סוּת

çûwth /sooth/ Ask about this word
Rootperhaps denominative from שַׁיִת · properly, to prick, i.e. (figuratively) stimulate
Meaningby implication, to seduce
KJV usageentice, move, persuade, provoke, remove, set on, stir up, take away.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word çûwth, represented by H5496, describes the act of stimulating or goading someone into action. It appears 18 times across 18 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning is multifaceted, conveying a range of actions from persuading and moving to provoking and enticing, often with significant spiritual implications.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H5496 is used to illustrate influence from various sources. It can describe negative enticement, such as a family member secretly urging someone to "go and serve other gods" Deuteronomy 13:6. It is also used for hostile provocation, as when Jezebel stirred up her husband Ahab to do evil 1 Kings 21:25. In a political context, an Assyrian official warns the people of Judah not to let their king persuade them that the LORD will deliver them Isaiah 36:18. The word can also describe a personal request, as when Caleb's daughter moved him to ask for a field Judges 1:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and consequences of being stirred up or persuaded:

  • H7854 sâṭân (adversary, Satan, withstand): This term for an opponent is directly linked to H5496, as seen when Satan stood up and provoked David to number Israel 1 Chronicles 21:1.
  • H2734 chârâh (be angry, burn, be displeased): This word for burning anger often precedes an act of provocation. The anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them 2 Samuel 24:1.
  • H5647 ʻâbad (to serve): This is often the goal of the enticement described by H5496. The central warning in Deuteronomy is against being secretly persuaded to go and serve other gods Deuteronomy 13:6.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5496 is significant, highlighting the sources and results of spiritual influence.

  • The Source of Incitement: The stimulus can come from different agents. God himself moved David 2 Samuel 24:1, while Satan also provoked him 1 Chronicles 21:1. Satan is shown moving God against Job Job 2:3, and humans are warned against enticing each other away from God Deuteronomy 13:6.
  • Persuasion Toward Sin: The word is often used in the context of being persuaded to commit a sinful or foolish act. Jezebel stirred up Ahab to work wickedness 1 Kings 21:25, and Baruch was accused of setting on Jeremiah to deliver the people to the Chaldeans Jeremiah 43:3.
  • Divine and Adversarial Conflict: The parallel accounts of David's census show a complex interaction where both God and Satan are described as the "mover" using the same verb. This demonstrates the word's capacity to describe actions within the scope of both divine judgment and adversarial temptation.

Summary

In summary, H5496 is a powerful verb that signifies more than a simple suggestion. It depicts an active and often forceful stimulation intended to provoke a specific outcome. Whether used to describe the divine will, an adversarial attack, or human enticement, çûwth consistently points to a pivotal moment of influence that can lead to either obedience or transgression, highlighting the critical nature of responding to the forces that stir the human heart.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 18 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms.

  • Hiphil Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 5×
  • Hiphil Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 4×
  • Hiphil Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 2×
  • Hiphil Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 2×
  • Hiphil Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Hiphil Consecutive Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Hiphil Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 1×
  • Hiphil Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 18 verses across 12 books. Most frequent in 2 Chronicles (4 verses).

1
Deuteronomy
1
Joshua
1
Judges
1
1 Samuel
1
2 Samuel
1
1 Kings
1
2 Kings
1
1 Chronicles
4
2 Chronicles
3
Job
1
Isaiah
2
Jeremiah

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