שְׁדֵפָה
blight
Definition
The Hebrew noun שְׁדֵפָה (shᵉdêphâh) refers to a specific agricultural blight or scorching, typically caused by a hot, dry wind from the east. It describes a condition where crops, especially grain, are withered, dried up, and rendered useless before harvest. This blight is often listed alongside other divine judgments like mildew, locusts, and caterpillar infestations (e.g., 1 Kings 8:37, 2 Chronicles 6:28). In prophetic literature, it serves as a metaphor for God's judgment on a nation's productivity and prosperity, as seen in Haggai 2:17 and Amos 4:9.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in contexts of divine judgment or covenant curses within the Old Testament. It appears in the legal pronouncements of Deuteronomy 28:22, in historical prayers (1 Kings 8:37, 2 Chronicles 6:28), in prophetic speech (Amos 4:9, Haggai 2:17), and in a historical taunt (2 Kings 19:26). Its usage is patterned: it is never a random natural disaster but is explicitly presented as an instrument of God's disciplinary or punitive action against Israel for covenant unfaithfulness.
Etymology
The noun שְׁדֵפָה derives from the root verb שָׁדַף (shâdaph, H7710), meaning 'to scorch,' 'to blast,' or 'to burn up.' A related noun form is שִׁדָּפוֹן (shiddâphôn), also meaning 'blight.' The root conveys the action of a scorching wind that parches and destroys vegetation. Cognates in other Semitic languages support this sense of drying up or withering.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is a key term in the biblical concept of covenant curses. A שְׁדֵפָה is not merely bad weather; it is a direct communication from God, a sign of broken relationship meant to prompt repentance. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the tangible, agricultural consequences of spiritual disobedience in Israel's covenant worldview. It underscores God's sovereignty over nature and His use of creation to discipline His people.
In an ancient agrarian society like Israel, a blight destroying the grain harvest was a catastrophic event threatening famine and economic collapse. The 'east wind' (רוח קדים) was a known, destructive weather phenomenon. This cultural reality gave the term immense weight, making it a powerful symbol of divine displeasure that would be immediately understood by the original audience.
יֵרָקוֹן (yêrâqôn, H3420) — a paleness or mildew, often paired with שְׁדֵפָה as another form of crop disease. שִׁדָּפוֹן (shiddâphôn, H7711 variant) — a synonymous term for blight or scorching.
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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