English · KJV
H8132

שָׁנָא

shânâʼ /shaw-naw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto alter
KJV usagechange.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shânâʼ — 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 shânâʼ, represented by H8132, is a primitive root meaning to alter or change. It appears only 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, yet each instance describes a significant and fundamental transformation. The word is applied to personal appearance, physical objects, and items of immense value.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H8132 conveys different kinds of alteration. In Lamentations, it is used to mourn a loss of quality, describing how the most fine gold H3800 has changed Lamentations 4:1, signifying corruption and a fall from a state of glory. Conversely, it can describe a positive change in status, as when King Jehoiachin had his prison H3608 garments changed H8132, symbolizing his release and restoration to favor 2 Kings 25:29. It is also used to describe how a man's wisdom H2451 can cause the boldness H5797 of his face H6440 to be changed Ecclesiastes 8:1.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide deeper context for the types of change described:

  • H2451 chokmâh (wisdom): Defined as "wisdom (in a good sense)," this is the catalyst for the positive personal transformation described in Ecclesiastes 8:1, where it alters a man's countenance.
  • H899 beged (garment): Meaning "a covering, i.e. clothing," the changing of these items in 2 Kings 25:29 is the external sign of a profound change in a person's life and status.
  • H3800 kethem (fine gold): This term for "gold (pure as originally mined)" is the object that is negatively changed in Lamentations 4:1, highlighting a theme of degradation and the loss of what was once precious and sacred.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H8132 is demonstrated through its varied applications.

  • Transformation by Wisdom: The word shows that inner qualities like wisdom H2451 can produce an external, visible change H8132, altering a person's very face and demeanor Ecclesiastes 8:1.
  • Restoration and Grace: A change in status from a prisoner to an honored guest is marked by the changing of garments, illustrating a complete reversal of circumstance initiated by a king's favor 2 Kings 25:29.
  • Corruption of the Holy: The word is used to express profound grief over the degradation of sacred things. The lament that fine gold H3800 and the stones H68 of the sanctuary H6944 have been changed speaks to a loss of holiness and divine glory Lamentations 4:1.

Summary

In summary, though rare, H8132 is a potent word that signifies a fundamental alteration. It is versatile enough to describe a positive change brought by wisdom, a circumstantial change from imprisonment to freedom, and a tragic change representing the corruption of what was once pure. It effectively captures the biblical concept that people, circumstances, and even sacred objects are subject to profound and meaningful change.

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 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • שִׁנָּא
  • יְשֻׁנֶּא
  • יִשְׁנֶא

Related Words

Related

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.

H3800 כֶּתֶם from כָּתַם; properly, something carved out, i.e. ore; hence, gold (pure as originally mined); ((most) fine, pure) gold( H3608 כֶּלֶא from כָּלָא; a prison; prison. Compare כִּלְאַיִם, כְּלִיא. H2451 חׇכְמָה from חָכַם; wisdom (in a good sense); skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit. H5797 עֹז or (fully) עוֹז; from עָזַז; strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise); boldness, loud, might, H6440 פָּנִים plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a gre H899 בֶּגֶד from בָּגַד; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage; apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment,

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 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 2 Kings, Ecclesiastes, and Lamentations (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1
2 Kings
1
Ecclesiastes
1
Lamentations

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.