שָׁמֵן (sha.man)
sha.man
to grow fat
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shaman describes the physical process of growing fat or becoming plump. In its basic Qal form, it functions as a substantive adjective meaning "fat," often applied to livestock or animals that are well-fed. This concrete usage grounds the word in the tangible reality of agricultural abundance and healthy nourishment.
When used in the Hiphil stem, the meaning shifts to active causation: to make fat or cause to become sated. This nuance appears in passages like Deuteronomy 32:15, where Israel is described as having grown fat and kicked, linking physical fullness with spiritual arrogance. The word also surfaces in Nehemiah and Jeremiah to depict nations or individuals who have been enriched to the point of complacency.
Its theological weight lies in this connection between material prosperity and moral decline. The sources highlight how shaman illustrates a dangerous trajectory: sufficient nourishment leading to self-sufficiency, which then breeds rebellion against God. Translators often render it as "grew fat" or "became sleek," preserving the vivid image of physical well-being that masks spiritual decay.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shaman paints a vivid picture of physical fullness, describing how livestock become sleek when well-fed or how people feel satisfied after a good meal. In Scripture, this image is not merely about health; it serves as a warning sign for the soul. When material needs are fully met, there is a natural human tendency to forget the Source of those blessings and rely solely on our own strength.
This danger appears clearly in Deuteronomy 32:15, where Israel’s physical prosperity leads to spiritual arrogance. The text describes them as having grown fat and kicked, abandoning God because they felt self-sufficient. It reminds us that comfort can dull our spiritual senses, making us less sensitive to the needs of others and less dependent on divine guidance.
Yet this word also highlights the goodness of God’s provision in Nehemiah 9:25, where abundance is given so His people might delight in His goodness. The challenge for us today is to enjoy these gifts without letting them create a barrier between us and God. We can hold our blessings lightly, remembering that true security comes from faithfulness, not from the fullness of our stores.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you have grown fat1×
- they have become fat1×
- make fat1×
- and/ they grew fat1×
- and/ he grew fat1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁמַ֖נְתָּ1×
- שָׁמְנ֣וּ1×
- וַ/יַּשְׁמִ֔ינוּ1×
- וַ/יִּשְׁמַ֤ן1×
- הַשְׁמֵן֙1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he abandoned God who made him, and rejected the Rock of his salvation.
This verse captures the core theological warning, linking physical fatness directly to spiritual rebellion and forgetting God.
-
Jeremiah 5:28
They have grown fat. They shine; yes, they excel in deeds of wickedness. They don’t plead the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and they don’t defend the rights of the needy.
Here the word describes leaders whose prosperity fuels their wickedness rather than their compassion for the needy.
-
Nehemiah 9:25
They took fortified cities and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns dug out, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.
This occurrence shows the positive side, where abundance leads to delight in God’s goodness rather than pride.