שָׁתָה
a basis, i.e. (figuratively) political or moral support
Definition
The Hebrew noun שָׁתָה refers to a 'basis' or 'foundation,' primarily used in a figurative sense to denote political or moral support. In its two biblical occurrences, it describes the foundational structures of society that, when shaken, lead to widespread instability. In Psalm 11:3, the word questions what the righteous can do if the very 'foundations' (שָׁתוֹת) of law and order are destroyed. In Isaiah 19:10, it refers to the 'pillars' or foundational supports of Egyptian society—its skilled workers and planners—who are dismayed, leading to national collapse.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both in poetic/prophetic contexts addressing societal collapse. In Psalm 11:3, it is used rhetorically to describe the utter ruin of a just social order. In Isaiah 19:10, it is part of a prophecy against Egypt, describing the paralysis of its economic and administrative foundations. The pattern is exclusively figurative, referring to the essential supports of a community or nation.
Etymology
Derived from the root שִׁית (H7896), meaning 'to set, place, or appoint.' שָׁתָה is a noun form indicating 'that which is set' or 'a placing,' hence a foundation or support. It is related to words for a foundation (יְסוֹד) and shares a conceptual field with establishing something firm.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it touches on the biblical theme of societal foundations. It underscores that justice, wisdom, and skilled labor are God-ordained pillars of a stable community (Psalm 11:3; Proverbs 29:4). When these 'foundations' are destroyed, it represents divine judgment on a corrupt social order (Isaiah 19:10). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of these passages by highlighting that societal collapse is not merely political but a failure of the moral and structural supports God intends.
In the ancient Near East, a society's stability was seen as dependent on both its physical infrastructure (like irrigation in Egypt) and its social structures (courts, crafts). The shaking of 'foundations' was a common metaphor for total societal upheaval, understood by original audiences as a worst-case scenario of chaos and divine displeasure.
יְסוֹד (yesod, H3245) — a more common, concrete term for a physical foundation of a building. שָׁתָה is rarer and more abstract, focusing on societal pillars. מוֹסָד (mosad, H4144) — an established foundation or institute, often with an institutional connotation.
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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