be amused

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁעַע (שׁ-ע-ע), which bears the core idea of experiencing or expressing delight or pleasure. The root meaning is 'to be soft, to dally, to indulge,' from which the verbal forms come to signify delighting, being amused, or fondling. The semantic development includes both physical and abstract modes of pleasure or play. Some forms are possibly influenced by onomatopoeic or intensive reduplicative construction. Occasional confusion in derivation and meaning with the similar root שָׁוַע ('to cry out') in medieval lexicons has led to misattributions in some translations.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׁעַע is rare in the Hebrew Bible and is primarily found in poetic texts (e.g., Isaiah 66:12; 11:8; 29:9; Psalm 119:70). In several passages (e.g., Isaiah 66:12), it refers to being comforted or fondled, especially in a nurturing context like a mother with her child (dandling). In others (Ps 119:70), it describes individuals delighting themselves in something (often in a negative sense, as in 'callous delight'). The term can also appear with a nuance of being amused or playful, as with young children. Usage is often metaphorical or emotive, and never standardized to describe religious or sacred delight or joy. Later rabbinic Hebrew developed related terms (e.g. שַׁעֲשוּעִים) for 'delights' or 'playthings,' owed to the same root. English translations often use 'delight,' 'play,' 'dandle,' or 'comfort,' but none captures the range between physical fondling and emotional satisfaction. The suggestion in Strong's of 'to look about (in dismay),' seems due to confusion with other similarly spelled roots and is not attested in direct biblical usage of שָׁעַע. Likewise, 'cry (out)' is an error, likely from confusion with שָׁוַע (H7769).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; (in a good acceptation) to look upon (with complacency), i.e. fondle, please or amuse (self); (in a bad one) to look about (in dismay), i.e. stare; cry (out) (by confusion with שָׁוַע), dandle, delight (self), play, shut.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁ-ע-ע (sh-ʿ-ʿ) — delight, indulgence, fondling, playful pleasure

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8173-06 וָ/שֹׁ֑עוּ vashou HC/Vqv2mp and-be-blind and delight yourselves 1
H8173-09 יְֽשַׁעַשְׁע֥וּ yeshaasheu HVli3mp delight they will delight themselves 1
H8173-03 הִשְׁתַּֽעַשְׁע֖וּ hishetaasheu HVfv2mp blind-yourselves delight yourselves 1
H8173-04 שִֽׁעֲשָֽׁעְתִּי shiashaeti HVlp1cs delight in I delighted myself 1
H8173-01 אֶֽשְׁתַּעֲשָׁ֑ע eshetaasha HVfi1cs I will delight myself I will delight myself 1
H8173-07 וְ/אֶשְׁתַּֽעֲשַׁ֥ע veeshetaasha HC/Vfi1cs And I will delight myself I will delight myself 1
H8173-02 הָשַׁ֑ע hasha HVhv2ms smear shut cause yourself to delight 1
H8173-05 תְּשָׁעֳשָֽׁעוּ teshaoshau HVLi2mp you-shall-be-dandled you will delight yourselves 1
H8173-08 וְ/שִֽׁעֲשַׁ֥ע veshiasha HC/Vlq3ms and will play he delighted himself 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8173-02 Isaiah 6:10 הָשַׁ֑ע hasha HVhv2ms smear shut cause yourself to delight
H8173-08 Isaiah 11:8 וְ/שִֽׁעֲשַׁ֥ע veshiasha HC/Vlq3ms and will play he delighted himself
H8173-03 Isaiah 29:9 הִשְׁתַּֽעַשְׁע֖וּ hishetaasheu HVfv2mp blind-yourselves delight yourselves
H8173-06 Isaiah 29:9 וָ/שֹׁ֑עוּ vashou HC/Vqv2mp and-be-blind and delight yourselves
H8173-05 Isaiah 66:12 תְּשָׁעֳשָֽׁעוּ teshaoshau HVLi2mp you-shall-be-dandled you will delight yourselves
H8173-09 Psalms 94:19 יְֽשַׁעַשְׁע֥וּ yeshaasheu HVli3mp delight they will delight themselves
H8173-01 Psalms 119:16 אֶֽשְׁתַּעֲשָׁ֑ע eshetaasha HVfi1cs I will delight myself I will delight myself
H8173-07 Psalms 119:47 וְ/אֶשְׁתַּֽעֲשַׁ֥ע veeshetaasha HC/Vfi1cs And I will delight myself I will delight myself
H8173-04 Psalms 119:70 שִֽׁעֲשָֽׁעְתִּי shiashaeti HVlp1cs delight in I delighted myself
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