שְׁוָה
to resemble
Definition
The Hebrew verb שְׁוָה (shᵉvâh) means 'to be like' or 'to resemble,' specifically in the sense of making one thing comparable or equal to another. In its two biblical occurrences, it describes a forced or decreed likeness. In Daniel 3:29, it is used in King Nebuchadnezzar's decree that anyone who blasphemes the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be destroyed, as their bodies were 'made like' (shᵉvâh) the chaff. In Daniel 5:21, it describes how Nebuchadnezzar was driven from men until his heart was 'made like' (shᵉvâh) the beasts. The word emphasizes an imposed state of similarity, often in a context of judgment or humiliation.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel, appearing only twice. Both uses are in royal decrees or historical narratives describing divine judgment. In Daniel 3:29, it describes the punitive fate of blasphemers, and in Daniel 5:21, it describes the humiliating mental state of a proud king. The pattern shows it is employed in contexts where a sovereign power (either divine or royal) causes one thing to resemble another, typically in a destructive or degrading manner.
Etymology
שְׁוָה (shᵉvâh) is an Aramaic verb used in the Hebrew Bible. It corresponds directly to the Hebrew root שָׁוָה (shâvâh, H7737), which carries meanings of being like, equal, or level. The Aramaic form was naturally incorporated into the biblical text during the exile period, reflecting the linguistic setting of the book of Daniel. Its core concept of 'likeness' or 'equivalence' is consistent with its Semitic cognates.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it appears in contexts highlighting God's supreme authority over pagan kings and empires. In Daniel, it is used to describe the consequences for those who oppose the God of Israel—either being destroyed (Daniel 3:29) or being humbled to an animal-like state (Daniel 5:21). It underscores the biblical theme that God judges pride and enforces a likeness to ruin or folly as a form of divine justice, contrasting human arrogance with God's sovereign rule.
In the ancient Near Eastern context of Daniel, the concept of being 'made like' something was a powerful rhetorical tool in royal decrees and historical records, used to establish precedent and warn against disobedience. The specific comparisons—to chaff (easily destroyed) and to beasts (lacking reason)—were culturally understood images of complete worthlessness and degradation, making the divine judgments vividly clear to the original audience.
דָּמָה (dâmâh, H1819) — to be like or resemble, often used in similes and comparisons. שָׁוָה (shâvâh, H7737) — the Hebrew counterpart, meaning to be like, equal, or comparable.
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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