שָׁטַח

shâṭach /shaw-takh'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto expand
KJV usageall abroad, enlarge, spread, stretch out.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word shâṭach, represented by H7849, is a primitive root meaning to expand, enlarge, spread, or stretch out. It appears 6 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. Its core idea involves extending something over a surface or area, whether literally or figuratively.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7849 is used to describe a range of actions. In a literal sense, it depicts the Israelites who "spread them all abroad" when referring to the quails they gathered in the wilderness Numbers 11:32. It is also used to describe an act of concealment when a woman "spread ground corn" over a covering to hide a well 2 Samuel 17:19. Figuratively, it conveys a posture of supplication, as the psalmist has "stretched out my hands unto thee" in prayer Psalms 88:9. The term is also used in the context of divine judgment, where the bones of the unrighteous will be "spread them before the sun" as an act of desecration Jeremiah 8:2.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help to clarify the concept of expanding or directing:

  • H7679 sâgâʼ (to grow, i.e. (causatively) to enlarge, (figuratively) laud; increase, magnify): This word is used in parallel with H7849 to describe God's sovereign power, stating He "increaseth the nations... he enlargeth the nations" Job 12:23.
  • H6566 pâras (to break apart, disperse, etc.; break, chop in pieces, lay open, scatter, spread (abroad, forth, selves, out), stretch (forth, out)): This term appears alongside H7849 in 2 Samuel 17:19, where a woman first "spread a covering" H6566 and then "spread ground corn" H7849, showing a close, synonymous relationship in the act of covering a surface.
  • H5148 nâchâh (a primitive root; to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists); bestow, bring, govern, guide, lead (forth), put, straiten): This word is used as a direct contrast to H7849 in describing God's dominion over nations, as He "enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again" Job 12:23.

Theological Significance

The conceptual weight of H7849 illustrates themes of divine power and human response.

  • Divine Sovereignty: The word is used to describe God's absolute control over the fate of nations. He is the one who "enlargeth the nations" and also brings them to ruin, highlighting His power over history Job 12:23.
  • Physical Action and Consequence: The word describes tangible acts with significant implications, such as spreading out quail for sustenance Numbers 11:32 or spreading bones as a sign of ultimate judgment Jeremiah 8:2.
  • Posture of Prayer: By "stretching out" the hands, H7849 signifies a physical expression of earnest appeal and dependence on God during times of affliction Psalms 88:9.

Summary

In summary, H7849 is a dynamic verb that moves from the simple, physical act of spreading something out to encompassing profound concepts. It is used to illustrate God's sovereign ability to enlarge and diminish nations, as well as to describe deeply personal human actions, from a desperate cry for help in prayer to the finality of divine judgment.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms.

  • Piel Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Qal Consecutive Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 1×
  • Qal Infinitive Absolute 1×
  • Qal Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
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.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal
The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Piel
The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Consecutive Perfect
Perfect with vav — continues a sequence into the future.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 5 verses across 5 books. Most frequent in Numbers (1 verses).

1
Numbers
1
2 Samuel
1
Job
1
Psalms
1
Jeremiah

Verse Explorer

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