שֵׁתָה
𐤔𐤕𐤄
shêthâh
H8357 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A part of the human body referring specifically to the buttocks, or the seat, especially as the bodily area upon which one sits. The term is anatomical and generally appears in contexts involving sitting, the backside, or physical descriptions.
Semantic Range
seat (of the person), buttock, anatomical posterior
Root / Etymology
The term derives from the Hebrew root שית (sh-y-t), which carries the fundamental sense of 'to put, set, place.' The noun שֵׁתָה (shêthâh) likely developed to denote the anatomical area one places upon a seat—the buttocks—by extension from the notion of 'setting' or 'placing' oneself down.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שֵׁתָה is a rare anatomical term and occurs specifically in descriptive or legal passages where bodily parts are referenced. Its usage is not widespread in the Hebrew Bible, and it does not appear with religious, metaphorical, or symbolic implications. The term is strictly anatomical and physical, distinguishing it from other Hebrew words denoting the rear or lower parts of the body (such as עֲכֻז, 'akuz'), and is not used in euphemistic or honorific constructions. Later translations may render the term variously as 'seat,' 'buttock,' or occasionally 'posterior,' though translation to 'seat' may obscure the specifically anatomical reference. The English term 'buttock' best reflects its explicit and physical sense. There is no evidence that the term developed substantial metaphorical or extended senses in later periods.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שִׁית; the seat (of the person); buttock.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot 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 |
| H8351 | שֵׁת | Appointed One |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8357-02 |
שְׁתֽוֹתֵי/הֶ֑ם | shetoteyhem | HNcmpc/Sp3mp |
their-buttocks | their buttocks | 1 |
H8357-01 |
שֵׁ֖ת | shet | HNcmsa |
buttocks | Appointed One | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8357-02 |
2 Samuel 10:4 | שְׁתֽוֹתֵי/הֶ֑ם | shetoteyhem | HNcmpc/Sp3mp |
their-buttocks | their buttocks |
H8357-01 |
Isaiah 20:4 | שֵׁ֖ת | shet | HNcmsa |
buttocks | Appointed One |