Word Study for H8150 (שָׁנַן)

shânan /shaw-nan'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto point (transitive or intransitive); intensively, to pierce; figuratively, to inculcate

KJV usageprick, sharp(-en), teach diligently, whet.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shânan — 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 shânan, represented by H8150, is a primitive root meaning to point or sharpen. It is used intensively to mean piercing or, figuratively, to inculcate truth. Its meanings include to prick, sharp(-en), teach diligently, and whet. It appears 9 times across 9 unique verses in the Bible, conveying a sense of being honed for a specific and powerful impact.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H8150 carries both instructional and martial connotations. Figuratively, it is used as a command to "teach them diligently" to one's children, implying that God's laws should be sharpened and precisely impressed upon the heart Deuteronomy 6:7. More frequently, it describes the sharpening of weapons or things used as weapons. The wicked "whet their tongue like a sword" Psalms 64:3 and have "sharpened their tongues like a serpent" Psalms 140:3. The word is also used to describe the readiness of God's judgment, as when He declares, "If I whet my glittering sword" Deuteronomy 32:41. It can also describe an internal, piercing feeling, as in being "pricked in my reins" Psalms 73:21.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illustrate the contexts in which something is sharpened or pointed:

H2671 chêts (a piercer, i.e. an arrow): This is the object most often described as sharp. The word H8150 is used to describe sharp arrows intended for enemies (Isaiah 5:28, Psalms 120:4). God's own "arrow" is compared to lightning in its speed and power Zechariah 9:14.
H1697 dâbâr (a word; by implication, a matter): Words can be wielded as weapons. The wicked shoot "bitter words" as if they were arrows Psalms 64:3. In contrast, God's "words" are a source of joy and life when they are found and consumed Jeremiah 15:16.
H1300 bârâq (lightning; by analogy, a gleam; concretely, a flashing sword): This word describes the quality of a sharpened weapon. It is used alongside H8150 to describe God's "glittering sword" as He prepares for judgment Deuteronomy 32:41, emphasizing its readiness and terrifying gleam.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H8150 is demonstrated in its application to divine commands, human speech, and God's judgment.

Inculcating Truth: The command to "teach diligently" establishes that divine truth is not meant to be a dull or passive concept. It must be sharpened and actively impressed upon the mind and heart, ensuring it penetrates deeply and is passed to future generations Deuteronomy 6:7.
The Power of Words: Scripture uses H8150 to illustrate the destructive capability of malicious speech. A false witness is equated with a "sharp arrow" Proverbs 25:18, and a sharpened tongue is a weapon used by the wicked Psalms 140:3. This highlights the moral seriousness of language.
Precision of Divine Judgment: God's own instruments of judgment are described as sharp. His arrows are sharp in the heart of His enemies Psalms 45:5, and His sword is whetted for vengeance Deuteronomy 32:41. This portrays divine justice as something that is not clumsy or indiscriminate, but rather precise, piercing, and perfectly effective.

Summary

In summary, H8150 is a dynamic word that conveys much more than physical sharpness. It encapsulates the idea of honing something to a point for maximum effect. Whether it is the positive command to inculcate God's law, the negative reality of words weaponized for harm, or the awesome power of divine judgment, shânan illustrates that which is prepared, pointed, and powerful enough to pierce its target. It serves as a reminder that ideas, words, and divine actions all carry a sharp and impactful edge.

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 9 occurrences, inflected in 6 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.

שְׁנוּנִים
שָׁנְנוּ
אֶשְׁתּוֹנָן
שִׁנַּנְתָּ
שָׁנוּן
שַׁנּוֹתִי

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 9 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (5 verses); never once in the other 35.

Deuteronomy

Psalms

Proverbs

Isaiah

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.