שַׁי

From the study of Psalm 68:29

Range of meaning

A gift brought as homage: tribute, an offering that acknowledges someone's superiority. In all three uses (Ps 68:29; 76:11; Isa 18:7) the one receiving it is God, and the setting is outsiders or defeated enemies acknowledging his rule.

Against the English

KJV/WEB "presents" and BSB/ESV/NIV "gifts" are not wrong, but in modern English both suggest a voluntary, friendly, even festive gift. Shay is closer to "tribute" or "homage-gift": what a lesser king sends to a greater one to show loyalty. The NLT's "tribute" catches this better.

How it drifted

In 1611 "present" was a normal word for a gift offered to a superior (compare the KJV's use of "present" for Jacob's gift to Esau and for gifts to kings). Over time it has narrowed to birthday or holiday gifts between equals or to inferiors.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ps 76:11 [Heb 12]: "let all around him bring (yovilu) shay to the One to be feared," the same verb and noun as here, after God has broken the weapons of kings. Isa 18:7: "shay will be brought (yuval) to the LORD of hosts" from the far-off people of Cush, "to Mount Zion." The Greek Septuagint renders it dōra ("gifts"); the Latin Vulgate has munera. Neither carries a strong tribute sense on its own. Lexicons (BDB, HALOT) give "gift offered as homage."

From the study of Psalm 76:11

Range of meaning

A gift brought in homage, i.e. tribute. It occurs only three times (Ps 68:29 [Heb 30]; 76:11 [Heb 12]; Isa 18:7), each time for gifts brought by foreigners or kings to YHWH at Zion.

Against the English

KJV's 'presents' now suggests birthday or holiday gifts. BSB's 'tribute' gets the political sense right. 'Gifts' (ESV, NIV, NASB) is acceptable but loses the sense of submission.

How it drifted

English 'present' once carried a courtly sense: something 'presented' to a superior. Everyday use has narrowed it to friendly gift-giving.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ps 68:29: 'kings shall bring (yovilu) tribute (shay) to you,' the same verb and noun. Isa 18:7: 'At that time tribute (shay) will be brought (yuval) to the LORD of Hosts… to Mount Zion.' Ancient Near Eastern art shows the practice, for example Shalmaneser III's Black Obelisk, where Israel's king Jehu bows with tribute bearers behind him.

From the study of Isaiah 18:7

Range of meaning

A homage-gift or tribute brought to a superior to acknowledge his sovereignty. The word is very rare: it occurs only in Ps 68:29 (Heb. 68:30), Ps 76:11 (Heb. 76:12) and here, and in every case the gift goes to God.

Against the English

'Gift(s)' (BSB) and 'present' (KJV, WEB, YLT) are not wrong, but in modern English they suggest something voluntary and personal, like a birthday present. Shay is the gift of a subordinate to a king. 'Tribute' or 'homage-gift' is closer.

How it drifted

English 'present' and 'gift' have narrowed to friendly or voluntary giving. In the ancient world, gifts carried to a ruler's capital were political statements of submission and allegiance.

Used elsewhere in the period

All three uses pair shay with the same verb yaval ('carry in procession'). Ps 68:29: 'kings will bring (yovilu) shay to you', and two verses later, 'Cush will quickly stretch out her hands to God' (68:31). Ps 76:11: 'let all around him bring (yovilu) shay to the One to be feared (mora')'. So 'yaval shay' is a fixed phrase for nations bringing tribute to Israel's God. Assyrian palace reliefs and inscriptions show long processions of foreign envoys carrying tribute to the king's capital, and that is the picture behind the phrase.