Original Word: שָׁנָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shanah
Pronunciation: shah-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-naw')
Definition: To change, to repeat, to do again
Meaning: to fold, duplicate, to transmute

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G3339 (μεταμορφόω, metamorphoō) - to transform, to change

- G3340 (μετανοέω, metanoeō) - to repent, to change one's mind

Usage: The Hebrew verb "shanah" primarily means "to change" or "to repeat." It is used in various contexts in the Old Testament to denote the act of doing something again or altering something. This can refer to physical changes, such as the changing of garments, or more abstract changes, such as changes in behavior or circumstances. It also encompasses the idea of repetition, as in repeating an action or event.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, repetition and change were significant concepts. The cyclical nature of time, marked by the repetition of days, months, and years, was a fundamental aspect of life. The concept of change was also important in the context of personal transformation and renewal, which are recurring themes in the Hebrew Scriptures. The idea of repeating actions or rituals was central to religious practices, emphasizing the importance of consistency and faithfulness in worship.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to repeat, do again
NASB Translation
again (1), did it a second time (1), do it a second time (1), do so again (1), repeating (1), repeats (2), second time (3), speak again (1).

I. [שָׁנָה] verb change (Late Hebrew Pi`el, etc.; Ecclus 42:24; etc.; Assyrian šanû, change, Aramaic שְׁנָא, Nabataean Ethpa`al Lzb³⁷⁹; Syriac , especially mentally = grow insane; compare (probably) Late Hebrew שָׁנָה year, = Phoenician שנת, שת; MI^{2, 8} שת; Assyrian šattu (compare Muss-Arn^{JBL xi (1892), 73 n}.); Arabic ; Aramaic שְׁנַא, שַׁתָּא, , ; Old Aramaic, Nabataean, Palmyrene שנתא, שנת, שת, שנן Lzb^379f.; on year from changing seasons, see Philippi^{ZMG xxxii (1878), 79 f.} Ba^{ZMG xll (1887), 612, 621, 636} (especially against DHM^{VIme Orient. Congr. ii. 1, 452} who proposes biliteral √), compare Thes; a daring suggestion by Jen^{ZA vii (1892), 177}); —

Qal Perfect1singular לאֹ שָׁנִיתִי Malachi 3:6 I am ׳׳י, I do not change: Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁנֶא (Ges^{§ 75rr}) Lamentations 4:1 how is the fine gold changed (si vera lectio; Löhr^Now יִשָּׁנֵא; gloss on יוּעַס Bu Löhr); Infinitive construct שְׁנוֺת יְמִין עֶלְיוֺן Psalm 77:11 the right hand of the Highest is changed (ᵑ6 ᵑ9 ᵑ7 Aq Symm Theod Hup-Now RVm Bae Du We Buhl; AV RV Ew De Che and others years, usually insert I will remember); Participle שׁוֺנִים Esther 1:7 differing, different, with מִן, compare Esther 3:8 (so Ecclus 42:24); Proverbs 24:21 those who change (but dubious, see Toy).

Pi`el transitive, change, alter: Perfect3masculine singular שִׁנָּה Jeremiah 52:33 with accusative garments, = שִׁנָּא (Ges^l.c.) 2 Kings 25:29; Imperfect3masculine singular יְשַׁנֶּה דִּין Proverbs 31:5 lest he pervert the judgment; וַיְשַׁנּוֺ 1 Samuel 21:14 (read וַיְשַׁן Ges^{§ 75bb}, וַיְשַׁנֶּה We Dr (and references), compare Bu HPS Now), with accusative טַעְמוֺ (see טַעַם, and Assyrian šanê ‰êmi, madness); וַיְשַׁנֶּהָ Esther 2:9, i.e. changed her place לְטוֺב בֵּית הַנָּשִׁים; 1 singular Psalm 89:35 the utterance of my lips I will not change ("" לֹא אֲחַלֵּל בְּרִיתִי); Infinitive construct לְשַׁנּוֺת אֶתדַּֿרְכֵךְ Jeremiah 2:36 i.e. change thy political course; בְּשַׁנּוֺתוֺ אֶתֿ טַעְמוֺ Psalm 34:1 (title; compare 1 Samuel 21:14 above); Participle מְשַׁנֶּה פָנָיו Job 14:20 altering his face, i.e. in death (subject God).

Pu`al Imperfect3masculine singular וְעֹז מָּנָיו יְשֻׁנֶּא (Ges^{§ 75rr}) Ecclesiastes 8:1, usually is changed, mollified, Siegf יִשָּׂנֵא is hated (on ׳עֹז פ see עֹז

4, √עזז).

Hithpa`el Perfect2feminine singular consecutive קוּמִי וְהִשְׁתַּנִּית 1 Kings 14:2 arise, pray, and disguise thyself.

III. שָׁנָה verb repeat, do again (Late Hebrew id.; Ecclus 42:1; Arabic bend, fold, double; Aramaic תְּנָא repeat, also teach, ; Assyrian šanû, especially Pi`el repeat, relate, compare Scheil^{ZA v (1890), 409} (Dl thinks denominative); on ׳שׁ as √of שְׁנַיִם two, see Philippi^{ZMG xxxii (1878), 77} Ba^{ib. xli (1887), 603}); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳שׁ 2 Samuel 20:10; Imperfect1singular אֶשְׁנֶה 1 Samuel 26:8, etc.; Imperative masculine plural שְׁנוּ 1 Kings 18:34; Participle שֹׁנֶה Proverbs 17:9; Proverbs 26:11; — do again: לוֺ ׳וַיַּכֵּהוּוְ֗֗֗לֹא שׁ 2 Samuel 20:10, compare 1 Samuel 26:8; absolute 1 Kings 18:34 (twice in verse); Nehemiah 13:21; = speak again Job 29:22 + Job 40:5 according to many moderns (אשׁנה for ᵑ0 אענה); בְּדָבָר ׳שׁ Proverbs 17:9 repeat with a thing, keep talking about it (שנות דבר Ecclus 42:1); Proverbs 26:11 a dullard repeats with (ב) his folly, does it over again (learns nothing by experience).

Niph`al Infinitive construct וְעַל הִשָּׁנוֺת הַחֲלוֺם אֶלמַּֿרְעֹה מַּעֲמָ֑יִם Genesis 41:32 (E) concerning the dream's being repeated, etc.

do speak, strike again, alter, double, be given to change, disguise, be diverse, pervert,

A primitive root; to fold, i.e. Duplicate (literally or figuratively); by implication, to transmute (transitive or intransitive) -- do (speak, strike) again, alter, double, (be given to) change, disguise, (be) diverse, pervert, prefer, repeat, return, do the second time.

אֲשַׁנֶּֽה׃ אֶשְׁנֶ֖ה אשנה אשנה׃ בְּשַׁנּוֹת֣וֹ בשנותו הִשָּׁנ֧וֹת השנות וְהִשְׁתַּנִּ֔ית וְשִׁנָּ֕ה וְשֹׁנֶ֥ה וִֽ֝ישַׁנֶּה וַיְשַׁנֶּ֧הָ וַיְשַׁנּ֤וֹ וַיִּשְׁנ֔וּ והשתנית וישנה וישנו ונים ושנה יִשְׁנ֑וּ ישנו לְשַׁנּ֣וֹת לשנות מְשַׁנֶּ֥ה משנה שְׁנוּ֙ שָׁ֥נָה שָׁנִ֑יתִי שֹׁנ֣וֹת שׁ֝וֹנִ֗ים שׁוֹנִ֑ים שׁוֹנֶ֥ה שונה שונים שנה שנו שנות שניתי תִּשְׁנ֕וּ תשנו ’ă·šan·neh ’ăšanneh ’eš·neh ’ešneh ashanNeh bə·šan·nō·w·ṯōw bəšannōwṯōw beshannoTo eshNeh hiš·šā·nō·wṯ hishshaNot hiššānōwṯ lə·šan·nō·wṯ ləšannōwṯ leshanNot mə·šan·neh məšanneh meshanNeh šā·nāh šā·nî·ṯî šānāh šānîṯî šə·nū šənū Shanah shaNiti sheNu shoNeh shoNim shoNot šō·nō·wṯ šō·w·neh šō·w·nîm šōnōwṯ šōwneh šōwnîm tiš·nū tishNu tišnū vaiyishNu vayshanNeha vayshanNo vehishtanNit veshinNah veshoNeh Vishanneh vNim w·nîm way·šan·ne·hā way·šan·nōw way·yiš·nū wayšannehā wayšannōw wayyišnū wə·hiš·tan·nîṯ wə·šin·nāh wə·šō·neh wəhištannîṯ wəšinnāh wəšōneh wî·šan·neh wîšanneh wnîm yiš·nū yishNu yišnūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts