Bible Word Study
לְשַׁד
lᵉshad · (figuratively) vigor; also a sweet or fat cake
לְשַׁד
(figuratively) vigor; also a sweet or fat cake
Definition
The Hebrew word לְשַׁד (lᵉshad) carries two distinct meanings in the Old Testament. Primarily, it refers to 'freshness' or 'vigor,' specifically the vital moisture or juice that sustains life, as seen in Psalm 32:4 where David describes his 'vigor' drying up. In a secondary, concrete sense, it denotes a 'sweet cake' or 'fat cake,' likely a rich, moist pastry. This meaning appears in Numbers 11:8, describing the manna that could be baked into cakes.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two different contexts that illustrate its dual meanings. In Numbers 11:8, it describes the physical property of manna when prepared as a 'cake.' In Psalm 32:4, it is used metaphorically for David's physical and spiritual 'vigor' or vitality, which was sapped under the weight of unconfessed sin.
Etymology
Derived from an unused root of uncertain meaning, לְשַׁד is generally understood to relate to the concept of 'juice' or 'moisture.' This core idea branches into two applications: the literal moisture in a rich food item (the cake) and the figurative moisture or freshness that constitutes one's vitality.
Semantic Range
This word enriches the understanding of Psalm 32, a key penitential psalm. The drying up of one's לְשַׁד (vigor) under God's hand (Psalm 32:4) powerfully illustrates the debilitating spiritual and physical consequences of unrepentant sin, contrasted with the joy and relief of forgiveness described later in the psalm. It connects physical vitality directly to one's spiritual state before God. The reference to a 'cake' in Numbers 11:8 reflects ancient food preparation. These were not dry biscuits but likely oil-rich, moist cakes, a desirable and sustaining food. Understanding this makes the Israelites' complaint about manna more tangible—they missed the rich, varied foods of Egypt, not just basic sustenance. חַיִל (chayil, H2428) — more general term for strength, power, or army; כֹּחַ (koach, H3581) — denotes raw power, force, or ability.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]