שָׁתַן
sha.tan
to urinate
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word שָׁתַן (sha.tan) is a verb that means "to urinate." It is used six times in the Bible to describe a fundamental bodily function. This word is part of everyday language, indicating its common usage in ancient Hebrew culture. The significance of this word lies in its depiction of human nature and the natural world. By mentioning this function, the Bible acknowledges the physical aspects of human existence, reminding readers that their bodies are subject to natural processes. This word also highlights the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in ancient Hebrew society, where rituals surrounding bodily functions were significant. The limited occurrences of this word in the Bible suggest that it is not a concept of great theological or symbolic significance. Rather, it is a straightforward description of a natural process, used to convey a sense of normalcy and everyday life.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
6 total occurrences across the text
God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that belongs to him by the morning light so much as one who urinates on a wall.”
1 Samuel 25:34For indeed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, who has withheld me from harming you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely there wouldn’t have been left to Nabal by the morning light so much as one who urinates on a wall.”
1 Kings 14:10therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam everyone who urinates on a wall, he who is shut up and he who is left at large in Israel, and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweeps away dung, until it is all gone.
1 Kings 16:11When he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, he attacked all the house of Baasha. He didn’t leave him a single one who urinates on a wall among his relatives or his friends.
1 Kings 21:21Behold, I will bring evil on you, and will utterly sweep you away and will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, and him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel.
2 Kings 9:8For the whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab everyone who urinates against a wall, both him who is shut up and him who is left at large in Israel.