Lexical Summary sid or sud: coat Original Word: שׂיד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance plaister A primitive root probably meaning to boil up (compare shuwd); used only as denominative from siyd; to plaster -- plaister. see HEBREW shuwd see HEBREW siyd NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from sid Definition to whitewash NASB Translation coat (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שִׂיד, שׂוּד] verb denominative whitewash; — Qal Perfect2masculine singular וְשַׂדְתָּ֫ אֹתָם בַּשִּׁיד Deuteronomy 27:2,4. שֵׂיוֺ, שְׂיֵהוּ see שֶׂה. I. שׂיח (√ of following; Late Hebrew שִׂיחַ speak, שִׂיחָה, סִיחָה conversation (often); Aramaic שִׂיחַ speak; NöZMG xxxvill (1883), 538 compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Definition and Imageryשׂיד (sid) denotes the lime or white plaster produced by burning limestone. Readily available throughout Canaan, it created a bright, smooth surface that protected masonry from weather and, when fresh, readily received writing or paint. The dazzling whiteness of sid naturally conveyed ideas of purity and visibility, images that Scripture harnesses for theological ends. Canonical Setting Every occurrence of שׂיד belongs to Moses’ charge for Israel’s entry into the promised land (Deuteronomy 27:2, Deuteronomy 27:4). The people were commanded to “set up large stones and coat them with plaster”. Upon this freshly laid sid the entire Torah summary was to be written and then openly proclaimed. Thus, sid becomes inseparable from covenant memorial, public instruction, and national identity. Covenant Significance 1. Clarity of Revelation The smooth, gleaming surface allowed the law to be “written very clearly” (Deuteronomy 27:8). Sid therefore serves the clarity of God’s Word, preventing erosion and obscurity. The divine statutes were not to remain hidden in oral tradition alone but preserved in legible form for every generation that passed by Ebal. 2. Permanence and Accountability Once the plaster set, the inscription became part of the stone itself. Any attempt to erase it would visibly mar the monument—an apt picture of the unalterable nature of God’s covenant requirements (Psalm 119:89). 3. Public Witness The plastered stones were raised “so that all the peoples of the earth may see” (Joshua 4:24, principle applied). Sid thus participated in Israel’s missionary vocation, inviting every passer-by to read the righteous standards of the Lord. Historical Background Lime kilns dotted the ancient Near East, functioning wherever limestone outcrops occurred. Builders mixed slaked lime with water and sand to make a durable plaster. Egyptians white-washed tombs; Canaanites coated defensive walls; and, as Deuteronomy shows, Israel harnessed the same craft for covenant proclamation. Archaeology has uncovered eighth-century B.C. Israelite lime-plastered pavements and even whole cisterns, attesting to the material’s ubiquity and durability. Theological Reflections 1. Written on Stone, Written on Hearts Sid provided an external witness; the new covenant anticipates an internal one: “I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33). What sid accomplished on limestone, the Holy Spirit accomplishes within flesh (2 Corinthians 3:3). 2. Purity and Exposure White plaster externalizes purity but can also expose hypocrisy when true holiness is absent (compare Matthew 23:27). The memorial on Ebal was meant to align heart and conduct with visible profession—an enduring challenge for God’s people. Practical Ministry Lessons • Teach with Clarity: As sid provided a readable surface, ministers must labor for lucidity in Bible exposition so that hearers “may run who read it” (Habakkuk 2:2). Summary שׂיד, the humble lime plaster of Deuteronomy 27, stands as a vivid emblem of God’s desire for His revelation to be plain, permanent, and publicly displayed. From the limestone hills of Canaan to the living stones of Christ’s church, the principle endures: divine truth must be inscribed clearly—first upon the heart, then upon the watching world. Forms and Transliterations בַּשִּֽׂיד׃ בשיד׃ וְשַׂדְתָּ֥ ושדת baś·śîḏ basSid baśśîḏ vesadTa wə·śaḏ·tā wəśaḏtāLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 27:2 HEB: אֲבָנִ֣ים גְּדֹל֔וֹת וְשַׂדְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם בַּשִּֽׂיד׃ NAS: stones and coat them with lime KJV: stones, and plaister them with plaister: INT: stones large and coat and coat Deuteronomy 27:2 Deuteronomy 27:4 Deuteronomy 27:4 4 Occurrences |