Word Study for H7852 (שָׂטַם)

sâṭam /saw-tam'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningproperly, to lurk for, i.e. persecute

KJV usagehate, oppose self against.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of sâṭam — 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 sâṭam, represented by H7852, is a primitive root that means to lurk for, i.e. persecute; hate, oppose self against. It appears 6 times in 6 unique verses, highlighting specific instances of intense animosity and opposition.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7852 often describes deep-seated, personal animosity. The most prominent example is Esau's H6215 hatred for Jacob after being deceived of his blessing, a hatred so intense it led him to plot murder Genesis 27:41. Similarly, Joseph's brothers feared he would hate them and retaliate for their past evil Genesis 50:15. The term is also used to express the anguish of the afflicted; Job uses it to describe the hostile opposition he feels from an enemy Job 16:9 and even from God Job 30:21, while the psalmist laments the oppression H6125 of the wicked H7563 who hate him in wrath H639 Psalms 55:3.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words illuminate the nature and consequences of the hatred described by sâṭam:

H2026 hârag (to smite with deadly intent; slay): This word reveals the ultimate outcome of the hatred expressed by sâṭam. Esau's hatred for Jacob is immediately followed by his intention to slay him Genesis 27:41.
H639 'aph (anger, wrath): This term is frequently paired with H7852, indicating that this form of hatred is not passive but is fueled by active wrath. This is seen when the psalmist describes his enemies who "in wrath they hate me" Psalms 55:3 and in Job's lament Job 16:9.
H7563 râshâʻ (wicked (man)): The hatred of sâṭam is often characterized as an action of the wicked. In Psalms 55:3, the psalmist endures hatred as part of the "oppression of the wicked," linking this animosity to moral corruption.

Theological Significance

The concept of H7852 carries significant weight, illustrating themes of conflict and suffering.

Destructive Animosity: The word is used to describe a deep and active hostility that often leads to persecution or violence. Esau's hatred for Jacob is a clear example, where the feeling is immediately connected to a plan to slay H2026 his brother Genesis 27:41.
Source of Oppression: Sâṭam is identified as a tool of the wicked H7563 to inflict suffering. The psalmist links the "voice of the enemy" and the "oppression H6125 of the wicked" directly to the fact that "in wrath H639 they hate me" Psalms 55:3.
Perceived Divine Opposition: In the book of Job, the term is used to express the profound anguish of a sufferer who feels he is being unjustly targeted. Job describes God as becoming cruel H393 and using his power to oppose him Job 30:21, framing his suffering as a form of divine hatred.

Summary

In summary, H7852 sâṭam is not a term for passive dislike but for an active, persecuting hatred. It captures the animosity that drives familial conflict, the oppression of the wicked, and the desperate cries of those who feel unjustly opposed. Its limited but powerful usage in scripture paints a stark picture of a destructive force rooted in wrath and bent on harm.

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 6 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 2×
Qal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
Qal Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
Qal Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
Qal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
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".
Qal: The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Consecutive Imperfect: Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

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 6 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis (3 verses); never once in the other 36.

Genesis

Job

Psalms

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, 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.