שָׁחַד (sha.chad)
sha.chad
to bribe
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shaḥad means to give a gift with the specific intent of influencing a decision or bypassing justice. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Job 36:18, where Elihu warns that God will not allow a bribe to keep a person from death.
This word carries a heavy ethical weight, describing payments that corrupt judgment rather than simple hospitality. In this single occurrence, it highlights the contrast between human corruption and divine righteousness, showing that no amount of money can sway God’s verdict or save someone from their consequences.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shaḥad describes a gift given with the specific intent of twisting justice or bypassing right judgment. It is not about hospitality, but about corruption. In our own lives, we might face situations where shortcuts seem tempting, or where influence feels like it could change an outcome unfairly. This word reminds us that integrity matters deeply to God.
Job 36:18 warns that no bribe can save a person from the consequences of their actions or sway God’s verdict. This brings comfort because it means God’s judgment is always fair and cannot be bought. We do not need to manipulate outcomes or worry about unfair advantages in the world. Instead, we can trust in His perfect righteousness.
This truth invites us to live with honesty, knowing that our standing before God rests on faithfulness, not on what we can offer to change His mind. It is a relief to know that justice is secure and that we are called to reflect that same integrity in our daily interactions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- give a reward1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁחֲד֥וּ1×
Key Verses
-
Job 6:22
Did I ever say, ‘Give to me’? or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance’?
This verse uses the noun form of the concept, showing that true friendship does not demand financial gain or presents as a condition for support.