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שֵׁת

𐤔𐤕

Shet

H8351 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שאה to crash, devastate, cause tumult

Definition

A proper name designating an individual ('Sheth'), and in rare contexts a term relating to a tumult, strong disturbance, or perhaps a tribe or people associated with tumultuous power. In biblical use, primarily attested as a personal name (see Genesis 4:25; properly elsewhere as שֵׁת), but also in one poetic passage as a collective group, likely symbolizing primal humanity or nations of ancient renown.

Semantic Range

proper name (Sheth/Seth), tumult, possible legendary tribe or people group, chaotic force, symbolic reference to primordial humanity

Root / Etymology

The word derives either from the root שָׁאָה (sha'ah, 'to crash, make a noise, devastate') or, in the case of the personal name, is also associated with שֵׁת (Seth), the son of Adam. The connection between the two roots and the form שֵׁת/שֵׁת is debated. In Numbers 24:17, the form שֵׁת/שֵׁת may have an extended meaning of 'tumult' or point to a person or people named Sheth.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Genesis, the term occurs as the name of the son of Adam (שֵׁת; Seth in later English tradition), the progenitor of a major line of humanity for the Israelites. In Numbers 24:17, the singular use 'בְּנֵי־שֵׁת' ('children of Sheth') appears in Balaam's prophecy and is interpreted variously as a reference to humanity, a legendary ancient tribe, or as related to tumult or uproar. Most English translations render this as a proper name ('Sheth'), but others interpret it in terms of a condition or abstract ('tumult'). The identification is complicated by limited attestation and possible confusion with the related root consonants for 'tumult' or 'destruction.' The later English form 'Seth' reflects post-biblical transliteration traditions. Care should be taken not to anachronistically ascribe later religious identity or significance to the personal name in early Israelite texts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Numbers from שָׁאָה; tumult; Sheth.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שית (sh-y-t) — to put, to set, to place, to appoint

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6246 עֲשִׁת I will set
H7896 שִׁית I will set
H7897 שִׁית garment of
H7898 שַׁיִת wild overgrowth
H8352 שֵׁת Appointed One

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8351-01 שֵֽׁת shet HNp Sheth Appointed One 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8351-01 Numbers 24:17 שֵֽׁת shet HNp Sheth Appointed One
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