Lexical Summary set: Adversary, accuser Original Word: שֵׂט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance revolter, that turn aside Or cet {sayt}; from suwt; a departure from right, i.e. Sin -- revolter, that turn aside. see HEBREW suwt NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom sut Definition swerver, perhaps revolter, deeds that swerve NASB Translation revolters (1), those who fall away (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שֵׂט, סֵט] noun [masculine] swerver, revolter (?), deeds that swerve (from the right?); — plural וְשַׁחֲטָה שֵׂטִים הֶעֱמִיקוּ Hosea 5:2 and revolters have gone deep is slaughter (or שַׁחֲתָה in corruption), but dubious; We Bae Now GASm, compare GuKau, {abbrev}וְשַׁחַת הַשִּׁטִּים הֶע and the pit of Shittim they have made deep; עֲשׂה סֵטִים Psalm 101:3 to do deeds that swerve I hate. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence and Translation The noun שֵׂט appears only once, in Hosea 5:2, where the Berean Standard Bible renders it “rebels”: “The rebels are deep in slaughter, but I will discipline all of them.” The word identifies people who have willfully swerved from covenant loyalty, not through momentary weakness but by a settled, calculated departure that breeds violence and spiritual ruin. Historical Context in Hosea Hosea prophesied to the northern kingdom in the eighth century B.C., an era marked by political intrigue, Baal worship, and social injustice (Hosea 4:1-2; 7:3-7). Priests and princes alike had grown corrupt, and the calves at Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:28-30) had hardened the nation in idolatry. Within that setting שֵׂט labels a class of plotters who “dig deep” (cf. Hosea 9:9) in their schemes, shedding blood to protect their warped religion and power. Their apostasy hastened the Assyrian exile that soon swept Ephraim away (Hosea 10:6-8). Theological Themes 1. Covenant Treachery: Shêt underscores that rebellion is first relational, a breach of the marriage bond between the LORD and Israel (Hosea 2:2-13). Relationship to Covenant Faithfulness Moses had forewarned Israel that turning aside would invoke the curses of the covenant (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Hosea’s use of שֵׂט shows those curses arriving in real history. The term therefore anchors the biblical principle that obedience brings life, whereas calculated defection ends in death (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). Prophetic and Eschatological Resonances Later prophets adopt Hosea’s vocabulary of “turning aside” (Isaiah 30:1; Jeremiah 2:19). In the New Testament the motif reappears: “In later times some will abandon the faith” (1 Timothy 4:1). The lone Old-Testament occurrence thus foreshadows a final apostasy preceding the return of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:3), reaffirming the unity of Scripture’s warning. Practical Ministry Insights • Guard the Heart: “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12). Key Cross-References Deuteronomy 13:1-5; Deuteronomy 32:15-18 Hosea 4:1-6; Hosea 5:1-6; Hosea 9:9 Jude 17-19 Forms and Transliterations שֵׂטִ֖ים שטים śê·ṭîm seTim śêṭîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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