English · KJV
H8155

שָׁסַס

shâçaç /shaw-sas'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto plunder
KJV usagerifle, spoil.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shâçaç — 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 shâçaç, represented by H8155, is a primitive root meaning to plunder; rifle, spoil. It appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible. This term consistently depicts the act of violently seizing property, typically in the context of warfare or as a form of judgment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H8155 describes the consequences of military defeat and divine retribution. It appears in prophecies of judgment where houses are to be spoiled Isaiah 13:16 or rifled Zechariah 14:2 as a result of an enemy invasion. The book of Judges states that because of the Lord's anger, He delivered Israel into the hands of spoilers who spoiled them Judges 2:14. The term also describes the act of victors taking plunder, as when the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and spoiled their tents 1 Samuel 17:53. In a personal sense, it can describe someone being plundered by passersby, becoming a reproach to his neighbors Psalms 89:41.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help frame the context of plundering and conflict:

  • H8154 shâçâh (to plunder; destroyer, rob, spoil(-er)): This word is used in close connection with H8155, as seen when the Lord delivered Israel to "spoilers that spoiled them" Judges 2:14, emphasizing the role of the agent carrying out the plundering.
  • H4421 milchâmâh (battle, fight(-ing), war(-rior)): The act of spoiling often occurs in the context of battle. In Zechariah, God gathers nations to battle against Jerusalem, where houses will be rifled Zechariah 14:2.
  • H3920 lâkad (to catch... capture or occupy): Plundering is a direct result of being captured. A city is first taken, and then its houses are rifled Zechariah 14:2, showing a sequence of events in conquest.
  • H1814 dâlaq (to flame... pursue hotly): This word describes the prelude to plundering. The Israelites first returned from chasing the Philistines before they spoiled their tents 1 Samuel 17:53.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H8155 is primarily seen in its depiction of consequences.

  • A Tool of Divine Judgment: The act of being spoiled is presented as a direct result of God's anger against Israel's disobedience. He delivered them to be plundered by their enemies Judges 2:14. It is also a key feature in prophetic warnings of future judgment Zechariah 14:2.
  • The Reality of Warfare: The term is often paired with other brutal acts of war, such as children being "dashed to pieces" and wives "ravished," highlighting the complete devastation that accompanies military conflict Isaiah 13:16.
  • The Spoils of Victory: While often a sign of judgment for the victim, spoiling is also the reward for the victor. After defeating the Philistines, the Israelites spoiled their tents, claiming the material goods of their defeated foe 1 Samuel 17:53.

Summary

In summary, H8155 is a direct and forceful term for the act of plundering. It is not an abstract concept but a tangible outcome of conflict and judgment. Whether describing the consequence of God's anger toward His people, the brutal reality of an invaded city, or the spoils gathered by a victorious army, shâçaç illustrates the violent transfer of property that defines a key aspect of warfare in the biblical narrative.

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. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יָּשֹׁסּוּ
  • נָשַׁסּוּ
  • יִשַּׁסּוּ
  • שֹׁאסַיִ
  • שַׁסֻּ

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.

H8154 שָׁסָה or שָׁשָׂה; (Isaiah 10:13), a primitive root; to plunder; destroyer, rob, spoil(-er). H4421 מִלְחָמָה from לָחַם (in the sense of fighting); a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare); battle, fight(-ing H3920 לָכַד a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figurative H1814 דָּלַק a primitive root; to flame (literally or figuratively); burning, chase, inflame, kindle, persecute(-or), pursue hotly.

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 5 verses across 5 of the 39 books. 5 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 34.

1
Judges
1
1 Samuel
1
Psalms
1
Isaiah
1
Zechariah

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.