שָׁפָה (sha.phah)
sha.phah
be bare
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sha.phah describes a violent stripping away, meaning to sweep bare or scrape clean. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, creating a stark image of exposure. In these rare instances, the word conveys the removal of all covering, leaving something completely vulnerable and visible.
In Isaiah 11:15, it depicts God drying up the sea so that His people can cross on dry ground. The text suggests the waters are swept bare, revealing the path beneath. Later, in Job 3:8, the same root describes a curse that lays bones bare, emphasizing total desolation and the removal of life’s protections.
This word carries significant weight because it implies an action so thorough that nothing remains hidden. It is not merely about being empty; it is about being actively stripped by force. The sources highlight this as a divine act of revelation or judgment, where the natural order is altered to expose what was previously concealed.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we face seasons where our protections feel stripped away, it can be easy to feel exposed and vulnerable. This Hebrew word describes a forceful sweeping bare, leaving nothing hidden. In Isaiah, God uses this imagery to dry up the sea, revealing a path for His people. It reminds us that even when circumstances seem chaotic or barren, He is actively clearing the way for our passage.
Similarly, in Job, the word paints a picture of deep desolation where bones are laid bare. Yet, this stark exposure does not mean abandonment. Instead, it highlights a truth: nothing is hidden from God’s sight. Whether in judgment or deliverance, He sees us fully. We can find comfort knowing that our vulnerability is known to Him, and He remains sovereign over the depths of our experience.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- swept bare1×
- and/ they are laid bare1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נִשְׁפֶּה֙1×
- וְ/שֻׁפּ֥וּ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 13:2
Set up a banner on the bare mountain! Lift up your voice to them! Wave your hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
This verse uses the word to describe a 'bare mountain' as a rallying point for judgment, emphasizing the starkness of the location where God’s message is proclaimed.
-
Job 33:21
His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
Here the term describes physical consumption so severe that bones become visible, illustrating the total exposure of the body in suffering.