שָׁתִיל (she.til)
she.til
shoot
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun shatil refers to a young plant that has been moved from its original spot to new soil, such as a cutting or a transplanted shoot. In the Hebrew Bible, it describes the delicate stage of growth where a plant is vulnerable and dependent on careful attention to establish roots in its new environment.
This word appears only once in Scripture, in Psalm 128:3, where it serves as a metaphor for children within a family. The image suggests that just as a gardener must nurture a transplanted shoot to ensure its survival and fruitfulness, parents are called to provide the stable, loving environment necessary for their children to thrive and grow into maturity.
By choosing this specific term rather than a generic word for "plant," the text emphasizes the active care required in upbringing. It highlights the potential inherent in the young person, much like the promise held in a fresh shoot, while simultaneously pointing to the responsibility of those who tend to it.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shatil describes a young shoot that has been carefully moved to new soil. It is not just any plant, but one in a delicate stage of growth, needing steady care to establish its roots. In Psalm 128:3, this image is used for children. They are like olive shoots around the family table, full of potential but still dependent on their environment.
This metaphor reminds us that raising children requires patience and consistent love. Just as a gardener tends to a fragile shoot, parents provide the stability and nourishment needed for growth. It is not about forcing development, but creating a safe space where young lives can take root and eventually bear fruit. The focus is on the quiet, daily work of nurturing.
For those caring for others, this word offers a gentle picture of responsibility. It is not about control, but about providing the conditions for life to flourish. Whether you are a parent or simply someone who mentors young people, there is grace in this slow process. Growth happens in time, supported by steady hands and a watchful heart.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [will be] like/ shoots of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כִּ/שְׁתִלֵ֣י1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 128:3
Your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house, your children like olive shoots around your table.
This verse uniquely applies the term to children, linking their vitality and future fruitfulness directly to their place within the secure environment of the home.