What does שָׁמַט (šāmaṭ) mean in the Bible?
שָׁמַט (šāmaṭ): Physical displacement (fling, shake) extends metaphorically to release, forgive, or allow to rest—covenant remission sense.
Hebrew · H8058
שָׁמַט
To fling down ; incipiently to jostle ; figuratively, to let alone , desist , remit
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שָׁמַטH8058
Pronunciationšāmaṭ
What does שָׁמַט (šāmaṭ) mean in the Bible?
שָׁמַט (šāmaṭ): Physical displacement (fling, shake) extends metaphorically to release, forgive, or allow to rest—covenant remission sense.
Full entry for שָׁמַט (H8058) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8058?
The BSB source-word alignment has 9 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include had stumbled (2), And you yourself will relinquish (1), are thrown down (1), but you must forgive (1), shall cancel (1).
Where does שָׁמַט (šāmaṭ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 23:11. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Kings (2), Deuteronomy (2), 1 Chronicles (1), 2 Samuel (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithad stumbled2×2 Samuel 6:6, 1 Chronicles 13:9
And you yourself will relinquish1×Jeremiah 17:4
are thrown down1×Psalms 141:6
but you must forgive1×Deuteronomy 15:3
shall cancel1×Deuteronomy 15:2
So they threw her down1×2 Kings 9:33
Throw her down1×2 Kings 9:33
you must let it rest1×Exodus 23:11
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 23:11תִּשְׁמְטֶ֣נָּהtoyou must let it restVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singularDeuteronomy 15:2שָׁמ֗וֹטtoshall cancelVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteDeuteronomy 15:3תַּשְׁמֵ֥טtobut you must forgiveVerb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular2 Samuel 6:6שָׁמְט֖וּtohad stumbledVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2 Kings 9:33שִׁמְטֻהוּtoThrow her downVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | third person feminine singular2 Kings 9:33וַֽיִּשְׁמְט֑וּהָtoSo they threw her downConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person feminine singular1 Chronicles 13:9שָֽׁמְט֖וּtohad stumbledVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralPsalms 141:6נִשְׁמְט֣וּtoare thrown downVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralJeremiah 17:4וְשָׁמַטְתָּ֗הtoAnd you yourself will relinquishConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 23:11
Aligned rows9
Books represented7
Exodus1Deuteronomy22 Samuel12 Kings21 Chronicles1Psalms1Jeremiah1
Source forms
וַֽיִּשְׁמְט֑וּהָ1xway·yiš·mə·ṭū·hā2 Kings 9:33
וְשָׁמַטְתָּ֗ה1xwə·šā·maṭ·tāhJeremiah 17:4
נִשְׁמְט֣וּ1xniš·mə·ṭūPsalms 141:6
שָׁמ֗וֹט1xšā·mō·wṭDeuteronomy 15:2
שִׁמְטֻהוּ1xšim·ṭu·hū2 Kings 9:33
שָׁמְט֖וּ1xšā·mə·ṭū2 Samuel 6:6
שָֽׁמְט֖וּ1xšā·mə·ṭū1 Chronicles 13:9
תַּשְׁמֵ֥ט1xtaš·mêṭDeuteronomy 15:3
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural2x2 Samuel 6:6, 1 Chronicles 13:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular1xJeremiah 17:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person feminine singular1x2 Kings 9:33
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular1xDeuteronomy 15:3
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural1xPsalms 141:6
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural | third person feminine singular1x2 Kings 9:33
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person feminine singular1xExodus 23:11
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute1xDeuteronomy 15:2
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical displacement (fling, shake) extends metaphorically to release, forgive, or allow to rest—covenant remission sense.
Source Gloss
to fling down ; incipiently to jostle ; figuratively, to let alone , desist , remit
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical displacement (fling, shake) extends metaphorically to release, forgive, or allow to rest—covenant remission sense.
to fling down; incipiently to jostle; figuratively, to let alone, desist, remit BDB: let drop Usage: discontinue, overthrow, release, let rest, shake, stumble, throw down.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms5
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense3×
Perfect1Chr 13:9 · 2Sam 6:62×
Infinitive absoluteDeut 15:21×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action1×
JussiveDeut 15:31×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
PerfectPs 141:61×
Word Origins
שָׁמַט is a primitive root - no further derivation.