Original Word: שִׁדָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: shiddah
Pronunciation: shid-daw'
Phonetic Spelling: (shid-dah')
KJV: X all sorts, musical instrument
NASB: many concubines
Word Origin: [from H7703 (שָׁדַד - destroyed)]

1. a wife (as mistress of the house)

wife, mistress, musical instrument

From shadad; a wife (as mistress of the house) -- X all sorts, musical instrument.

see HEBREW shadad

Word Origin
from the same as shad
Definition
perhaps a mistress
NASB Translation
many concubines (1).

שִׁדָּה noun feminine meaning unknown; — only singular and plural שִׁדָּה וְשִׁדּוֺת Ecclesiastes 2:8, apparently appositive of תַּעֲנגֻוֺת (ᵐ5 οἰνοχόον καὶ οἰνοχόας, i.e. שֹׁדֶה וְשֹׁדוֺת, from Aramaic שְׁדָא pour out [but not spec. of wine]; Aq κυλίκιον καὶ κυλίκια (compare ᵑ9), probably from same √; Dl^{Prol. 97} Kö^{ii. 1. 161} Wild Siegf compare Assyrian šadâdu, love (Siegf 'Haremsperlen'), but this word lacks evidence; possibly שָׂרָה וְשָׁרוֺת, see I. שָׂרָה

Occurrence and Immediate Context

Shiddah appears twice in the Hebrew text of Ecclesiastes 2:8 (“shiddah wᵉshiddoth”). In the flow of Solomon’s personal testimony, the term is grouped among the acquisitions amassed in his pursuit of earthly pleasure: “I also amassed silver and gold, and treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and the delights of men—many concubines” (Ecclesiastes 2:8). Whatever nuance is assigned to shiddah, the word serves to illustrate the breadth of Solomon’s self-indulgence.

Possible Meanings

1. Concubine(s): The rendering followed by the Berean Standard Bible aligns with the broader biblical picture of Solomon’s household (1 Kings 11:3).
2. Costly Containers or Chests: Some lexicographers see a cognate with Arabic terms for an ornate box, fitting the verse’s emphasis on treasure.
3. Musical Instruments: A minority tradition (e.g., King James Version) envisions rare instruments completing Solomon’s courtly entertainments.

While scholarship differs, every option still communicates opulence. If shiddah denotes concubines, the word underscores sensual pleasure; if treasure chests or instruments, it highlights luxury and artistic delight. Either way, the term strengthens the catalogue of “all that my eyes desired” (Ecclesiastes 2:10).

Cultural and Historical Background

Kings in the ancient Near East demonstrated power through vast harems, gilded furnishings, and patronage of the arts (cf. Esther 1:4; Daniel 5:2). Archaeological finds from Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Canaan reveal elaborately inlaid boxes used for jewelry, papyri, or incense—objects very much at home in Solomon’s palace. Parallel accounts in 1 Kings 10:21–27 describe drinking vessels of gold, imported almug wood fashioned into lyres and harps, and silver so abundant it was “considered of little value.” Shiddah therefore pictures Solomon as the quintessential oriental monarch whose resources appeared limitless.

Theological Significance in Ecclesiastes

1. Vanity of Self-Satisfaction: Immediately after listing the shiddah-class indulgences, Solomon confesses, “Yet when I considered all that my hands had done…it was all vanity and a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:11). Shiddah thus becomes an emblem of the transience of earthly joy.
2. Exposure of Idolatry: By piling up delights to rival the rightful supremacy of God, Solomon dramatizes the futility of substituting created gifts for the Creator (Romans 1:25).
3. Prelude to Fear of the LORD: The closing call to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) gains credibility because every lesser refuge—including shiddah—has proved hollow.

Intertextual Connections

• 1 Kings 11:3 documents Solomon’s seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, demonstrating that the literal-female interpretation of shiddah coheres with the historical narrative.
• Song of Solomon 6:8–9 contrasts the king’s harem with the singular beauty of the bride, revealing that even expansive pleasure cannot eclipse covenant love.
• Proverbs 5:15–19 warns against illicit passion, reminding readers that multiplicity does not equal fulfillment.

Ministry Applications

1. Counseling Contentment: Believers wrestle with modern equivalents of shiddah—consumer goods, entertainment, sexual excess. Ecclesiastes equips pastors to expose the lie that “more” satisfies.
2. Stewardship Teaching: Solomon’s mismanagement of abundance models the danger of wealth divorced from worship. Congregations can be guided to view possessions as tools for kingdom service (2 Corinthians 9:11).
3. Sexual Ethics: If shiddah speaks of concubines, the text highlights how multiplying partners fractures covenantal intention (Genesis 2:24). Upholding biblical marriage remains a vital apologetic in cultures of promiscuity.

Christological Reflection

Shiddah accentuates humanity’s hunger for delight yet inability to secure lasting joy. Jesus Christ, “greater than Solomon” (Matthew 12:42), offers treasures that neither fail nor fade (Matthew 6:19–21). Where Solomon’s shiddah culminated in emptiness, union with Christ yields “pleasures at Your right hand forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

Summary

Shiddah—whether concubines, chests, or instruments—stands as a literary monument to Solomon’s exhaustive experiment with pleasure. Its double appearance in Ecclesiastes 2:8 sharpens the message that no amount of worldly luxury grants the satisfaction found only in reverent submission to God.

וְשִׁדּֽוֹת׃ ושדות׃ שִׁדָּ֥ה שדה shidDah šid·dāh šiddāh veshidDot wə·šid·dō·wṯ wəšiddōwṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts