שֵׂחַ (se.ach)
se.ach
thought
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun se‘ach appears only once in the entire Old Testament, found in Amos 4:13. In this context, it translates simply as "thought." The verse describes God as the one who forms mountains and creates wind, declaring that He makes His thoughts known to man.
Its rarity makes this single occurrence particularly striking. Rather than describing a general mental state or abstract philosophy, it refers to a specific divine intention or plan being revealed. The prophet uses this term to emphasize that the Creator’s purposes are not hidden but are actively communicated to humanity.
Because the word is unique in Scripture, its meaning is defined entirely by its immediate surroundings. It underscores the biblical theme that God is not distant or silent; He has a specific will and purpose, and He chooses to make that thought accessible to people. This singular usage highlights the personal nature of divine revelation in the prophetic tradition.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word se‘ach appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Amos 4:13. This rare term refers to God’s specific thought or intention being revealed to humanity. It reminds us that the Creator of mountains and wind does not remain silent but actively communicates His purpose to us.
This single occurrence highlights a comforting truth: God’s plans are not hidden from us. He chooses to make His will known, inviting us into a relationship where His intentions are accessible. We can trust that He is not distant or indifferent, but personally engaged with His people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [is] thought/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שֵּׂח֔/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 4:13
For, behold, he who forms the mountains, creates the wind, declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the high places of the earth: Yahweh, the God of Armies, is his name.”
This verse uses the only biblical occurrence of se‘ach to show God declaring His specific thought to man, emphasizing that divine purpose is revealed rather than hidden.