Original Word: שָׁאָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sha'ah
Pronunciation: shah-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-aw')
Definition: To gaze, regard, look at, pay attention
Meaning: to stun, be astonished

wonder

A primitive root (identical with sha'ah through the idea of whirling to giddiness); to stun, i.e. (intransitively) be astonished -- wonder.

see HEBREW sha'ah

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to gaze
NASB Translation
gazing (1).

II. [שָׁאָה] verb Hithpa`el gaze (apparently "" form of שָׁעָה, q. v.); — Participle masculine singular הָאִישׁ מִשְׁתָּאֵה לָהּ Genesis 24:21(J) the man was gazing at her (Ges^{§ 130a}).

[שָׁאט], שְׁאָט see II. שׁוּט.

שְׁאִיָּה see I. שׁאה. above

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Greek equivalent for שָׁאָה, the concept of astonishment or desolation can be related to Greek terms such as ἐκπλήσσω (ekplēssō • Strong's Greek 1605), which means to be amazed or astounded, and ἐρημόω (erēmoō • Strong's Greek 2049), which means to lay waste or desolate. These Greek terms capture similar themes of being overwhelmed or left in ruins, aligning with the Hebrew concept of שָׁאָה.

Usage: The verb שָׁאָה (sha'ah) is used in the Hebrew Bible to convey a sense of being stunned or astonished, often in the context of desolation or devastation. It can describe the reaction to overwhelming events or the state of being left in ruins.

Context: The Hebrew verb שָׁאָה (sha'ah) appears in the Old Testament to describe a state of shock or desolation. It is often used in prophetic literature to depict the aftermath of divine judgment or the reaction to catastrophic events. The term conveys a deep sense of being overwhelmed, either by the physical destruction of a place or by the emotional impact of witnessing such devastation.

For example, in Isaiah 6:11, the prophet Isaiah uses this term to describe the desolation that will come upon the land: "Then I said, 'For how long, O Lord?' And He replied: 'Until cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant, until the houses are left unoccupied, and the land is desolate and ravaged.'" (BSB). Here, the word שָׁאָה captures the complete and utter devastation that will leave the land in a state of shock.

Similarly, in Isaiah 17:9, the term is used to describe the forsaken state of cities: "In that day their strong cities will be like abandoned thickets and summits, which they left because of the Israelites; and there will be desolation." (BSB). The use of שָׁאָה emphasizes the profound impact of abandonment and ruin.

The verb is also found in contexts where the reaction to divine intervention or judgment is one of astonishment, highlighting the power and majesty of God's actions that leave witnesses in awe and wonder.

מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה משתאה miš·tā·’êh mishtaEh mištā’êhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts