### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **shad**, represented by `{{H7699}}`, refers to the **breast**, **pap**, or **teat**. It appears 24 times across 24 unique verses in the Bible. While its primary meaning is anatomical, the term is used to convey profound concepts of nourishment, blessing, intimacy, and a nation's relationship with God.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical literature, `{{H7699}}` is used in several distinct contexts. It signifies the earliest stage of life and dependence, as when Job questions why he was given "the breasts that I should suck" [[Job 3:12]] or when Isaiah describes those "drawn from the breasts" [[Isaiah 28:9]]. The term is also a symbol of divine blessing and fertility, notably in Jacob's prophecy, which includes "blessings of the breasts, and of the womb" [[Genesis 49:25]]. In the Song of Solomon, it is a key element in descriptions of love and beauty, as in the praise "Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins" [[Song of Solomon 4:5]]. Prophetically, it can represent spiritual unfaithfulness, such as when Hosea calls for Israel to put away adulteries "from between her breasts" [[Hosea 2:2]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help illustrate the full scope of nourishment and maternity:
* `{{H3243}}` **yânaq** (to suck): This verb describes the action directly associated with the breast, fundamental to the concept of receiving sustenance. It is used in passages describing nursing children [[Joel 2:16]] and metaphorically, as when Zion is promised it will "suck the breast of kings" [[Isaiah 60:16]].
* `{{H2461}}` **châlâb** (milk): This word for the substance provided by the breast is often used in parallel. A person is "weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts" [[Isaiah 28:9]], showing the direct connection between the source and the sustenance.
* `{{H517}}` **ʼêm** (a mother): The breast is intrinsically linked to motherhood. The bond is highlighted in phrases like "upon my mother's breasts" [[Psalms 22:9]] and "that sucked the breasts of my mother" [[Song of Solomon 8:1]].
* `{{H990}}` **beṭen** (the belly, especially the womb): This term is often paired with `{{H7699}}` to encompass the full scope of maternal nurture, from gestation to infancy. The Psalmist praises God who "took me out of the womb" and gave him hope "upon my mother's breasts" [[Psalms 22:9]].
* `{{H1717}}` **dad** (the breast): This word for breast or teat appears alongside `{{H7699}}` in Ezekiel's depiction of Israel's youthful unfaithfulness, where the "teats of their virginity" were bruised ([[Ezekiel 23:3]], [[Ezekiel 23:21]]).
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7699}}` extends from the personal to the national.
* **Divine Provision and Blessing:** The term is established as a symbol of God-given prosperity. In Genesis, the Almighty's blessing includes fruitfulness of "the breasts, and of the womb" [[Genesis 49:25]]. Conversely, a curse is described as a "miscarrying womb and dry breasts" [[Hosea 9:14]].
* **National Consolation:** Isaiah uses the imagery of nursing to depict Israel's future restoration. The people are told they will "suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations," signifying a time of comfort and glorious abundance provided by God through Jerusalem [[Isaiah 66:11]].
* **Symbol of Maturity and Intimacy:** In the Song of Solomon, breasts represent maturity and readiness for love. The young sister who "hath no breasts" is not yet ready for marriage [[Song of Solomon 8:8]], while the beloved, whose "breasts like towers" have found favor, is celebrated [[Song of Solomon 8:10]].
* **Metaphor for Spiritual Fidelity:** The prophets use the breast to symbolize Israel's covenant relationship with God. Ezekiel's allegory of the two sisters describes their youthful idolatry in Egypt as a time when "their breasts were pressed," representing a foundational spiritual unfaithfulness [[Ezekiel 23:3]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7699}}` is far more than a simple anatomical reference. It is a cornerstone biblical symbol for life's most foundational relationships. It carries layers of meaning, from the literal dependence of an infant on its mother to the spiritual dependence of a nation on God's provision. The word illustrates concepts of blessing, intimacy, maturity, and the profound consequences of spiritual fidelity or betrayal.
TRV