שָׁחַד
to donate, i.e. bribe
Definition
The Hebrew verb שָׁחַד (shâchad) fundamentally means 'to give a gift,' but in biblical usage, it almost exclusively carries the negative connotation of giving a corrupting bribe or a payment to pervert justice. It describes the act of offering something of value to influence a person, especially a judge or leader, to act dishonestly. In Job 6:22, the word is used in a rhetorical question about being 'bribed' for help, highlighting the concept of corrupt payment. In Ezekiel 16:33, it is used metaphorically, describing Jerusalem as an adulteress who gives bribes (or 'hire') to lovers instead of receiving gifts, emphasizing perversion of a proper relationship.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in poetic or prophetic literature. In Job 6:22, it appears in Job's lament, questioning if he had ever asked his friends for a bribe or payment for their assistance. In Ezekiel 16:33, the prophet uses it in an extended metaphor of Jerusalem's spiritual adultery, stating she bribes her lovers instead of being paid by them, a shocking reversal of cultural norms. Both uses underscore the corrupting, manipulative, and perverse nature of the gift being given.
Etymology
שָׁחַד is a primitive root. Its core meaning relates to giving a gift or present. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian, support this sense of 'giving.' In biblical Hebrew, however, the meaning narrowed specifically to the giving of a corrupt gift or bribe, reflecting a cultural and legal understanding of such payments as inherently destructive to justice and right relationships.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it directly addresses the corruption of justice and the perversion of righteous relationships, themes central to God's character as a just judge (Deuteronomy 10:17-18). Understanding שָׁחַד enriches reading by highlighting the Bible's consistent condemnation of bribery, which 'blinds the eyes of the wise' (Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 16:19). It contrasts God's free grace and covenantal faithfulness with the manipulative, transactional nature of sin, as vividly illustrated in Ezekiel's metaphor of spiritual adultery.
In the ancient Near East, including Israel, the giving of gifts to superiors was a common practice to show honor or seek favor. However, the Bible sharply distinguishes honorable gifts from שָׁחַד, a bribe given secretly to corrupt judgment. This was a serious offense in Israelite law, as it undermined the community's foundation of justice, which was to reflect God's own justice. The modern concept of a 'bribe' aligns closely, but the ancient context viewed it as a direct assault on the social and divine order.
כֹּפֶר (kopher, H3724) — a ransom or covering price; often a payment to appease or avert, not exclusively negative. שָׂכַר (sakar, H7936) — to hire or pay wages for service, typically a neutral or positive contractual payment.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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