שָׁנַן (sha.nan)
sha.nan
to sharpen
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sha.nan means to sharpen or whet something, typically a blade or tool. In its basic form, it describes the physical act of making an edge keen. This concrete image appears in Proverbs 25:18, where a person who falsely claims to support others is compared to someone swinging a club or brandishing a sharp sword against their neighbor.
The word carries a distinct nuance when used in the Piel stem, shifting from physical metal to mental instruction. Here it means to teach incisively or drill knowledge into someone’s mind. This usage appears in Deuteronomy 6:7, where parents are commanded to sharpen the words of God into the hearts of their children, implying a persistent, careful process of formation rather than casual conversation.
A striking variation occurs in Psalm 7:9, where the verb appears in the Hithpolel stem with the meaning "to be pierced." This rare form connects the idea of sharpening to being cut or penetrated by judgment. The lexical range moves from the literal edge of a tool to the penetrating force of divine justice and disciplined teaching.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew verb sha.nan describes the careful act of sharpening a blade or tool. This image helps us understand how God’s word is meant to work in our lives. Just as a dull knife cannot cut wood, unsharpened truth often fails to reach the heart. When Scripture speaks of teaching diligently, it pictures a persistent effort to make spiritual understanding keen and clear.
Parents are called to sharpen these words into their children’s minds through daily conversation. This is not about one-time lessons but constant, gentle repetition in ordinary moments. The process requires patience and care, ensuring that truth is not just heard but deeply formed within us.
We can trust that God uses this sharpness for good. It cuts away confusion and brings clarity to our faith. May we seek His wisdom with open hearts, allowing His word to refine our thoughts and actions each day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sharpened2×
- and/ you will repeat/ them1×
- [are] sharpened1×
- I was pierced1×
- I sharpen1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁנ֑וּן1×
- שַׁנּוֹתִי֙1×
- שְׁנוּנִ֔ים1×
- שְׁנוּנִ֑ים1×
- וְ/שִׁנַּנְתָּ֣/ם1×
- אֶשְׁתּוֹנָֽן\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 6:7
and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
This verse uses the Piel stem to command parents to actively sharpen God's words into their children's minds through daily life.
-
Proverbs 25:18
A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
Here the word describes a sharp arrow used metaphorically to show how false testimony harms a neighbor like a weapon.
-
Deuteronomy 32:41
if I sharpen my glittering sword, my hand grasps it in judgment; I will take vengeance on my adversaries, and will repay those who hate me.
God declares He will sharpen His glittering sword, linking the physical act of whetting metal to divine judgment and justice.