שָׁאַן (sha.an)
sha.an
to rest
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sha’an carries the sense of being at ease or resting securely. It appears in only five verses across Jeremiah, Proverbs, and Job, often describing a state of peace that comes from stability. The Piel stem emphasizes this quiet confidence, suggesting a life untroubled by anxiety or external threats.
Its usage highlights a specific kind of rest—not merely physical relaxation, but a deep-seated security. In contexts like Proverbs, it contrasts with the turmoil of the wicked, pointing to a tranquil existence rooted in wisdom. The word paints a picture of someone who can sleep soundly because their foundation is solid.
Translators typically render sha’an as "rest" or "be at ease," capturing its core idea of peaceful repose. This simple term offers a window into the biblical ideal of inner calm, showing that true rest is more than just stopping work; it is a state of being where one feels safe and settled in their circumstances.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels chaotic, we often long for a peace that goes beyond just stopping our work. This Hebrew word describes a deep sense of security where one can rest without fear. It is not merely physical relaxation, but a quiet confidence that comes from knowing your foundation is solid. In Proverbs, this ease is linked to listening to wisdom, suggesting that true calm starts with how we orient our hearts.
Even in the darkest moments, like the despair found in Job’s lament, this word reminds us that rest is possible even when circumstances are heavy. It points to a state of being settled and safe, free from the anxiety of external threats. For believers today, it invites us to trust in God’s protection, allowing our minds to quiet down as we rely on His faithfulness rather than our own strength.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ he will be at ease3×
- they are at ease1×
- it has been at ease1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/שַׁאֲנַ֖ן2×
- שַׁאֲנָ֑נוּ1×
- שַׁאֲנַ֨ן1×
- וְ֝/שַׁאֲנַ֗ן1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 1:33
But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
This verse connects the state of being at ease directly to the act of listening to wisdom, showing that security is a result of right guidance.
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Jeremiah 30:10
Therefore don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh. Don’t be dismayed, Israel. For, behold, I will save you from afar, and save your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return, and will be quiet and at ease. No one will make him afraid.
Here God promises Jacob that He will restore them so they can be quiet and at ease, linking this rest to divine salvation from fear.
-
Job 3:18
There the prisoners are at ease together. They don’t hear the voice of the taskmaster.
In Job’s curse on the day of his birth, this word describes prisoners who are finally free from the harsh voice of their taskmaster, highlighting rest as relief from oppression.