Word Study for H7761 (שׂוּם) | Strong's Concordance

sûwm /soom/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to שׂוּם

Meaning(to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically))

KJV usagegive, lay, make, set.

Idioms & phrasesphrase command · phrase name · phrase regard

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of sûwm — 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 Aramaic word śûwm, represented by H7761, is a versatile verb corresponding to the Hebrew שׂוּם. Its core meaning is to put or set, but its application is broad, encompassing actions like to command, give, lay, make, name, or regard. It appears 26 times across 25 unique verses, primarily in the books of Ezra and Daniel.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical Aramaic, H7761 is frequently used to express the exercise of royal authority. Kings like Darius, Cyrus, and Nebuchadnezzar are repeatedly shown to make a decree (Ezra 6:1; Daniel 3:10). This action establishes law, as when Darius made a decree that the God of Daniel should be feared Daniel 6:26. The word is also used to denote appointments, such as when Cyrus made Sheshbazzar governor Ezra 5:14, or to assign an identity, as when the king named Daniel Belteshazzar Daniel 5:12. Its usage extends to physical actions, like when timber is laid in the walls of the temple Ezra 5:8 and a stone was laid on the mouth of the lions' den Daniel 6:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words clarify the contexts in which H7761 is used:

H2942 ṭᵉʻêm (commandment, decree, regard): This word is often the direct object of H7761, forming the common phrase to "make a decree" or "give a command" (Ezra 6:3; Daniel 4:6). It is also used to mean "regard," as when Daniel was accused of not having regarded the king Daniel 6:13.
H6347 pechâh (governor): This title for a prefect is used in connection with H7761 to describe the act of appointing someone to a position of authority, as seen when Cyrus made Sheshbazzar governor Ezra 5:14.
H8036 shum (name): This word for "name" is used when H7761 describes the act of bestowing a name upon someone, establishing their identity or title Daniel 5:12.
H1124 bᵉnâʼ (to build): Decrees that are "made" using H7761 often give the command to build something, such as the house of God in Jerusalem Ezra 5:17.

Theological Significance

The significance of H7761 is tied to the establishment of order and the execution of authority.

Royal Edicts: The word is a primary vehicle for demonstrating the power of kings to legislate and command. The act of "making" H7761 a decree H2942 is the foundation for major events and legal judgments in Ezra and Daniel (Ezra 7:21; Daniel 3:29).
Delegation of Power: It is used to show how authority is conferred. A king can "make" someone a governor Ezra 5:14 or "set" officials over certain affairs Daniel 3:12, thereby extending his rule.
Implementing Consequences: The decrees made with H7761 often carry severe punishments. For example, a command is given to make the houses of those who disobey into a dunghill Daniel 2:5.
Figurative Action: Beyond literal commands, the word can express internal resolve, as when King Darius set his heart on delivering Daniel Daniel 6:14.

Summary

In summary, H7761 is a crucial Aramaic action word that signifies the act of putting something into place. While it can describe simple physical placement, its primary role in Scripture is to articulate the exercise of power. From the highest royal decrees that shape the fate of nations to the appointment of officials and the assignment of names, śûwm is the verb that makes it happen, establishing a new reality through a definitive act of setting or making.

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 26 occurrences, inflected in 10 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.

שָׂם
שִׂים
יִתְּשָׂמוּן
יִתְּשָׂם
מִתְּשָׂם
שִׂימוּ
שָׂמֶת
שָׂמְתָּ
שָׂמוּ
שֻׂמַת

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

Appears in 25 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezra (15 verses); never once in the other 37.

Ezra

Daniel

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.