שִׁדָּה
a wife (as mistress of the house)
Definition
The Hebrew word שִׁדָּה (shiddâh) is a rare and debated term, appearing only once in the Old Testament. Its primary meaning is understood as 'a wife' or 'a mistress of the house,' emphasizing her role as the female head of a household. In Ecclesiastes 2:8, the Preacher lists 'shiddâh and shiddôth' among his amassed treasures, which has led to alternative interpretations. Some scholars, following ancient translations, have understood it as 'musical instruments' or 'vessels' of various sorts, though the context of collecting human companionship alongside silver, gold, and singers strongly supports the meaning of 'wife' or 'concubine.'
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in Ecclesiastes 2:8. The context is Solomon's (or the Preacher's) catalog of his grand acquisitions—'I gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men, shiddâh and shiddôth.' The plural form (shiddôth) suggests multiple wives or concubines, fitting the historical portrait of Solomon's vast harem and serving as a symbol of ultimate, yet ultimately meaningless, worldly pleasure.
Etymology
The noun שִׁדָּה (shiddâh) is derived from the root שָׁדַד (shadad, H7703), which means 'to deal violently with,' 'destroy,' or 'spoil.' This connection is puzzling for a term meaning 'wife.' Some lexicographers suggest a semantic development where the root implies 'mastery' or 'lordship,' thus a 'mistress.' Others propose it may be a loanword or a euphemism. The link to violence remains obscure and is not reflected in its single biblical usage.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, שִׁדָּה contributes to the key theological theme of Ecclesiastes: the vanity of seeking meaning in earthly possessions and pleasures. Listing wives alongside treasures and entertainments portrays them as mere acquisitions in a quest for fulfillment 'under the sun.' This stands in stark contrast to the positive, covenantal view of marriage found in Genesis 2:24 and Proverbs. Understanding this Hebrew term highlights the Preacher's critical perspective on treating human relationships as commodities, ultimately finding them empty without God.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, a king's accumulation of many wives and concubines was a standard symbol of power, wealth, and political alliance (e.g., 1 Kings 11:3). The use of שִׁדָּה in Ecclesiastes 2:8 directly reflects this practice. The modern reader might see 'wife' as an intimate partner, but in this royal context, it often denoted a member of a large harem—a possession that enhanced a ruler's status and pleasure, which is precisely the vain pursuit the book critiques.
אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — The standard, general term for 'woman' or 'wife.' שִׁדָּה carries a more specific connotation of a wife as a mistress or possession in a list of treasures. פִּילֶגֶשׁ (pilegesh, H6370) — A 'concubine,' a secondary wife with specific legal status; שִׁדָּה in Ecclesiastes 2:8 may encompass both primary wives and concubines.
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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