שְׁבַשׁ (she.vash)
she.vash
be perplexed
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew word she.vash describes a state of being thoroughly confused or bewildered. In the entire Bible, it appears only once, in Daniel 5:9, capturing the sudden mental paralysis of King Belshazzar. When the mysterious handwriting appeared on the wall, the king’s wise men failed to interpret the message, leaving him and his court in a state of deep perplexity.
This rare term conveys more than simple uncertainty; it suggests a disorientation so complete that one cannot find their way forward. The context highlights the contrast between human wisdom and divine revelation, showing how even the greatest intellects can be left speechless when faced with God’s judgment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
There are moments when life feels like a locked room with no visible door. We rely on our experience, our education, or our best strategies, only to find they offer no solution. The Hebrew word she.vash captures this exact feeling of total disorientation. It is not just mild confusion; it is the paralysis that comes when human wisdom hits its limit.
In Daniel 5:9, King Belshazzar faced a mystery his smartest advisors could not solve. His court was left perplexed, stripped of their usual confidence. This story reminds us that we do not need to have all the answers to navigate difficult seasons. When you feel stuck or overwhelmed by circumstances that defy explanation, you are in good company with many biblical figures who also faced the unknown.
Instead of forcing a solution through sheer willpower, this word invites you to pause. It suggests that when our own understanding fails, we can look beyond our limited perspective. You do not have to carry the weight of every unanswered question alone. There is peace in admitting that some things are beyond your control, and trusting that clarity may come in its own time.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [were] dumbfounded1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מִֽשְׁתַּבְּשִֽׁין\׃1×
Key Verses
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Daniel 5:9
Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, and his face was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed.
This verse uses the word to describe the sudden mental paralysis of Belshazzar's court when their collective wisdom failed against divine mystery.