שִׁית
a dress (as put on)
Definition
The Hebrew noun שִׁית (shîyth) refers to a garment or attire, specifically a piece of clothing that is put on or worn. It denotes a covering or dress, often implying an outer garment. In its two biblical occurrences, the word is used to describe the prideful, metaphorical 'garment' of violence in Psalm 73:6 and the seductive attire of the adulterous woman in Proverbs 7:10. The core meaning consistently relates to clothing as an external covering or adornment.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both in poetic wisdom literature. In Psalm 73:6, it appears metaphorically: 'Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment (שִׁית).' Here, it symbolizes how violence envelops the wicked. In Proverbs 7:10, it is used literally to describe the attire of the 'woman with the heart of an adulteress': she is dressed in the garment (שִׁית) of a prostitute, indicating her intent and character through her clothing. The usage thus spans both a concrete and a figurative sense.
Etymology
The noun שִׁית (shîyth) is derived from the verbal root שִׁית (H7896), meaning 'to put, place, or set.' This etymology directly informs its meaning as 'a dress (as put on),' highlighting the action of clothing oneself. It is related to the concept of setting something upon oneself. Cognates in other Semitic languages support the sense of a covering or layer that is applied.
Semantic Range
While a simple noun for clothing, שִׁית carries theological weight in its contexts by symbolizing identity and moral state. In Psalm 73:6, violence as a 'garment' illustrates how sin can become an integral, defining characteristic of the wicked, contrasting with being 'clothed with salvation' (Psalm 132:16). In Proverbs 7:10, attire reveals inner character and intent, underscoring biblical themes that outward appearance often reflects—or disguises—the heart. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the imagery of being spiritually clothed, a motif developed in the New Testament (e.g., Galatians 3:27).
In ancient Israelite culture, clothing was a significant marker of social status, profession, and moral character. A specific garment (שִׁית) could immediately communicate one's role, as seen in Proverbs 7:10 where the attire identifies the woman's seductive purpose. Unlike modern, often neutral clothing, garments in the biblical world were potent symbols. The metaphorical use in Psalm 73:6 relies on this cultural understanding: just as clothing visibly covers a person, so too can sin envelop a life.
לְבוּשׁ (lᵉbûsh, H3830) — a more general term for clothing or apparel, often a full set of garments. בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a common word for garment, cloak, or covering, sometimes with connotations of treachery. שִׂמְלָה (simlâh, H8071) — a wrapper or mantle, typically an outer garment or cloak.
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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