שְׁפוֹט
𐤔𐤐𐤅𐤈
shᵉphôwṭ
H8196 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A legal decision or decree handed down by an authority, with the primary focus on the formal act of rendering judgment, a judicial sentence, or the resulting punishment. The term closely relates to the process or result of adjudication, often but not exclusively in civil or criminal contexts.
Semantic Range
judicial sentence, formal legal decision, verdict, pronounced punishment, decree of judgment
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁפַט (šāphaṭ), meaning 'to judge, govern, exercise authority.' The form שְׁפוֹט (shᵉphôṭ) is a nominal form, referring to the result or content of judging, that is, the judicial sentence or verdict itself. Derivation is by the standard pattern of a noun formed from the Qal verb.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שְׁפוֹט is a rare noun form constructed from the root שָׁפַט. It appears in contexts emphasizing the formal outcome or declaration of a judging process rather than the action or personal role of the judge (which is שֹׁפֵט). The usage is generally associated with formal decisions rendered by a court or authority. The semantic field overlaps partially with מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat, 'judgment, legal decision, justice'), but שְׁפוֹט more narrowly denotes the act of sentencing or the sentence itself, usually pronounced as a decision (sometimes including punishment). English translations often use 'judgment' or 'sentence,' but the Hebrew conveys a specific focus on the formal, pronounced decision—distinct from the ongoing concept of justice or law (mishpat). Occurs in a small number of biblical texts, often in poetic or formal legal language. Over time, מִשְׁפָּט became the standard term for a broader scope of legal or social justice, while שְׁפוֹט retained a narrower, decree/judgment sense.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or שְׁפוּט; from שָׁפַט; a judicial sentence, i.e. punishment; judgment.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שפט (š-p-ṭ) — to judge, decide, govern, pronounce judgment
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3092 | יְהוֹשָׁפָט | to YHWH-has-judged |
| H478 | אֱלִישָׁפָט | El has judged |
| H4941 | מִשְׁפָּט | according to your ruling |
| H8199 | שָׁפַט | in his being judged |
| H8200 | שְׁפַט | judging ones |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8196-01 |
שְׁפוֹט֮ | shefot | HNcmsa |
judgment | Pronounce judgment! | 1 |
H8196-02 |
וּ/שְׁפוּטִ֖ים | ushefutim | HC/Ncmpa |
and judgments | judicial sentences | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8196-02 |
Ezekiel 23:10 | וּ/שְׁפוּטִ֖ים | ushefutim | HC/Ncmpa |
and judgments | judicial sentences |
H8196-01 |
2 Chronicles 20:9 | שְׁפוֹט֮ | shefot | HNcmsa |
judgment | Pronounce judgment! |