### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **shîyth**, represented by `{{H7897}}`, means **attire** or a dress as it is put on. It is a rare term, appearing only **2 times** in **2 unique verses** in the Bible. In both instances, it describes an outward covering that reveals something significant about the character or state of the person wearing it.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H7897}}` is employed to illustrate negative qualities. In Proverbs, it describes the "attire of an harlot" which signals a woman who is "subtil of heart" [[Proverbs 7:10]]. In Psalms, the word is used metaphorically to depict the wicked, for whom "violence covereth them as a garment" [[Psalms 73:6]]. In this context, the garment is not literal cloth but the violence that envelops their lives, worn as openly as clothing.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words from its occurrences highlight the themes of sin and corruption:
* `{{H2181}}` **zânâh** (harlot): This word, used to describe the woman in [[Proverbs 7:10]], means to commit adultery or, figuratively, to commit idolatry. Scripture uses it to describe Israel's "whorish heart" which has departed from God [[Ezekiel 6:9]].
* `{{H1346}}` **gaʼăvâh** (pride): In [[Psalms 73:6]], pride is what "compasseth" the wicked like a chain, alongside their garment of violence. The term denotes arrogance and haughtiness, and scripture warns that "a man's pride shall bring him low" [[Proverbs 29:23]].
* `{{H2555}}` **châmâç** (violence): This is what serves as the metaphorical "garment" `{{H7897}}` of the wicked. It signifies violence and wrong, a quality the LORD's soul hates in a person [[Psalms 11:5]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7897}}` is found in its consistent association with sin's outward manifestation.
* **External Symbol of Inner Corruption:** The "attire of an harlot" [[Proverbs 7:10]] is not merely clothing but a deliberate external sign of an inner state of unfaithfulness and subtlety, which is compared to idolatry [[Deuteronomy 31:16]].
* **The Garment of Wickedness:** By describing violence as a "garment," scripture shows that for the wicked, sin is not an isolated act but a defining characteristic that clothes their very being [[Psalms 73:6]].
* **A Covering of Deception:** The attire in [[Proverbs 7:10]] is worn by one who is "subtil of heart," linking the outward appearance to a guarded or concealed nature. The word for "subtil" `{{H5341}}` also means to guard or hide, suggesting the attire is part of a deceitful presentation.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7897}}` is more than just a word for "attire." Though rare, its uses are potent, consistently linking a person's outward covering to their inner moral and spiritual condition. It serves as a powerful metaphor for how character, whether violent pride or sexual unfaithfulness, becomes the very garment by which a person is identified in the biblical text.
TRV