English · KJV
H8133

שְׁנָא

shᵉnâʼ /shen-aw'/ Ask about this word
Root(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁנָא
Meaning(to alter)
KJV usagealter, change, (be) diverse.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shᵉnâʼ — 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 shᵉnâʼ, represented by H8133, means to alter, change, or be diverse. It appears 21 times across 21 unique verses, primarily in the book of Daniel. The word is used to describe a wide range of transformations, from the altering of laws and the passage of time to changes in a person's physical appearance or fundamental nature.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narrative, H8133 is used to illustrate concepts of power and authority. God is the one who ultimately "changeth the times and the seasons" Daniel 2:21, demonstrating his sovereignty. In contrast, an antagonistic kingly power "think to change times and laws" Daniel 7:25 in an act of rebellion. The term also describes visible transformations, such as King Nebuchadnezzar's visage being "changed" with fury Daniel 3:19 and King Belshazzar's countenance being "changed" with fear Daniel 5:6. It is also used in its adjectival sense to describe the prophetic beasts in Daniel's vision, which are "diverse one from another" Daniel 7:3, with the fourth beast being uniquely "diverse from all the beasts that were before it" Daniel 7:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the act of changing or being different:

  • H5709 ʻădâʼ (alter, depart, pass (away), remove, take (away)): This word often appears alongside H8133, emphasizing the removal or departure of a current state. God "changeth" times and "removeth" kings Daniel 2:21, and the law of the Medes and Persians "altereth not" Daniel 6:8.
  • H1882 dâth (a royal edict or statute): This is frequently the object that is either subject to change or protected from it. An enemy power seeks to "change" laws Daniel 7:25, and kings establish decrees that cannot be "changed" Daniel 6:8.
  • H5732 ʻiddân (a set time; technically, a year): This word for time is directly affected by the power to change. God "changeth the times" Daniel 2:21, and Nebuchadnezzar's heart is "changed" while seven "times" pass over him Daniel 4:16.
  • H1763 dᵉchal (dreadful, terrible): The fourth beast in Daniel's vision is described as both "diverse" H8133 and "dreadful" H1763, linking its uniqueness to the fear it inspires (Daniel 7:7, Daniel 7:19).

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H8133 is significant, highlighting key contrasts between divine and human power.

  • Sovereign Authority: The ability to "change" times, seasons, and rulers is presented as a definitive mark of God's supreme power over all creation and human history Daniel 2:21.
  • Unalterable Will: The word is used negatively to reinforce permanence. Decrees from Darius and Artaxerxes are protected from being "altered" (Ezra 6:11, Daniel 6:8), establishing a parallel to God's own immutable purposes, such as his plan for Daniel that could not "be changed" Daniel 6:17.
  • Prophetic Uniqueness: When used as "diverse," the word marks entities of great prophetic importance. The distinct nature of the fourth beast signals its unparalleled role and impact on the world (Daniel 7:7, Daniel 7:23).
  • Human Frailty and Judgment: The word often describes the physical reaction of powerful kings to divine revelation or judgment, as their countenances are "changed" by fear, revealing their vulnerability before God (Daniel 5:6, Daniel 5:9, Daniel 5:10).

Summary

In summary, H8133 is a dynamic word that captures the essence of transformation, authority, and distinction. From God's sovereign power to alter the course of history to the unchangeable nature of a royal decree, and from a king's fearful expression to a uniquely terrifying beast in a vision, shᵉnâʼ illustrates the profound impact of change. It serves as a crucial term for understanding the themes of power, law, and prophecy within the Aramaic portions of Scripture.

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 20 occurrences, inflected in 15 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

  • Hiphil Infinitive Construct 4×
  • Peal Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 2×
  • Peal Perfect 3rd Plural Masculine 2×
  • Haphel Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Haphel Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 1×
  • Hitpeel Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Hitpeel Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Pael Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Pael Participle Singular Feminine Absolute 1×
  • Pael Perfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Peal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Peal Participle Plural Feminine Absolute 1×

+ 3 rarer forms

Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine 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".
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.
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Peal
The Aramaic simple stem — counterpart of Hebrew Qal.
Pael
The Aramaic intensive stem — counterpart of Hebrew Piel.
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

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.

H5709 עֲדָא (Aramaic) or עֲדָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to עָדָה; {to advance, i.e. pass on or continue; causatively, to remove; sp H1882 דָּת (Aramaic) corresponding to דָּת; {a royal edict or statute}; decree, law. H5732 עִדָּן (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to that of עֵד; a set time; technically, a year; time. H1763 דְּחַל (Aramaic) corresponding to זָחַל; to slink, i.e. (by implication) to fear, or (causatively) be formidable; make afraid,

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 21 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Daniel (19 verses); never once in the other 37.

2
Ezra
19
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, 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.