What does שָׁעַן (shāʿan) mean in the Bible?
שָׁעַן (shāʿan): Physical leaning transitions to trusting reliance; denotes dependent weight-bearing on another's strength or support.
Hebrew · H8172
שָׁעַן
To support one's self
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שָׁעַןH8172
Pronunciationshāʿan
What does שָׁעַן (shāʿan) mean in the Bible?
שָׁעַן (shāʿan): Physical leaning transitions to trusting reliance; denotes dependent weight-bearing on another's strength or support.
Full entry for שָׁעַן (H8172) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8172?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include - (1), . . . (1), and lean (1), and lie (1), and relying (1).
Where does שָׁעַן (shāʿan) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 18:4. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Chronicles (5), Isaiah (5), 2 Kings (3), Job (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It-1×2 Chronicles 16:7
. . .1×Job 24:23
and lean1×Proverbs 3:5
and lie1×Numbers 21:15
and relying1×Isaiah 30:12
and rest1×Genesis 18:4
Because you have relied1×2 Chronicles 16:7
depend1×Isaiah 10:20
he leaned1×2 Kings 7:17
He leans1×Job 8:15
leaned1×2 Kings 7:2
leaning1×2 Samuel 1:6
leans1×2 Kings 5:18
let him lean1×Isaiah 50:10
rely1×Isaiah 10:20
so I can lean1×Judges 16:26
they relied1×2 Chronicles 13:18
we rely1×2 Chronicles 14:11
when they leaned1×Ezekiel 29:7
who rely1×Isaiah 31:1
Yet because you relied1×2 Chronicles 16:8
Yet they lean1×Micah 3:11
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 18:4וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּtoand restConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine pluralNumbers 21:15וְנִשְׁעַ֖ןtoand lieConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularJudges 16:26וְאֶשָּׁעֵ֖ןtoso I can leanConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular2 Samuel 1:6נִשְׁעָ֣ןtoleaningVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular2 Kings 5:18נִשְׁעָ֣ןtoleansVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular2 Kings 7:2נִשְׁעָ֨ןtoleanedVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular2 Kings 7:17נִשְׁעָ֤ןtohe leanedVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular2 Chronicles 13:18נִשְׁעֲנ֔וּtothey reliedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural2 Chronicles 14:11נִשְׁעַ֔נּוּtowe relyVerb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common plural2 Chronicles 16:7בְּהִשָּׁ֨עֶנְךָ֜toBecause you have reliedPreposition-b | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 18:4
Aligned rows22
Books represented11
Genesis1Numbers1Judges12 Samuel12 Kings32 Chronicles5Job2Proverbs1Isaiah5Ezekiel1Micah1
Source forms
נִשְׁעָ֣ן2xniš·‘ān2 Samuel 1:6, 2 Kings 5:18
בְּהִשָּׁ֨עֶנְךָ֜1xbə·hiš·šā·‘en·ḵā2 Chronicles 16:7
וְאֶשָּׁעֵ֖ן1xwə·’eš·šā·‘ênJudges 16:26
וּבְהִשָּֽׁעֶנְךָ֥1xū·ḇə·hiš·šā·‘en·ḵā2 Chronicles 16:8
וּבְהִֽשָּׁעֲנָ֤ם1xū·ḇə·hiš·šā·‘ă·nāmEzekiel 29:7
וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּ1xwə·hiš·šā·‘ă·nūGenesis 18:4
וְיִשָּׁעֵ֑ן1xwə·yiš·šā·‘ênJob 24:23
וְיִשָּׁעֵ֖ן1xwə·yiš·šā·‘ênIsaiah 50:10
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular4x2 Samuel 1:6, 2 Kings 5:18, 2 Kings 7:2, 2 Kings 7:17
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular2xJob 24:23, Isaiah 50:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular2xNumbers 21:15, Isaiah 10:20
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural2xIsaiah 31:1, Micah 3:11
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular1xJudges 16:26
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural1xIsaiah 30:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine plural1xGenesis 18:4
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular1x2 Chronicles 16:8
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Physical leaning transitions to trusting reliance; denotes dependent weight-bearing on another's strength or support.
Strong'sH8172
Lexical occurrences22 versesWord forms1 form11 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 10:20-23Source Gloss
to support one's self
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Physical leaning transitions to trusting reliance; denotes dependent weight-bearing on another's strength or support.
to support one's self BDB: lean Usage: lean, lie, rely, rest (on, self), stay.
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 groups1Aligned forms11
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action11×
Participle active2Kgs 5:18 · 2Kgs 7:2 · 2Kgs 7:17 · 2Sam 1:64×
ImperfectIsa 31:1 · Mic 3:11 · Job 8:153×
Perfect2Chr 13:18 · 2Chr 14:10 · 2Chr 16:73×
JussiveProv 3:51×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
To rely upon or depend on for support.
Showing 1 selected witness from 22 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שָׁעַן is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
The shift from reliance on Assyria to reliance on the Lord defines authentic repentance.Isaiah 10:20-23