שָׁתַם (sha.tam)
sha.tam
to open
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sha.tam appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times within the book of Numbers. Its primary definition is simply "to open," yet the exact nature of this action remains a subject of scholarly debate among translators and commentators.
Because the word is rare and its context is ambiguous, scholars describe its meaning as uncertain or dubious. It does not carry the rich theological weight of more common verbs for opening gates or eyes. Instead, it stands as a linguistic curiosity, illustrating how some Hebrew terms are preserved in Scripture without their full semantic range being clearly recoverable today.
This scarcity highlights the limits of lexical certainty. While most Hebrew words have clear usage patterns across multiple books, sha.tam is isolated to these specific narrative moments in Numbers, leaving its precise nuance open to interpretation rather than definitive explanation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sha.tam appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both times within Balaam’s prophetic utterances in Numbers. It describes a state of having one's eyes open or being awakened to spiritual reality. While scholars debate the exact nuance, the context suggests a sudden clarity or insight that goes beyond ordinary sight.
For your faith, this rare term reminds us that true understanding often comes as a gift rather than an achievement. It is not merely physical vision but a divine opening of perception. When we feel confused by life’s circumstances, we can trust that God alone grants the clarity needed to see His purposes at work.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the> opened of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁתֻ֥ם2×
Key Verses
-
Numbers 24:3
He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
This verse introduces Balaam as one whose eyes are open, marking the start of his prophetic declaration and establishing his spiritual awareness.
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Numbers 24:15
He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
Here the phrase is repeated to emphasize that Balaam’s insight comes from divine inspiration rather than human wisdom.