שָׁדַף (sha.daph)
sha.daph
to scorch
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sha.daph means to scorch or blight, describing the destructive effect of intense heat on vegetation. In the Bible, it is used almost exclusively in the Qal stem as a participle to describe ears of grain that have been burned by the sun. This specific agricultural imagery appears in Genesis 41:7 and 41:23, where Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream about seven thin heads of grain withering after being scorched by the east wind.
Its usage highlights a sudden, violent loss of fertility rather than gradual decay. The word captures the anxiety of ancient farmers who relied on predictable seasons, illustrating how quickly a promising harvest could be ruined by harsh weather. By focusing on the physical damage to the crop, the text emphasizes the severity of the famine that followed.
Translators typically render this term as "scorched" or "blasted," preserving the sense of heat-induced destruction. The word serves as a stark visual metaphor for divine judgment or natural disaster in its original context, reminding readers of the fragility of food supplies in the ancient Near East.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Joseph’s dream in Genesis 41 uses the image of grain scorched by the east wind to describe sudden loss. This word, sha.daph, captures the anxiety of farmers who watched their hard work vanish under intense heat. It reminds us that life can change quickly, and our security often rests on fragile things beyond our control.
When we face unexpected hardships or feel like our efforts are being burned away, this passage offers comfort. God revealed the future to Joseph not just to predict famine, but to provide a path through it. Even when circumstances seem hopeless, divine wisdom can turn crisis into opportunity for provision and survival.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- scorched of1×
- and/ scorched of1×
- <the> scorched of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁדֻפ֣וֹת1×
- שְׁדֻפ֖וֹת1×
- וּ/שְׁדוּפֹ֣ת1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 41:6
Behold, seven heads of grain, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.
This verse introduces the scorched grain as the first sign of impending disaster in Pharaoh’s dream, establishing the severity of the threat.
-
Genesis 41:23
and behold, seven heads of grain, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.
Joseph repeats this detail to emphasize that the destruction is total, leaving no room for recovery or partial harvest.
-
Genesis 41:27
The seven thin and ugly cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted with the east wind; they will be seven years of famine.
Here the scorched grain is explicitly linked to seven years of famine, showing how quickly abundance can turn into scarcity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word sha.daph mean?
Where does this word appear in Scripture?
Why is this word significant in Genesis 41?
Every Occurrence (3 verses across 1 books)
Genesis 3 verses
Behold, seven heads of grain, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.
Genesis 41:23and behold, seven heads of grain, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.
Genesis 41:27The seven thin and ugly cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted…