Hebrew word · H7599

שָׁאַן

vesha'anan

to rest

A rare verb with a repeated consonant: to be at ease, at rest, undisturbed. The related adjective shaanan means 'quiet, at ease', and in the wrong setting 'complacent, careless' (Amos 6:1 'woe to those at ease in Zion'; Isa 32:9–11).

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

(Pilel) to be at ease, be at peace, rest, rest securely, be quiet

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Proverbs 1:33

Range of meaning

A rare verb with a repeated consonant: to be at ease, at rest, undisturbed. The related adjective shaanan means 'quiet, at ease', and in the wrong setting 'complacent, careless' (Amos 6:1 'woe to those at ease in Zion'; Isa 32:9–11).

Against the English

WEB 'be at ease' is closest. KJV/YLT 'be quiet' is close. BSB drops the verb and folds it into 'secure from', so the second promise (inner rest) merges into the first (outer safety).

Used elsewhere in the period

Jer 30:10 / 46:27: 'Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease (shaqat veshaanan), and none shall make him afraid.' Job 3:18: prisoners 'at ease together' in death. Jer 48:11: Moab 'at ease from his youth'. HALOT and BDB list only these few verbal uses.

From the study of Jeremiah 48:11

Range of meaning

To be at rest, at ease, free of worry. The related adjective sha'anan can describe peaceful security positively (Isa 33:20, 'a quiet habitation'; Jer 30:10 and 46:27, Jacob restored 'at ease'). More often it describes careless, self-assured complacency (Amos 6:1, 'woe to those at ease in Zion'; Isa 32:9, 11, 'complacent women'; Zech 1:15, nations 'at ease' while Judah suffered).

Against the English

'At ease' (KJV, BSB, WEB) and 'secure' (YLT) are accurate but mild. Modern English 'at ease' sounds relaxed and pleasant, while the prophetic word usually carries a warning: undisturbed, and so unaware of danger.

How it drifted

English 'at ease' has lost the moral edge of 'careless security' that the Hebrew word usually carries in the prophets.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word occurs about five times as a verb or verb-like form and about ten times as an adjective. The same pairing of sha'an with shaqat ('quiet') appears in Jer 30:10 and 46:27 for Israel's future peace, so Jeremiah gives Moab, now, the rest he promises Jacob later. The Greek Septuagint uses 'rested' (anepausato); the Latin Vulgate reportedly has 'fertilis' ('fruitful').

Where it appears

Job · 1

  1. Job 3:18 שַׁאֲנָ֑נוּ they are at ease

    The captives enjoy their ease; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.

Proverbs · 1

  1. Proverbs 1:33 וְ֝שַׁאֲנַ֗ן and he will be at ease

    But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”

    Here: A rare verb with a doubled sound, carrying the future forward: 'and he will be at ease'. It pictures calm, undisturbed quiet. It answers v. 32, where the fools' 'ease' (shalvah, careless calm) destroys them. Wisdom offers an ease that is real and lasts.

Jeremiah · 3

  1. Jeremiah 30:10 וְשַׁאֲנַ֖ן and he will be at ease

    As for you, O Jacob My servant, do not be afraid, declares the LORD, and do not be dismayed, O Israel. For I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their captivity! Jacob will return to quiet and ease, with no one to make him afraid.

    Here: Carefree security, living without looking over your shoulder. Elsewhere it can mean complacency (Amos 6:1), but here it is the good, God-given kind.

  2. Jeremiah 46:27 וְשַׁאֲנַ֖ן and he will be at ease

    But you, O Jacob My servant, do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed, O Israel. For I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their captivity! Jacob will return to quiet and ease, with no one to make him afraid.

    Here: Carefree security, living without anxiety. Elsewhere this can mean false complacency, but here it is a gift.

  3. Jeremiah 48:11 שַׁאֲנַ֨ן it has been at ease

    Moab has been at ease from youth, settled like wine on its dregs; he has not been poured from vessel to vessel or gone into exile. So his flavor has remained the same, and his aroma is unchanged.

    Here: A rare intensive verb form meaning 'has been thoroughly at ease'. In the prophets it usually means careless, complacent security (Amos 6:1; Isa 32:9), and that is the tone here: Moab has never had to worry.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.