שׁוּף (shuph)
shuph
to bruise
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shuph means to bruise or crush something with force. It appears only three times in the Old Testament, carrying a sense of physical impact that leaves a mark. In Genesis 3:15, it describes the enmity between the serpent and the woman’s offspring, where the descendant will strike the serpent’s head while the serpent strikes his heel. This usage highlights a violent, crushing blow rather than a gentle touch.
The word also appears in Job 40:24, describing how easily one can catch an ostrich by seizing its eyes or bruising its face. Here, shuph emphasizes vulnerability and the ease with which a powerful creature can be subdued through targeted force. The term does not imply destruction for its own sake but rather the act of pressing down or striking hard enough to leave evidence of contact.
Translators often render shuph as "bruise" or "strike," depending on context. Its rarity in Scripture makes each occurrence significant, drawing attention to moments of conflict, vulnerability, or divine judgment. The word’s physicality grounds abstract spiritual themes in tangible reality, reminding readers that some conflicts involve real consequences and lasting marks.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shuph describes a forceful strike that leaves a mark. It is not a gentle touch but a crushing blow. This physical reality grounds our spiritual struggles in tangible terms. When we face conflict or suffering, the impact is real and often painful.
In Genesis 3:15, this word appears in the promise of victory over evil. The serpent will bruise the heel, yet the offspring will crush the head. This shows that while pain may come, ultimate triumph is assured. We do not face our battles alone or without hope.
Even in moments of vulnerability, like the ostrich in Job, this word reminds us of our fragility. Yet God’s sovereignty covers even these weak points. Your struggles are seen, and your healing is possible. Trust in the One who brings good from brokenness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will bruise/ him1×
- it will crush/ me1×
- he will bruise/ you1×
- he crushes/ me1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יְשׁוּפֵ֑/נִי2×
- תְּשׁוּפֶ֥/נּוּ1×
- יְשׁוּפְ/ךָ֣1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 3:15
I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.”
This verse uses shuph to describe the decisive blow against evil, highlighting the promise of ultimate victory despite initial suffering.
-
Job 9:17
For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
Here the related concept of breaking or wounding illustrates how God’s actions can feel overwhelming and painful to the sufferer.
-
Psalms 139:11
If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me. The light around me will be night,”
While this verse does not contain shuph, it is included in the candidate list as a thematic parallel regarding darkness and vulnerability, though strictly speaking, shuph is not present here.