English · KJV
H8357

שֵׁתָה

shêthâh /shay-thaw'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom שִׁית
Meaningthe seat (of the person)
KJV usagebuttock.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shêthâh — 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 shêthâh, represented by H8357, is a term for the buttock. Derived from שִׁית, it refers to the seat of a person. This specific word appears only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, used in contexts of extreme shame and humiliation.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H8357 is exclusively associated with acts of public disgrace. In one instance, Hanun dishonors David's servants by cutting off their garments "in the middle, even to their buttocks" before sending them away 2 Samuel 10:4. Similarly, the prophet Isaiah describes a future humiliation where the king of Assyria will lead away captives from Egypt "naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered," an act that brings "shame" upon the nation Isaiah 20:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words appear in the same contexts of shame and exposure:

  • H3772 kârath (to cut (off, down or asunder)): This word describes the direct action that leads to exposure. Hanun is said to have cut off the garments of David's servants, exposing them 2 Samuel 10:4.
  • H6174 ʻârôwm (nude, either partially or totally): This describes the state of the humiliated captives. The Egyptians and Ethiopians are led away naked with their buttocks uncovered Isaiah 20:4.
  • H6172 ʻervâh (nakedness, shame, unclean(-ness)): This term highlights the intended result of the exposure. The uncovering of the captives' buttocks is done specifically "to the shame of Egypt" Isaiah 20:4.

Theological Significance

The use of H8357 carries significant weight in portraying judgment and dishonor.

  • Symbol of National Humiliation: The exposure of the buttocks H8357 is not merely a personal indignity but a symbol of national defeat and disgrace, as seen with the captives from Egypt Isaiah 20:4.
  • Act of Intentional Contempt: The word appears in narratives where disrespect is deliberately inflicted. Hanun's treatment of David's servants was an intentional act of shaming to show contempt 2 Samuel 10:4.
  • Physical Exposure as Judgment: In the context of Isaiah, the forced nakedness and uncovered buttocks H8357 of the prisoners of war serves as a visible sign of judgment executed by the king of Assyria Isaiah 20:4.

Summary

In summary, H8357 is a specific anatomical term whose biblical significance is derived entirely from its context. Used only twice, it functions as a powerful illustration of public shaming and the humiliation of enemies. The word underscores how physical exposure served as a potent symbol of disgrace, defeat, and judgment in the biblical world.

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 noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

  • שְׁתוֹתֵי
  • שֵׁת

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.

H3772 כָּרַת a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. H6174 עָרוֹם or עָרֹם; from עָרַם (in its original sense); nude, either partially or totally; naked. H6172 עֶרְוָה from עָרָה; nudity, literally (especially the pudenda) or figuratively (disgrace, blemish); nakedness, shame, unclean(-n

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 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 2 Samuel and Isaiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
2 Samuel
1
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.