Lexical Summary seon: Support, sustenance, provision Original Word: סְאוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance battle From ca'an; perhaps a military boot (as a protection from mud -- battle. see HEBREW ca'an NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably of foreign origin Definition sandal, boot (of a soldier) NASB Translation boot (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [סְאוֺן ?] noun [masculine] sandal, boot of soldier (probably loan-word from Assyrian šênu, shoe, sandal (of leather), DlHWB 634 WklTel Amarna, Glossary, whence (denominative) šênu, put on sandals Dll.c.; compare Aramaic סֵינָא,  ,  , sandal (verb denominative  ); Ethiopic  sandal); — probably construct כָּלסְֿאוֺן סֹאֵן Isaiah 9:4 every boot of one tramping (absolute Du al). Topical Lexicon Word Meaning and Imagery סְאוֹן portrays the heavy boot worn by a marching warrior. The single biblical appearance paints a picture of relentless stamping, the rumble of invasion, and the crushing weight of foreign armies. The object itself stands as shorthand for militarism and the oppression that accompanies it. Biblical Occurrence and Immediate Context (Isaiah 9:5) In Isaiah 9, the prophet contrasts past anguish with imminent light. Verse 5 declares: “For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire” (Berean Standard Bible). Here, the boot represents the entire machinery of war; its destruction anticipates a peace so complete that even tools of violence become unnecessary fuel. The verse leads directly into the birth announcement of the Child whose reign of peace will have no end (Isaiah 9:6–7). Historical Background Isaiah ministered during the Assyrian crisis of the eighth century B.C., when northern Israel and later Judah felt the earth shake beneath the hobnailed boots of Assyrian infantry. For Judah’s people, the boot signified unstoppable imperial power. Isaiah’s oracle promises that the very symbol of that power will be incinerated, signalling the downfall of tyranny. Prophetic and Messianic Significance By coupling the burning boot with the coming of the Prince of Peace, Isaiah reveals that true and lasting cessation of warfare is inseparable from the Davidic Messiah. Echoes of this promise resound in later prophecies that envision a world where “He makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth” (Psalm 46:9) and where “Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation” (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3). The solitary use of סְאוֹן intensifies its weight: all military might funnels into one prophetic moment, swallowed up by a greater victory. Theological Implications 1. Divine sovereignty over human conflict: God not only restrains violence; He repurposes its very instruments. Practical and Ministry Application • Confidence in the midst of turmoil: Believers facing oppressive systems can take heart that every “boot” raised against them is temporary. Related Scriptures for Study Psalm 46:9; Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 11:9; Micah 4:3; Zechariah 9:10; Luke 2:14; John 16:33; Ephesians 2:14; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 21:4. Summary סְאוֹן, the single-mentioned warrior’s boot, crystallizes the terror of warfare and the certainty of its extinction under Messiah. Its prophetic burning assures God’s people that every oppressive stride will meet divine fire, ushering in the everlasting government of peace. Forms and Transliterations סְאוֹן֙ סאון sə’ōwn sə·’ō·wn seOnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 9:5 HEB: כִּ֤י כָל־ סְאוֹן֙ סֹאֵ֣ן בְּרַ֔עַשׁ NAS: For every boot of the booted warrior KJV: For every battle of the warrior INT: For every boot of the booted the tumult 1 Occurrence |
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