Bible Word Study
שָׁפָה
shâphâh · a cheese (as strained from the whey)
שָׁפָה
a cheese (as strained from the whey)
Definition
The Hebrew noun שָׁפָה (shâphâh) refers specifically to a type of cheese, understood as a dairy product that has been separated or strained from whey. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in 2 Samuel 17:29, where it is listed among provisions brought to David and his men. The word's meaning is straightforward, denoting a basic, nutritious food item. Its derivation from the root שָׁפָה (shâphâh, H8192), meaning 'to scrape' or 'to shave,' suggests the process of clarifying or separating curds from liquid, which aligns with traditional cheese-making methods.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in 2 Samuel 17:29. In this context, it is part of a list of sustenance—including wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, honey, curds, sheep, and cheese—brought to David's exhausted forces during Absalom's rebellion. The usage is purely descriptive, highlighting the practical, pastoral provision for an army in the field. There are no other occurrences or patterns of usage in different books or contexts.
Etymology
שָׁפָה (shâphâh) derives from the verbal root שָׁפָה (H8192), which carries meanings like 'to scrape,' 'to shave,' or 'to clear off.' This etymology points to the process of straining or clarifying, as in separating curdled milk (cheese) from the liquid whey. The noun form thus captures the result of that action—a solidified dairy product. Cognates in other Semitic languages also relate to scraping or smoothing, reinforcing the concept of separation or refinement.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near East, cheese was a valuable source of protein and fat, especially for travelers, soldiers, and pastoral communities. The mention in 2 Samuel 17:29 reflects a simple, portable foodstuff that could be stored without spoiling quickly. Unlike modern, processed cheeses, this 'shâphâh' likely referred to a basic, fresh curd cheese, possibly similar to cottage cheese or a pressed curd. Its inclusion among the provisions underscores the agrarian and pastoral economy of Israel, where dairy products were everyday staples. חֶמְאָה (chem'âh, H2529) — refers to curds or butter, a softer, less solidified dairy product than cheese. גְּבִינָה (gᵉbîynâh, H1385) — another term for cheese, used in Job 10:10, possibly emphasizing a pressed or formed cheese.
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]