שָׁמַט (sha.mat)
sha.mat
to release
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shamat means to loosen, release, or let fall. In its basic sense, it describes an action of letting go of a hold or allowing something to drop away from control. This simple physical image underpins its significant legal and theological usage in the Old Testament.
Most notably, this word appears in Deuteronomy 15:1-3 regarding the Sabbatical year. Here, it commands the release of debts, instructing lenders to let go of what is owed to their neighbors. The term captures the act of canceling a financial obligation, effectively "letting fall" the claim against the debtor. It also appears in II Kings 16:18 and Jeremiah 34:8-22, where it describes the release of slaves or the cessation of labor.
The word’s force lies in its finality. To shamat is not merely to pause a demand but to permanently drop it. When used in the context of debt or servitude, it signifies a complete restoration of freedom and financial relief for the vulnerable, rooted in the rhythm of rest prescribed by God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shamat carries the simple but powerful image of letting go. It describes the act of loosening a grip, allowing something to fall away from your control. In the context of God’s law, this is not a reluctant surrender but a deliberate release. When Deuteronomy commands the release of debts, it invites us to trust that our security does not rest in what we hold tightly, but in the faithfulness of God who provides.
This concept extends beyond finances to relationships and burdens. To shamat is to acknowledge that we do not have ultimate ownership over everything in our lives. It offers a profound relief for those weighed down by the need to control outcomes or collect every debt. By releasing what is owed, we reflect a heart that rests in God’s provision rather than its own accumulation.
Living out this release requires faith. It means choosing to forgive debts and let go of grudges, trusting that God sees and will make right what feels unjust. This practice frees us from the heavy burden of keeping score. It opens space for grace to flow, reminding us that true peace comes not from holding on, but from releasing our grip into God’s hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will let rest/ it1×
- they stumbled1×
- they have been thrown down1×
- they had stumbled1×
- let it release1×
- let fall/ her1×
- he will remit1×
- and/ you will let fall1×
- and/ they let fall/ her1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּשְׁמֵ֥ט1×
- תִּשְׁמְטֶ֣/נָּה1×
- שָׁמְט֖וּ1×
- שָׁמ֗וֹט1×
- שָֽׁמְט֖וּ1×
- שִׁמְט֖וּ/הָ1×
- נִשְׁמְט֣וּ1×
- וַֽ/יִּשְׁמְט֑וּ/הָ1×
- וְ/שָׁמַטְתָּ֗ה1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 15:2
This is the way it shall be done: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not require payment from his neighbor and his brother, because Yahweh’s release has been proclaimed.
This verse defines the legal application of the word, commanding creditors to permanently cancel debts owed by fellow Israelites as an act of Yahweh's proclaimed release.
-
Deuteronomy 15:3
Of a foreigner you may require it; but whatever of yours is with your brother, your hand shall release.
It clarifies the boundary of this release, distinguishing between internal community forgiveness and external commercial claims, highlighting the covenantal nature of the obligation.
-
Exodus 23:11
but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the animal of the field shall eat. In the same way, you shall deal with your vineyard and with your olive grove.
Here the term applies to the land itself, requiring owners to 'let fall' their claim to produce during the seventh year so the poor may eat.