שָׁסָה (sha.sah)
sha.sah
to plunder
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sha.sah means to plunder or take spoil, describing the act of seizing goods by force. It appears ten times in the Old Testament, with significant usage in Judges and 1 Samuel where it depicts the violent aftermath of battle. The word captures the physical reality of conquest, focusing on the acquisition of property rather than the emotional state of the conqueror.
In Judges 5:30, the song of Deborah describes women finding "spoils" (sha.sah) for every warrior, illustrating its concrete link to military victory and the division of captured assets. Similarly, in 1 Samuel 30, David’s men recover the plunder that the Amalekites had taken, showing how the term applies to both the act of raiding and the resulting loot itself.
Its root conveys a sense of tearing or breaking apart to seize what remains. Translators often render it as "plunder" or "spoil," terms that preserve the harshness of the original context. The word serves as a stark reminder of the material consequences of conflict in the ancient world, grounding theological narratives in the tangible realities of loss and recovery.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sha.sah describes the harsh reality of plundering, where goods are seized by force. In the Old Testament, this term often appears in narratives of war and judgment, highlighting the tangible loss suffered by communities. It reminds us that sin and conflict have real, material consequences for people's lives and security.
Yet, the biblical story does not end with loss. Judges 2:16 shows that Yahweh raised up judges to save Israel from those who plundered them. This pattern reveals a God who sees injustice and acts to restore what was taken. Even when enemies raid and destroy, divine intervention offers hope for recovery.
For your faith, this word underscores the importance of trust in God’s protection. When life feels like it is being stripped away, remember that God is the ultimate deliverer. He cares about the injustices you face and has the power to bring restoration. His justice ensures that wrongs are eventually set right.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- plunderers2×
- plunderers/ their1×
- it will plunder1×
- and/ plundered1×
- [those who] plundered/ it1×
- [those who] plunder/ us1×
- [are] plundering1×
- O plunderers of1×
- I have plundered1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שׁוֹשֵׂ֔תִי1×
- שׁוֹסֵ֔י/נוּ1×
- שֹׁסֵי/הֶֽם\׃1×
- שֹׁסֵֽ/הוּ\׃\ \ס1×
- שֹׁסֵ֖י1×
- שֹׁסִ֥ים1×
- שֹׁסִ֔ים1×
- שֹׁסִ֑ים1×
- יִשְׁסֶ֔ה1×
- וְ/שָׁסוּי֒1×
Key Verses
-
Judges 2:16
Yahweh raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them.
This verse highlights Yahweh's active role in raising judges to rescue Israel from the hands of those who plundered them, showing divine intervention against injustice.
-
I Samuel 14:48
He did valiantly and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.
Here, the term describes the enemies from whom Israel was delivered, emphasizing God's power to free His people from oppression and restore their safety.
-
Isaiah 42:22
But this is a robbed and plundered people. All of them are snared in holes, and they are hidden in prisons. They have become captives, and no one delivers, and a plunder, and no one says, ‘Restore them!’
The word depicts a people who are both robbed and plundered, illustrating their helplessness and the need for a deliverer who can restore them.