Original Word: שׁוּט
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shuwt
Pronunciation: shoot
Phonetic Spelling: (shoot)
KJV: go (about, through, to and fro), mariner, rower, run to and fro
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to push forth
2. (but used only figuratively) to lash (the sea with oars), to row
3. (by implication) to travel

go about, through, to and fro, mariner, rower, run to and fro

A primitive root; properly, to push forth; (but used only figuratively) to lash, i.e. (the sea with oars) to row; by implication, to travel -- go (about, through, to and fro), mariner, rower, run to and fro.

I. שׁוּט verb go or rove about (Late Hebrew, Aramaic שׁוּט rove, row (Jonah 1:13), swim (Isaiah 25:11), stroke, besmear; see also שׁוֺט); —

Qal go or rove about: Perfect3plural, absolute שָׁטוּ הָעָם Numbers 11:8 (J; gathering manna), so, with ב location, Imperfect3masculine plural וַיָּשֻׁטוּ 2 Samuel 24:8, Imperative masculine singular שׁוּטנָֿא 2 Samuel 24:2, Infinitive construct שׁוּט Job 1:7, שֻׁט Job 2:2 (both "" הִתְהַלֵךְ), perhaps also Genesis 24:63 (לָשׁוּט for לָשׁוּחַ, so ᵑ6 Thes¹³²² compare Di Gunk Dr); Jeremiah 8:6 Du reads שָׁט for שָׁב. — Participle שָׁטִים see שׁוּט denominative below

Po`l. go eagerly, quickly, to and fro: Imperfect3masculine singular יְשׁוֺטְטוּ לְבַקֵּשׁ Amos 8:12 ("" וְנָעוּ); absolute יְשֹׁטְטוּ Daniel 12:4; with ב location, Imperative masculine plural שׁוֺטְטוּ Jeremiah 5:1, Participle plural מְשׁוֺטְטִים Zechariah 4:10, מְשֹׁטְטוֺת2Chronicles 16:9 (both of ׳עֵינֵי י).

Hithpo`lel Imperative feminine plural, ב location, הִתְשׁוֺטַטְנָת Jeremiah 49:3 run to and fro.

Overview of the Verb

שׁוּט (shut) pictures restless movement—roaming, ranging, running about, even rowing across the sea. In Scripture the word describes (1) human activity, whether industrious or futile; (2) Satanic wandering; (3) divinely commissioned searching; and (4) nautical propulsion that speeds a ship toward its destiny. Together these uses paint a rich theological canvas of purposeful and purposeless motion under the hand of God.

Daily Life and National Administration

Numbers 11:8 places שׁוּט in the wilderness routine: “The people would go about, gather it, grind it in a hand mill or crush it in a mortar…”. The verb underscores the energetic diligence required to sustain life even when God miraculously provides.

In 2 Samuel 24:2, 2 Samuel 24:8 Joab “went throughout all the tribes of Israel” to number the people. Here שׁוּט conveys systematic coverage of territory, revealing how a king’s seemingly mundane census can become spiritually perilous when undertaken in pride.

Roaming Eyes—Divine and Demonic

The sharpest theological contrast occurs between 2 Chronicles 16:9 and Job 1:7; Job 2:2. The “eyes of the LORD range to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). By the same verb Satan answers, “From roaming through the earth and walking back and forth in it” (Job 1:7). One roams to bless, the other to accuse. The identical motion exposes diametrically opposed motives, reminding readers that every corner of creation is a stage for spiritual conflict.

Zechariah 4:10 reprises the theme: “These seven are the eyes of the LORD that roam throughout the earth.” The verse couples God’s all-seeing providence with encouragement to persevere in “the day of small things,” assuring believers that nothing escapes His notice.

Urban Streets and Moral Inspection

Jeremiah 5:1 commands, “Roam the streets of Jerusalem… If you can find one person who acts justly…”. Human investigators are to replicate the Lord’s searching gaze; sadly, their futile wanderings confirm the city’s guilt. Jeremiah 49:3 extends the image to Rabbah in Ammon: inhabitants “run to and fro within the walls” as judgment descends, proving that frantic movement cannot avert divine decree.

The Sea of Commerce—Ezekiel 27

Twice Ezekiel employs שׁוּט for oarsmen of Tyre (Ezekiel 27:8, 27:26). The bustling energy that once propelled the merchant-city ultimately drives her into disaster: “Your oarsmen have brought you onto the high seas, but the east wind will break you in the heart of the seas” (Ezekiel 27:26). Human enterprise, no matter how skillful, remains subject to forces beyond control.

Eschatological Restlessness

Daniel 12:4 predicts future inquiry: “Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.” Amos 8:12 portrays desperate spiritual hunger: people will “roam for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.” Together the passages describe the end-time paradox of exploding information yet famine of truth, urging believers to steward revealed Scripture while it is accessible.

Ministry Reflections

1. Diligent Labor: Like Israel gathering manna, believers should expend energy in appropriating God’s provision rather than succumbing to passivity.
2. Heart Motives: Shuttling activity (Joab’s census) can mask pride; leaders must weigh intentions before mobilizing resources.
3. Spiritual Vigilance: The same terrain is patrolled by the Lord and by Satan. Discernment, prayer, and obedience keep Christians aligned with the benevolent Watcher.
4. Gospel Urgency: Amos foresees a day when seekers wander without finding. The church must proclaim the Word while “today” remains (Hebrews 3:13).
5. Global Missions: God’s eyes already traverse the earth; His servants are invited to join the search for those “whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.”

Christological Echoes

The New Testament portrays Jesus “going throughout all Galilee” (Matthew 4:23), embodying holy שׁוּט as He announces the kingdom. His itinerant ministry fulfills the divine pattern: purposeful roaming that finds the lost, heals the broken, and secures redemption.

Summary

Whether describing hands grinding manna, armies crisscrossing Israel, sailors rowing a proud ship, or eyes—divine or demonic—sweeping the globe, שׁוּט illustrates restless motion under God’s sovereign oversight. It invites readers to examine the aim of their own wanderings and to anchor every journey in the One whose searching gaze ranges “throughout the whole earth” to strengthen the faithful.

הַשָּׁטִ֖ים השטים וְהִתְשׁוֹטַ֖טְנָה וַיָּשֻׁ֖טוּ והתשוטטנה וישטו יְשֹׁטְט֥וּ יְשֽׁוֹטְט֛וּ ישוטטו ישטטו מְשֹׁטְט֤וֹת מְשׁוֹטְטִ֖ים מִשֻּׁ֣ט מִשּׁ֣וּט משוט משוטטים משט משטטות שָׁטִ֖ים שָׁטוּ֩ שֽׁוּט־ שׁוֹטְט֞וּ שוט־ שוטטו שטו שטים haš·šā·ṭîm hashshaTim haššāṭîm mə·šō·ṭə·ṭō·wṯ mə·šō·wṭ·ṭîm meshoteTot meshotTim məšōṭəṭōwṯ məšōwṭṭîm miš·šuṭ miš·šūṭ mishShut miššuṭ miššūṭ šā·ṭîm šā·ṭū šāṭîm šāṭū shaTim shaTu shotTu shut šō·wṭ·ṭū šōwṭṭū šūṭ- vaiyaShutu vehitshoTatnah way·yā·šu·ṭū wayyāšuṭū wə·hiṯ·šō·w·ṭaṭ·nāh wəhiṯšōwṭaṭnāh yə·šō·ṭə·ṭū yə·šō·wṭ·ṭū yeshoteTu yeshotTu yəšōṭəṭū yəšōwṭṭūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts