Lexical Summary shethah: Surface, expanse, field Original Word: שֵׁתָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance buttock From shiyth; the seat (of the person) -- buttock. see HEBREW shiyth NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as sheth, q.v. Brown-Driver-Briggs III. שֵׁת noun [masculine] seat (of body), buttocks (compare Late Hebrew שִׁית, Aramaic  foundation; compare [שָׁת] p. 1011; NöM 98); — absolute ׳שׁ Isaiah 20:4; plural suffix שְׁתוֺתֵיהֶם 2 Samuel 10:4. III. שׁתה (√ of following; Aramaic שְׁתִי, Topical Lexicon Term Overview Shētāh denotes the buttocks, especially as bared through the tearing or cutting away of the lower garment. Both occurrences in Scripture present the exposure as a calculated act of humiliation. Scriptural Occurrences • 2 Samuel 10:4 – Hanun “cut off their garments at the buttocks and sent them away”, disgracing David’s ambassadors. Cultural Background of Shame and Nakedness In the Ancient Near East, modest dress signified personal honor and social standing. Exposing the buttocks equated to stripping someone of dignity, rendering him powerless before onlookers. Such shame could be inflicted by cutting the tunic (as in 2 Samuel) or parading captives unclothed (as in Isaiah). Theological Significance Public nakedness in Scripture regularly signals judgment and disgrace (Genesis 3:10-11; Nahum 3:5). Shētāh, therefore, embodies: Prophetic Dimension Isaiah’s sign-act foreshadows the Assyrian conquest and anticipates the universal exposure of human pride before God (Hebrews 4:13). The image urges nations and individuals alike to seek refuge in the LORD rather than political alliances. Pastoral and Ministry Applications 1. Humiliation can precede divine vindication. David’s shamed envoys ultimately saw their king triumph (2 Samuel 12:26-31). Christological Reflection The exposure involved in crucifixion (Hebrews 12:2) echoes the shame of shētāh, yet Jesus bore that humiliation to clothe believers in righteousness (Isaiah 61:10). Thus, the term’s imagery finds its ultimate reversal in the Cross. Related Motifs for Further Study Nakedness and shame – Exodus 32:25; Revelation 3:18 Captivity imagery – Deuteronomy 28:36; Luke 21:24 Honor versus disgrace – Proverbs 3:35; Romans 9:33 Summary Shētāh appears only twice, yet it provides a vivid lens on honor, shame, and divine sovereignty. It warns of the disgrace awaiting those who oppose God while pointing to the covering granted to all who trust in His redemptive work. Forms and Transliterations שְׁתֽוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם שֵׁ֖ת שת שתותיהם šə·ṯō·w·ṯê·hem šêṯ šəṯōwṯêhem shet shetoteiHemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 10:4 HEB: בַּחֵ֖צִי עַ֣ד שְׁתֽוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵֽם׃ KJV: in the middle, [even] to their buttocks, and sent them away. INT: the middle far their buttocks and sent Isaiah 20:4 2 Occurrences |
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weave (Judges 16:13 ᵑ7 ᵑ6); 
textura; compare Arabic 
, 
, set the warp).