Word

שָׁפַט

shâphaṭ · H8199 · Hebrew · 202 occurrences

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Meanings

Action by which humans or deities render a decision which is to settle a dispute (to judge, to pronounce judgement, to administer justice, to decide (a case))

Examples
Genesis 16:5 So Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be upon you! I put my slave woman into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was insignificant in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me.”
Genesis 31:53 “The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac.
Exodus 5:21 And they said to them, “May the LORD look upon you and judge you, because you have made us repulsive in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!”
to play the judge, to play the ruler

Action by which humans act like a person who settles disputes without the authority to do so

Examples
Genesis 19:9 But they said, “Get out of the way!” They also said, “This one came in as a foreigner, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them!” So they pressed hard against Lot and moved forward to break the door.
to judge, to vindicate, to deliver, to defend, to do justice

Action by which humans and deities settle a dispute by rendering a decision that acquits the party that is innocent

Examples
2 Samuel 18:19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news that the LORD has freed him from the hand of his enemies!”
2 Samuel 18:31 Then behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.”
Proverbs 29:14 If a king judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever.
to judge, to condemn, to punish

Action by which humans or deities settle a dispute by rendering a decision that condemns the party that is guilty

Examples
1 Samuel 3:13 “For I have told him that I am going to judge his house forever for the wrongdoing that he knew, because his sons were bringing a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.
2 Chronicles 20:12 “Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”
2 Chronicles 22:8 And it came about, when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, that he found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers attending to Ahaziah, and killed them.
to judge, to rule, to govern

Action by which humans settle disputes found among a group of people, which often is a metonym for exercising leadership over that group

Examples
Judges 3:10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel. When he went to war, the LORD handed over to him Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia, so that he prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.
Judges 4:4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.
Judges 10:2 He judged Israel for twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried in Shamir.
judge, ruler

Person who settles disputes found among a group of people, which often is a metonym for the person who exercises leadership over that group

Examples
Genesis 18:25 “Far be it from You to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?”
Exodus 2:14 But he said, “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and said, “Surely the matter has become known!”
Deuteronomy 1:16 “Then I ordered your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your fellow countrymen and judge righteously between a person and his fellow countryman, or the stranger who is with him.
to enter into judgement

Action by which humans or deities engage in a dispute which is to be decided by a judge; the party starting the dispute may be the judge himself

Examples
1 Samuel 12:7 “Now then, take your stand, so that I may enter into judgment with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD that He did for you and your fathers.
Proverbs 29:9 When a wise person has a controversy with a foolish person, The foolish person either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
Isaiah 43:26 “Meet Me in court, let’s argue our case together; State your cause, so that you may be proved right.

How it’s used In 15 roles

Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.

the word studied the word it goes with

Who or what does itSubject

144 occurrences in 30 groups

Not stated: he, she or it 23
Not stated: I 21
Not stated: you (one person) 18
Not stated: they 11
Not stated (infinitive) 11
Not stated (participle) 10
Other words · 19 groups that occur once or twice (24) 24

What it acts on, or what is saidObject

96 occurrences in 33 groups

יִשְׂרָאֵלIsrael 18
עַםpeople 12
ךְyou 7
נִיme 5
הֶםthem 5
יָתוֹםfatherless 4
Other words · 20 groups that occur once or twice (24) 24

Second objectAs in “call him Lord”

3 occurrences in 1 groups

מִשְׁפָּטjustice, judgment, ordinance 4

With prepositionsPrepositional phrases

57 occurrences in 45 groups

בin/on/with+ צֶדֶקrighteousness, justice 5
כlike/as+ דֶּרֶךְway, road 4
אַחַרafter, behind+ וֹhim 3
מִןfrom+ יָדhand, power 3
אֵתwith+ כֶםyou 3
בin/on/with+ מִשְׁפָּטjustice, judgment, ordinance 3
Other words · 38 groups that occur once or twice (39) 39

With adverbsAdverbs

12 occurrences in 4 groups

לֹאnot 5
שָׁםthere 5
יַחַדtogether 1
כֵּןthus 1

Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive

27 occurrences in 12 groups

אֶרֶץland, earth, ground 5
יִשְׂרָאֵלIsrael 3
וֹhim 3
הָher 3
הֶםthem 3
Other words · 7 groups that occur once or twice (10) 10

Words describing itAdjectives, demonstratives, participles

7 occurrences in 6 groups

הָיָהto be, to become 2
שָׁפַטto judge, to govern 2
אֶחָדone 1
אָמַרto say 1
צַדִּיקrighteous, just, right 1
צָוָהto give orders 1

Named alongside itApposition

3 occurrences in 2 groups

יְהֹוָהthe LORD, YHWH 2
נָדִיבnoble, prince, willing 1

What it doesIt is the subject

9 occurrences in 9 groups

Other words · 9 groups that occur once or twice (9) 9

What is done to itIt is the object

13 occurrences in 10 groups

צָוָהto give orders 3
Other words · 9 groups that occur once or twice (10) 10

Second object ofSecond object

2 occurrences in 1 groups

שׂוּםto put, to set, to place 2

What it is said to bePredicate

3 occurrences in 3 groups

זְאֵבwolf 1
אַיִןthere is no, not 1
הֶםthem 1

What is said to be itIt is the predicate

5 occurrences in 4 groups

אֱלֹהִיםGod, gods 2
הוּאhe, she, it 1
יְהֹוָהthe LORD, YHWH 1
שֵׁשׁsix 1

After prepositionsPrepositional phrases

32 occurrences in 8 groups

לto/for 18
אֵלto, toward 8
מִןfrom 4
בin/on/with 3
כlike/as 3
עִםwith 2

In phrases “… of it”It is the genitive

4 occurrences in 2 groups

יוֹםday, time 2
פָּנִיםface, presence, before 2

When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.

MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.

Near synonyms 2 words

דִּין dîyn · H1777 · to judge, to pass judgment: Both denote judging or passing judgment.
רִיב rîyb · H7378 · to quarrel, to contend, to accuse: However, their core semantic centers differ: רִיב (rîyb, H7378) emphasizes the act of contending/disputing/striving, while שָׁפַט (shâphaṭ, H8199) centers on judging/executing judgment/ruling. This is real but partial overlap, not full synonymy.

In the other Testament 3 words

κρίνω krínō · G2919 · to come to a conclusion, to decide, to make up one’s mind: Greek κρίνω emphasizes the juridical act of judging/condemning with implicit trial and punishment components, while Hebrew שָׁפַט encompasses the broader governance role of establishing justice (defending, vindicating, executing judgment) that includes but is not limited to condemnation.
δικαστής dikastḗs · G1348 · judge: Greek δικαστής (dikastēs) denotes the person who judges, corresponding to the agent/office sense of Hebrew שָׁפַט (shaphat) as 'judge' or 'one who executes judgment,' rather than the verbal action senses ('to judge,' 'to contend,' etc.) which dominate the Hebrew lemma's semantic range.
ἐκδικέω ekdikéō · G1556 · to give someone justice, to pay back, to revenge: ἐκδικέω specifically denotes vindication or retaliatory justice (avenging), whereas שָׁפַט spans the broader judicial domain including general judging, defending, contending, and executing judgment; ἐκδικέω captures the 'avenge' sense within שָׁפַט's semantic range.

Semantic domains 7 entries

Judge002004002006: This verb denotes rendering a just verdict, as in Genesis 18:25's appeal to the Judge of all the earth to deal justly rather than treat the righteous and the wicked alike.
Relief002001002023: שָׁפַט (shâphaṭ, H8199) means "to judge, govern, vindicate." The quotation "Moses sat to judge the people" at Exodus 18:13 shows this sense, which does not independently attest the "Relief" domain; that classification is bundle-shared with שְׁפַט (shᵉphaṭ, H8200) in the source data and is not confirmed by this lexeme's own occurrences.
Safe002003003019: שָׁפַט (shâphaṭ, H8199) means "to judge, govern, vindicate." The quotation "Moses sat to judge the people" at Exodus 18:13 shows this sense, which does not independently attest the "Safe" domain; that classification is bundle-shared with שְׁפַט (shᵉphaṭ, H8200) in the source data and is not confirmed by this lexeme's own occurrences.
Chastise002003002005: שָׁפַט (shâphaṭ, H8199) means "to judge, govern, vindicate." The quotation "Moses sat to judge the people" at Exodus 18:13 shows this sense, which does not independently attest the "Chastise" domain; that classification is bundle-shared with שְׁפַט (shᵉphaṭ, H8200) in the source data and is not confirmed by this lexeme's own occurrences.
Control002003002007: The verb also denotes exercising governing authority, as in Exodus 2:14's challenge asking Moses who made him a ruler and a judge over the Israelites.
Leaders001001003005: The verb also describes assuming the position of one who governs and decides disputes, as in Genesis 19:9's complaint that Lot, a foreigner among them, was already acting like a judge.
Conflict002003002006: The verb also denotes settling a dispute between contending parties, as in Genesis 31:53's appeal that the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor judge between Jacob and Laban.

Word family 5 words

Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.

שָׁפַטshâphaṭ · H8199מִשְׁפָּט mishpâṭ · H4941 · case, cause, judgement · 422×שֶׁפֶט shepheṭ · H8201 · judgement, punishment · 16×שְׁפוֹט shᵉphôwṭ · H8196 · judgement, punishment · 2×שְׁפַט shᵉphaṭ · H8200 · magistrate · 1×

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H8199. shaphat שָׁפַט185 verb judge, govern (Late Hebrew in derivatives; Phoenician שפט =…

H8199. shaphat
שָׁפַט185 verb judge, govern (Late Hebrew in derivatives; Phoenician שפט = שֹׁפֵט, also in proper name; Punic sufet Lzb381; Biblical Aramaic שָֽׁפְטִין; Assyrian šapâtu (t = ת), synonym dânu (דִּין), judge DlWB 684, šip‰u (ט), probably judgment [and šapi‰u, caption?] JenZA iv (1889), 278 f.; on possible connection with Arabic see NöZMG xi (1886), 724; on usage of verb See FergusonJBL viii (1888), 130 ff.); —
Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳שׁ Jdg 16:31 +, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁמֹּט Gen 16:5, יִשְׁמּוֺט Isa 11:3; Isa 11:3masculine plural יִשְׁמְּטוּ Gen 31:53 +, יִשְׁמּ֫וּטוּ Exo 18:26 (Ki יִשְׁמּוּט֫וּ; compare Ges§ 47g), etc.; Infinitive absolute שָׁפוֺט Gen 19:9; construct שְׁפֹט Rth 1:1, לַשְׁמֹּט Exo 8:13 +, etc.; Imperative שְׁפָטֿ Pro 31:9, שָׁפְטָה Psa 82:8; Lam 3:59, שִׁפְטוּ Isa 1:17 +, שְׁפֹ֑טוּ Zec 7:9, etc.; Participle שֹׁפֵט 1Sa 3:13 +, etc.; —
1 act as law-giver, judge, governor (giving law, deciding controversies and executing law, civil, religious, political, social; both early and late):
a. of God only, הארץ כל שֹׁפֵט Gen 18:25 (J), || מֶלֶךְ,מְחֹקֵק Isa 33:22.
b. of man, Gen 19:9 (twice in verse) (J), Moses deciding cases Exo 18:13 (E), making known statutes Exo 18:16 (E); so his assistants Exo 18:22; Exo 18:22; Exo 18:26; Exo 18:26 (E), || Deu 1:16; of ישׂראל שׁפטי Num 25:5 (executioners); ׳י set שֹׁפְטִים over Israel Jdg 2:16, Jdg 2:18; 2Sa 7:11 = 1Ch 17:10, to deliver Israel, ישׂדאל שׁפט Jdg 3:10; Jdg 4:4; Jdg 10:2, 39t. Judges; 1Sa 4:18; 1Sa 7:15-16, 1Sa 7:17; 2Ki 23:22, compare 1Sa 7:6; Participle שֹׁפֵט as substantive also Jdg 2:17-18, Jdg 2:19; 1Sa 8:1-2, 2Ki 23:22; יִשׂ ׳שֹׁפְטֵי 1Ch 17:6 (|| 2Sa 7:7 שִׂבְטֵי), הַשֹּׁפְטִים שְׁפֹט בִּימֵי Rth 1:1 (twice in verse) (compare מוֺשִׁיעִים Obadiah 21); שׁפט, || מֶלֶךְ 1Sa 8:5-6, 1Sa 8:20; Hos 7:7; Hos 13:10; ישׂראל שֹׁפֵט Micah 4:14 (= king); king judges people 1Ki 3:9 (twice in verse) = 2Ch 1:10; 1Ki 15:5 2Ch 26:21; 2Ch 1:11; absolute 1Ki 7:7; Isa 16:5; || שׂרים Exo 2:14 (E) Amo 2:3; Zep 3:3; || יוֺעַץ Isa 1:26; Job 12:17, compare Isa 3:2; אָרֶץ שֹׁפְטֵי Isa 40:23 (|| רוֺזְנִים), Pro 8:16 (|| שׂרים), Psa 2:10; Psa 148:11 (|| מלכים); שׁפטונו אשׁר שׁפטינו Dan 9:12 (twice in verse).
2 specifically decide controversy, discriminate between Persons, in civil, political, domestic and religious questions:
a. of God Psa 82:1: ׳שׁ בֵּיןוּ֗֗֗בֵין Gen 16:5 (J; domestic), Jdg 11:27 (twice in verse); 1Sa 24:13; 1Sa 24:16 (all of war), Eze 34:20 (relig.); with בֵּיןלְ֗֗֗ Eze 34:17, Eze 34:22 (religious); with בֵּנֵינוּ Gen 31:53 (E; domestic), Isa 2:4 = Mic 4:3 (of war); with בְּ2Ch 20:12 (war); with accusative 1Ki 8:32 2Ch 6:23; Ecc 3:17, condemning wicked and justifying righteous Job 21:22 (|| ידע), Job 23:7; absolute Exo 5:21 (J) Job 22:13; ׳שׁ צֶדֶק Jer 11:20; Psa 9:5; ׳י is צַדִּיק שׁוֺפֵט Psa 7:12.
b. of man, ׳שׁ בֵּיןוּ֗֗֗בֵין Exo 18:16 (E) Num 35:24 (P) Deu 1:16 (all civil), Isa 5:3 (relig.); with accusative Lev 19:15 (H) Deu 25:1 (all civil), Eze 20:4 (twice in verse); Eze 22:2 (twice in verse); Eze 23:36; ׳שׁ מִשְׁמָּט Deu 16:18; 1Ki 3:28 (Solomon); במשׁפטים Eze 44:24, with ל2Ch 19:6; absolute Eze 44:24; Isa 11:3 (king); influenced by bribes Mic 3:11; Mic 7:3; Job 9:24; Absalom desires to decide cases as שֹׁפֵט 2Sa 15:4 (implying lack of such in his time); according to 2Ch 19:5. 6 Jehoshaphat set up שׁפטים, apparently for the first as judges in this specific sense; code of Deuteronomy recognizes them: הַשֹּׁפֵט declares הַמִּשְׁמָּט דְּבַר Deu 17:9, Deu 17:12; Deu 25:2; שׁפטים + שֹׁטְרִים Deu 16:18; 1Ch 23:4; 1Ch 26:29; Jos 8:33 (+ זְקֵנִים), Jos 23:2; Jos 24:1 (D; both + רָאשִׁים זקנים,), + זקנים only Deu 21:2; Ezr 10:14, + כֹּהֲנִים Deu 19:17-18, שׂרים2Ch 1:2.
3 execute judgment:
a. discriminating, of man only, אמת משׁפט Zec 7:9, שׁ ׳מֵישָׁרִים Psa 58:2 judge uprightly; שׁלום משׁפט Zec 8:16, צֶדֶק Pro 31:9, עָוֶל Psa 82:2.
b. vindicating, with accusative: (I) subject God, יתום Psa 10:18, accusative of person Psa 26:1; Psa 43:1; Psalm 58:12 (read שֹׁפְטָם for שׁפטים), ׳שׁ משׁפט Lam 3:59; מִיַּד vindicate by delivering from hand of 1Sa 24:16; 2Sa 18:19, 2Sa 18:31; ׳י צִדְקִי כְּ שָׁפְטֵנִי Psa 7:9; צִדְקְךָ כְּ שָׁפְטֵנִי Psa 35:24. (2) subject man, with accusative יתום Isa 1:17, Isa 1:23; דל(יםׅ Isa 11:4; Pro 29:14; Psa 82:3; עם עניי Psa 72:4; אביונים משׁפט Jer 5:28.
c. condemning and punishing, (I) God פ ׳כְּדַרְכֵי according to ways of Eze 7:3, Eze 7:8; Eze 18:30; Eze 24:14; Eze 33:20; Eze 36:19; במשׁפטים Eze 7:27; Eze 23:24; נאפות משׁפטי Eze 16:38 (= Eze 23:45 of human judges); with accusative 1Sa 3:13; Psa 51:5; Eze 11:10-11, Ezekiel 21:35; Eze 35:11. (2) of man, only נַפְשׁוֺ שֹׁפְטֵי Psa 109:31 and Eze 23:45 above, probably also Psa 141:6 (corrupt).
d. at theophanic advent for final judgment: God is שֹׁפֵט Psa 50:6; Psa 75:8; הארץ שׁפט Psa 94:2, with accusative הארץ לשׁפט בא Psa 96:13 = 1Ch 16:33; Psa 98:9; ׳שׁ הארץ Psa 82:8; הנוים כל Joel 4:12; עמים Psa 67:5; תבל Psa 9:9; Psa 96:13 = Psa 98:9; ׳שׁ מישׁרים Psa 75:3.
Niph`al Perfect1singular נִשְׁמַּטְתִּי Eze 20:36 Eze 20:4t.; Imperfect1singular אִשָּׁפֵט Eze 20:36; אִשָּֽׁפְטָה 1Sa 12:7, etc.; Infinitive construct חִשָּׁפֵט2Ch 22:8; suffix הִשָּֽׁפְטוֺ Psa 37:33; Psa 109:7; Participle נִשְׁמָּט Isa 59:4 Isa 59:4t.; —
1 reciprocal, (Ges§ 51d), enter into controversy, plead: with אֵת with, of God Jer 2:35; Eze 17:20; Eze 20:35-36, (twice in verse); Eze 38:22; of man 1Sa 12:7 (+ ᵐ5 לָכֶם וְאַגִּידָה We Dr BuHpt Now), Pro 29:9; with עִם, of God Joel 4:2, of man 2Ch 22:8; with ל, of God Jer 25:31; ׳נשׁ יחד Isa 43:26 have controversy together; באשׁ by fire (of God) Isa 66:16; באמונה Isa 59:4.
2 passive be judged, Psa 9:20; Psa 37:33; Psa 109:7.
Pô`el Participle suffix מְשֹׁפְטִי (dubious; Hi Bu מִשְׁמָּטִי), = my apponent-at-law (Ges§ 55b) Job 9:15; + Zf Job 3:15; Psa 109:31 We and others
[שְׁפַט] verb judge (Biblical Hebrew שָׁפַט); — Participle as plural noun absolute שָֽׁפְמִין Ezr 7:25 judges.
שַׁמִּיר see שׁפר. below

Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain

Topical studies with this word 4 entries

Leaders58 occurrences Conflict12 occurrences Control32 occurrences Judge98 occurrences

Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.

Sources

eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0