What does שָׁפַט · אֶרֶץ mean in the Bible?
שָׁפַט · אֶרֶץ is a Hebrew phrase meaning "universal divine judgment over the world".
Hebrew · H8199, H776
שָׁפְטָה הָאָרֶץ
To judge , i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish ; by extenssion, to govern ; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively) · the earth (at large, or partitively a land )
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
שָׁפַטH8199to judge , i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish ; by extenssion, to govern ; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively)
Pronunciationshāphaṭ
To judge is to execute justice through pronouncement, vindication, punishment, and governance—God's covenantal prerogative.
Open lexicon entry →אֶרֶץH776the earth (at large, or partitively a land )
Pronunciationerets
Physical ground and soil extend metaphorically to inhabited territory, nation, and cosmic order under divine rule.
Open lexicon entry →What does שָׁפְטָה הָאָרֶץ (shoftah haaretz) mean in the Bible?
שָׁפַט · אֶרֶץ is a Hebrew phrase meaning "universal divine judgment over the world".
Full entry for שָׁפְטָה הָאָרֶץ (H8199, H776) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H8199, H776?
H8199, H776 is connected to 2,709 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. universal divine judgment over the world
Source Gloss
universal divine judgment over the world
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 groups2Aligned forms89
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense80×
Participle active1Chr 17:6 · 1Chr 17:10 · 1Sam 3:13 · 1Sam 8:1 · 1Sam 8:2 · 2Chr 19:5 · 2Chr 26:21 · 2Kgs 15:5 · 2Sam 7:11 · 2Sam 15:4 · Amos 2:3 · Deut 16:18 · Ezek 34:17 · Isa 3:2 · Isa 16:5 · Isa 40:2332×
Imperfect1Kgs 7:7 · 2Chr 1:10 · Eccl 3:17 · Isa 11:3 · Job 21:22 · Job 22:13 · Judg 11:27 · Ps 9:9 · Ps 72:4 · Ps 82:1 · Ps 96:13 · Ps 98:9 · Exod 18:22 · Exod 18:26 · Ezek 23:45 · Gen 31:5332×
Sequential imperfectIsa 1:17 · Isa 5:3 · Ps 82:3 · Zech 7:9 · Zech 8:16 · Prov 31:96×
Perfect1Kgs 3:28 · 1Sam 4:18 · 1Sam 7:17 · Judg 16:31 · 2Kgs 23:22 · Jer 5:286×
Jussive1Sam 24:13 · Gen 16:52×
Infinitive absoluteGen 19:91×
Infinitive constructRuth 1:11×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action9×
Participle activeIsa 59:4 · Isa 66:16 · Jer 2:35 · Jer 25:31 · Prov 29:95×
ImperfectEzek 20:36 · Ps 9:202×
PerfectEzek 20:361×
CohortativeIsa 43:261×
Word Origins
שָׁפְטָה הָאָרֶץ is a primitive root - no further derivation.