Word Study for H7590 (שָׁאט) | Strong's Concordance

shâʼṭ /shawt/ Ask about this word

Rootfor active part of שׂוּט (compare שְׁאָט)

Meaningone contemning

KJV usagethat (which) despise(-d).

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shâʼṭ — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word shâʼṭ, represented by H7590, means to despise or contemn. It is a rare term, appearing only 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Its usage is concentrated in the book of Ezekiel, where it describes the contemptuous attitude of surrounding nations toward Israel.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7590 is consistently used to describe the external opposition faced by the house of Israel. The Philistines and other neighbors are identified as those who despise Israel, an action linked with their own reproach and wickedness Ezekiel 16:57. This contempt is not passive but is characterized as a source of active affliction, like a "pricking brier" and a "grieving thorn" to God's people Ezekiel 28:24. God promises to execute judgment on these despisers, which will lead to Israel dwelling in safety Ezekiel 28:26.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of contempt and its effects:

H2781 cherpâh (contumely, disgrace, the pudenda; rebuke, reproach(-fully), shame): This term is used in direct connection with being despised, highlighting the shame and disgrace that contempt brings upon its target Ezekiel 16:57.
H3510 kâʼab (properly, to feel pain; by implication, to grieve; figuratively, to spoil; grieving, mar, have pain, make sad (sore), (be) sorrowful): This word is used to describe the effect of being despised, portraying it as a "grieving thorn" that causes pain and sorrow to the house of Israel Ezekiel 28:24.
H3992 mâʼar (a primitive root; to be bitter or (causatively) to embitter, i.e. be painful; fretting, picking): Also appearing in Ezekiel 28:24, it describes those who despise Israel as a "pricking brier," emphasizing the irritating and painful nature of their contempt.
H7451 raʻ (bad or (as noun) evil): In Ezekiel 16:57, the time of being despised is associated with the discovery of Jerusalem's "wickedness," providing a moral context for the actions and attitudes involved.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7590 is significant within its limited context. It illustrates key principles regarding God's relationship with His people and their enemies.

Contempt as Affliction: The word is explicitly linked to physical and emotional pain, defining those who despise Israel as a "pricking brier" and a "grieving thorn," demonstrating that God views contempt against His people as a source of tangible suffering Ezekiel 28:24.
Divine Judgment: God's response to this contempt is not passive. He promises to execute "judgments upon all those that despise them," positioning the act of despising as a transgression that warrants divine retribution Ezekiel 28:26.
Vindication and Knowledge of God: The ultimate purpose of judging those who show contempt is the security of Israel and, more importantly, the revelation of God's identity. The outcome is that "they shall know that I am the LORD their God" Ezekiel 28:26.

Summary

In summary, H7590 is a focused term that defines the hostile contempt of nations surrounding Israel. Though used sparingly, it carries significant weight in the book of Ezekiel, framing contempt not merely as an attitude but as a source of active affliction causing grief and pain. Its theological importance lies in showing that God acknowledges and judges the contempt directed at His people, using it as a backdrop to demonstrate His power and vindicate His name.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

שָּׁאטִים
שָּׁאטוֹת

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

3 verses, all in Ezekiel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.