שֶׁ֫סַע (she.sa)

The Hebrew noun she.sa refers to a physical division or rupture in material. It describes something that has been torn apart, split open, or cleft into separate pieces. The word appears only four times in the Old Testament, primarily within the legal texts of Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

In these contexts, she.sa is used to define specific physical characteristics required for ritual purity. For instance, it describes the condition of an animal’s hoof or horn. A sacrifice must be intact; if the hoof is split or cleft (she.sa), it disqualifies the animal from being offered on the altar. This precise terminology ensures that the offerings presented reflect wholeness and completeness.

The term highlights the ancient Israelite concern with physical integrity in worship. By specifying that a "cleft" part renders an object unfit, the law draws a clear line between what is whole and what is broken. The word itself does not imply moral failure but rather denotes a structural defect that prevents an item from meeting the standard of perfection required for sacred use.