Hebrew word · H7613

שְׂאֵת

se'et-

elevation

A noun formed from nasa', 'lift, carry, bear.' Its uses include: (1) elevation or dignity (Gen 49:3, Reuben the firstborn is 'excelling in se'et,' preeminent in rank); (2) a swelling on the skin (Lev 13:2, 'a raised spot'); (3) in phrases with the root, 'lifting the face' means showing favour or...

Appears 14 times in 13 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) elevation, exaltation, dignity, swelling, uprising

1a) dignity, exaltation, loftiness

1b) swelling

1c) uprising

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 Genesis 4:7

Range of meaning

A noun formed from nasa', 'lift, carry, bear.' Its uses include: (1) elevation or dignity (Gen 49:3, Reuben the firstborn is 'excelling in se'et,' preeminent in rank); (2) a swelling on the skin (Lev 13:2, 'a raised spot'); (3) in phrases with the root, 'lifting the face' means showing favour or accepting someone (Gen 19:21; 32:20; Mal 1:8–9), and 'lifting sin' means forgiving or bearing guilt (Gen 50:17; Exod 34:7).

Against the English

KJV, BSB and NIV have 'accepted'. NASB has 'will not your countenance be lifted up?' WEB has 'won't it be lifted up?' YLT has 'acceptance'. 'Accepted' gives the sense but loses the picture that answers verse 6.

How it drifted

'Accepted' is a good paraphrase, but modern readers tend to hear social approval or emotional acceptance. They lose the physical image of a face lifted back up, and the overtones of restored rank and forgiveness.

Used elsewhere in the period

Targum Onqelos turns it into forgiveness: if you improve your deeds, it will be forgiven you. The Vulgate has recipies ('you will receive [favour]'). The Septuagint read the line differently and does not translate se'et directly. Gen 49:3 shows the 'dignity/rank' sense in Genesis itself, used of a firstborn son.

From the study of Genesis 49:3

Range of meaning

A noun from nāśāʾ, 'to lift, carry, raise'. It can mean a lifting up or exaltation, majesty or eminence (Job 13:11; Habakkuk 1:7, of a ruler's or nation's self-exaltation), acceptance through 'lifting the face' (Genesis 4:7), and, in a technical sense, a raised swelling on the skin (Leviticus 13).

Against the English

KJV, WEB and NASB have 'dignity', BSB and NIV 'honor', NRSV 'rank'. 'Dignity' and 'honor' make it sound like inner worth or reputation. The Hebrew is more spatial and social: being raised up above others, precedence.

How it drifted

Since the Enlightenment, 'dignity' has come to mean intrinsic personal worth. In 1611 it still meant mainly high office or rank.

Used elsewhere in the period

Genesis 4:7 ('will there not be a lifting up?'), Job 13:11 and 31:23, Habakkuk 1:7. Targum Onqelos (the Aramaic paraphrase) took this 'lifting' as the priesthood and the following 'power' as kingship.

From the study of Job 31:23

Range of meaning

From nāśāʾ, "lift". A lifting up or rising. It can mean dignity or pre-eminence, exaltation or majesty, and in Leviticus 13 even a raised swelling on the skin. The basic picture is height, something rising up.

Against the English

KJV "his highness", YLT "His excellency", WEB/NASB/ESV "majesty", BSB and NIV "splendor". "Highness" is the most literal. "Splendor" suggests brightness or beauty, which is not in the word.

How it drifted

"Majesty" and especially "splendor" now suggest royal grandeur or radiance to admire. The Hebrew pictures God rising up to his full height, which is something no one can stand against.

Used elsewhere in the period

Genesis 4:7, "If you do well, will there not be a lifting up (śĕʾēt)?" Genesis 49:3, Reuben "pre-eminent in dignity (śĕʾēt)". Job 13:11, "Will not his majesty (śĕʾētô) terrify you, and his dread (paḥdô) fall on you?" Job 41:25 (Heb 41:17), when Leviathan "raises himself up" (miśśētô, same form with "from") the mighty are terrified.

Where it appears

Genesis · 2

  1. Genesis 4:7 שְׂאֵ֔ת lifting up

    If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.”

    Here: A verbal noun from nasa', 'to lift, carry.' It answers verse 6, where Cain's face has 'fallen'. Doing well brings a 'lifting', which can be of his face (acceptance, favour, a cheerful face), of his standing (dignity as firstborn), or of guilt (forgiveness). The one word holds all of these, and the context favours the lifted face.

  2. Genesis 49:3 שְׂאֵ֖ת dignity

    Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.

    Here: 'Lifting up,' from the verb 'to lift, raise'. It means rank or eminence: Reuben was raised above his brothers in standing. It is not 'dignity' in the modern sense of self-respect.

Leviticus · 7

  1. Leviticus 13:2 שְׂאֵ֤ת a swelling

    “When someone has a swelling or rash or bright spot on his skin that may be an infectious skin disease, he must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest.

    Here: From the verb "to lift": a raised place on the skin. This is the first of three visible signs that call for inspection.

  2. Leviticus 13:10 שְׂאֵת־ בַּשְׂאֵֽת׃ a swelling, [is] in the swelling

    The priest will examine him, and if there is a white swelling on the skin that has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling,

  3. Leviticus 13:19 שְׂאֵ֣ת a swelling

    and a white swelling or a reddish-white spot develops where the boil was, he must present himself to the priest.

  4. Leviticus 13:28 שְׂאֵ֥ת [is] [the] swelling of

    But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread on the skin but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest is to pronounce him clean; for it is only the scar from the burn.

  5. Leviticus 13:43 שְׂאֵת־ [the] swelling of

    The priest is to examine him, and if the swelling of the infection on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white like a skin disease,

  6. Leviticus 14:56 וְלַשְׂאֵ֥ת and to <the> swelling

    and for a swelling, rash, or spot,

Job · 3

  1. Job 13:11 שְׂ֭אֵתוֹ majesty his

    Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?

  2. Job 31:23 וּ֝מִשְּׂאֵת֗וֹ and from majesty his

    For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.

    Here: God's towering exaltation, the way he rises up over a person. "From" here means "because of" or "in the face of" it. Job could not hold his ground before God rising up.

  3. Job 41:25 מִ֭שֵּׂתוֹ from uprising its

    When Leviathan rises up, the mighty are terrified; they withdraw before his thrashing.

Psalms · 1

  1. Psalm 62:4 מִשְּׂאֵת֨וֹ׀ from loftiness his

    They fully intend to cast him down from his lofty perch; they delight in lies; with their mouths they bless, but inwardly they curse. Selah

    Here: 'From his raised position.' The noun comes from the verb 'to lift.' It names the standing, rank or dignity of the man under attack. The picture is a high place he could be pushed off.

Habakkuk · 1

  1. Habakkuk 1:7 וּשְׂאֵת֖וֹ and dignity its

    They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty.

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