The Doctrine of Shâmaţ

Topics

Pronunciation and Spelling

Meanings

An Examination of All Scriptural Occurrences

Conclusion

It is quite helpful to see how this word is actually used:

An Examination of All Scriptural Occurrences of the Word

The biggest problem with this word is that is in incorrectly rendered to stumble by almost every English translation in both 2Sam. 6:6 and 1Chron. 13:9. It does not mean to stumble. The obvious problem is, if it does not mean to stumble, then what does it mean and how should we interpret it?

Passage

Morphology and Additional Comments

Ex. 23:10–11a: For six years you shall sow your land, and will gather in its increase, but the seventh year you will let it rest [release, thrown down, drop] and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the animal of the field will eat.

Qal imperfect. In the first usage of shâmaţ, it is applied to the land of any Hebrew. For six years, a land is cultivated and harvested; in the seventh, nothing is done to the land. Now, this does not mean that it does not produce, and this does not mean that some do not harvest the land; however, this is left to the poor and the animals of the field.

The feminine singular suffix is used here to refer to the land.

Deut. 15:2–3: And this is the manner of the release [or, this is the procedure for cancelling debt]: every creditor will release [throw down, let drop] what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the LORD's release [or, cancellation of debt] has been proclaimed. Of a foreigner you may exact it, but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand shall release.

Qal infinitive absolute; Hiphil imperfect. We find both the verb and its cognate here. The noun cognate obviously refers to the cancellation of a debt or obligation; here, our passage is speaking of releasing the debtor from his debt or obligation.

The verb is used here without an specific object being named (although, the object is obviously the debt which has been incurred by the debtor). We do not even have a masculine singular suffix. This should indicate to us that this verb can be used without an object, even though an object is clearly implied. However, let me remind you that the Qal infinitive absolute of the verb is found here.

2Sam. 6:6: And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.

1Chron. 13:9: And when they came to the threshing-floor of Chidon, then Uzza put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

Qal perfect. The verses are equivalent. Although the surrounding verbs made the previous meanings clear, here, it is not clear exactly what the oxen do. Many translators simply tell us that the oxen stumbled, although that is not a clear meaning for shâmaţ.

It should not be a problem that there is no direct object here, as we have none in the previous verse. We are speaking of the Ark of God, and apparently, the oxen released, let fall, let drop the Ark of God. This does not mean that the oxen held the Ark in the hooves; they pulled the cart, and in doing so, the Ark began to fall. The oxen are spoken of as the subject of the verb, as they are pulling the cart whereupon is the Ark. Something happens (probably the oxen stumble or the Ark veers off into a large rut), and the Ark is upset and begins to fall.

With regards to the direct object, it is possible that one is not found here, nor is a masculine singular suffix, because the oxen only indirectly let the Ark drop.

2Kings 9:33: He said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down. And some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her.

Qal imperative; Qal imperfect. Here, the verb is used with an object, and perhaps because that object is not clear in the Hebrew without the feminine singular suffix.

Jer. 17:3b–4: “Your wealth and all your treasures I will give for spoil as the price of your high places for sin throughout all your territory. You will drop [let go, release] your hand from your heritage that I gave to you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.”

Qal perfect. The use of the verb is more difficult here, as it literally reads, in v. 4: And you have let drop and in your hand from your inheritance [or, estate] which I gave to you.

Although there may be a textual problem with this verse (the wâw conjunction preceding in your hand is somewhat confusing, it could possibly be explained as by means of your hand, indicating that their actions (their idolatry) resulted in the loss of their inheritance.

It is significant that there is no direct object and no suffix used here.

Given what we have here, I think that it is reasonable to render this verb to release, to let go [drop]; to throw down; figuratively to let rest, to remit [a debt]; to [temporarily] abandon, to forgo, to relinquish [use, ownership, an obligation].

ESV

God’s Word™

HCSB

LTHB

MKJV

Young

2Sam. 6:8

to stumble

to stumble

to stumble

to upset

to upset

to release

1Chron. 13:9

to stumble

to stumble

to stumble

to stumble

to stumble

to release

Ex. 23:11

to let rest

to leave unplowed

to let rest

to let rest

to let rest

to release

Deut. 15:2

to release

don’t collect [a payment]

to cancel

to release

to release

to release

Kings 9:33

to throw

to throw

to throw

to throw

to throw

to let go

Jer. 17:4

to loosen

to lose

to relinquish

to let drop

to let go

to let go