שִׂיד (sid)
sid
to whitewash
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sid means to apply a coating of lime or clay to a surface, effectively whitewashing it. This was a common practice in the ancient Near East for sealing walls and making them appear smooth and bright. The word appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times in the book of Deuteronomy.
In these passages, the act of whitewashing is used metaphorically to describe false prophets who try to cover up dangerous spiritual decay. They use appealing words to make a crumbling situation look stable and safe, hiding the underlying rot from view. The imagery suggests a superficial fix that fails to address the structural integrity of the wall or the community.
Because sid is so rare, its meaning is anchored entirely in these specific contexts. It highlights the contrast between an attractive exterior and a hazardous interior. The word serves as a warning against deception, where outward appearance is manipulated to conceal inward corruption rather than to restore true safety.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sid describes a process of applying plaster to stones, creating a smooth, bright surface. In Deuteronomy, this act is commanded as part of setting up memorial stones on Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. This physical preparation was not merely cosmetic; it ensured the stones were ready to bear the written law clearly and permanently for the people of Israel.
While the word appears elsewhere in Scripture metaphorically to warn against superficial fixes, its primary usage here grounds us in obedience. Preparing the stones required effort and care, reflecting a desire to honor God with tangible actions. It reminds us that faith involves both internal belief and external commitment, where our outward lives should reflect the truth we hold within.
When we encounter challenges in our spiritual walk, this imagery invites honest self-examination. Rather than covering cracks with quick fixes, we are called to address the foundation directly. This approach fosters genuine stability and peace, allowing God’s word to remain clear and unobstructed in our hearts and communities.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ you will whitewash2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/שַׂדְתָּ֥2×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 27:2
It shall be on the day when you shall pass over the Jordan to the land which Yahweh your God gives you, that you shall set yourself up great stones, and coat them with plaster.
This verse establishes the initial command to coat the stones with plaster, highlighting the preparatory step required before inscribing the law.
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Deuteronomy 27:4
It shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall coat them with plaster.
Here the instruction is repeated for Mount Ebal, emphasizing the specific location where the coated stones would serve as a public witness to the covenant.