7699. shad
Lexical Summary
shad: Breast

Original Word: שַׁד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: shad
Pronunciation: shad
Phonetic Spelling: (shad)
KJV: breast, pap, teat
Word Origin: [probably from H7736 (שׁוּד - To ruin) (in its original sense) contracted]

1. the breast of a woman or animal (as bulging)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
breast, pap, teat

Or shod {shode}; probably from shuwd (in its original sense) contracted; the breast of a woman or animal (as bulging) -- breast, pap, teat.

see HEBREW shuwd

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[שַׁד] noun masculineHosea 9:14 female breast; — absolute שָׁ֑ד Lamentations 4:3; elsewhere dual שָׁדַיִם Hosea 9:14 +, construct שְׁדֵי Ezekiel 23:21 +, suffix שָׁדַי Songs 1:13; Songs 8:10, שָׁדַיִךְ Songs 4:5 +, etc.; — breast:

1 of woman Hosea 2:4; Ezekiel 16:7; Ezekiel 23:3,21 (שְׁדֵי נְעוּרָ֑יִךְ, "" דַּדַּיִךְ), Ezekiel 23:34 (> strike out ᵐ5 Manuscripts Co; — all these of personified People), Songs 1:13; Songs 4:5; Songs 7:4,8,9; Songs 8:8,10; of mother Psalm 22:10, with יָנַק suck Songs 8:1; Job 3:12; Joel 2:15; Hosea 9:14 (see [ צָמַק]); ׳מִשּׁ עֲתִיקֵי Isaiah 28:9 i.e. those already weaned, mature ("" גְּמוּלֵי מֵךְָלָב). — Isaiah 32:12 see [ספד].

2 of animal Lamentations 4:3.

3 both human and animal, וָרָ֑חַם ׳בִּרְכוֺת שׁ Genesis 49:25 (poem in J).

II. שֹׁד noun masculine id. (compare the rare Arabic , Lane333 BaZMG ii. 637); — ׳שׁ absolute, of mother Job 24:9; construct (figurative, with יָנַק): מְלָכִים ׳שׁ Isaiah 60:16, תַּנְחֻמֶיהָ ׳שׁ Isaiah 66:11, i.e. the consolations of Jerusalem.

Topical Lexicon
Physical and Familial Setting

In its most straightforward sense שַׁד denotes the female breast, the organ of nurture for infants. The term appears in earliest patriarchal blessing (Genesis 49:25) and in Job’s lament of existence (Job 3:12). Such contexts situate the word in the domestic sphere where life is first sustained. Scripture treats this aspect with reverence: “Yet You brought me forth from the womb; You made me secure upon my mother’s breasts” (Psalm 22:9). The breast is therefore presented as a God-provided instrument of preservation, underscoring the Creator’s intentional design for family structures.

Symbol of Maternal Provision and Divine Care

Prophetic literature extends the maternal image to corporate Israel. Isaiah foresees Zion as a nursing mother whose citizens “nurse and are satisfied at her comforting breast” (Isaiah 66:11). Likewise, Isaiah 60:16 envisions the nations supplying abundance: “You will drink the milk of nations and nurse at the breast of kings.” These passages draw a theological line from the literal sustenance of a child to the gracious provision of God for His people. The intimate dependency between infant and mother illustrates the believer’s absolute reliance on the Lord (cf. Psalm 131:2; 1 Peter 2:2).

Figure of Marital Love and Human Sexuality

The Song of Songs employs שַׁד twelve times, celebrating physical attraction within covenant union. “Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle” (Song of Songs 4:5) poetically affirms feminine beauty, while 8:10 links mature bodily development with the security of exclusive love. The frank appreciation of the female form, always inside marital commitment, validates God-given sexuality without shame. This sets a template for Christian teaching that rejects both prudish denials of the body’s goodness and the promiscuous distortions condemned elsewhere in Scripture.

Image of Spiritual Immaturity and Growth

Isaiah 28:9 mocks a people unwilling to move beyond spiritual infancy—“Those weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast?”—highlighting the necessity of progression from basic truths to mature obedience. By depicting prolonged dependence on the breast as negative, the prophet lays groundwork for later New Testament exhortations to advance from “milk” to “solid food” (Hebrews 5:12-14). Pastoral ministry draws on this motif to encourage believers toward doctrinal depth and practical holiness.

Prophetic Lens: Apostasy, Judgment, and National Lament

When covenant fidelity collapses, the same organ of nurture becomes a canvas for shame. Ezekiel 23 portrays Israel and Judah as adulterous sisters whose “young breasts” were fondled in Egyptian debauchery (Ezekiel 23:3, 21). Hosea pleads for removal of “unfaithfulness from between her breasts” (Hosea 2:2), while Hosea 9:14 petitions God for “breasts that dry up,” a stark image of judgment through withheld nurture. Lamentations 4:3 observes that even jackals nurse their young, yet siege-stricken Jerusalem withholds compassion. Tearing or beating the breasts (Ezekiel 23:34; Isaiah 32:12) acts as a gesture of grief and penitence. Thus the text leverages the same physical reality to spotlight either covenant blessing or its forfeiture.

Eschatological and Messianic Comfort

By including שַׁד in his prophetic hope, Isaiah anticipates the future consolation of Jerusalem, a theme later echoed when the Infant Messiah is laid upon Mary’s breasts (Luke 11:27-28 subtly recalls this maternal beatitude). Psalm 22, cited by Jesus on the cross, connects the sufferer’s earliest trust at the breast with ultimate deliverance, uniting Incarnation and Atonement. The prophetic promise that God’s people will drink deeply and be satisfied finds its consummation in Revelation’s portrayal of the Lamb shepherding His flock to “springs of living water.”

Pastoral and Theological Reflections

1. Sanctity of life and motherhood: The tenderness with which Scripture treats the nursing relationship urges protection of unborn and newborn life, respect for mothers, and practical support for families.
2. Balanced sexuality: Songs of Songs validates sensuality within marriage, guiding premarital counseling and marital enrichment toward joyful, covenantal intimacy.
3. Discipleship progression: Images of milk and weaning supply a framework for teaching spiritual growth, helping congregations assess maturity levels and design staged instruction.
4. Warning against idolatry: Prophetic misuse of the breast cautions against exploiting God’s gifts for sinful ends. Recovering purity involves repentance and restoration to covenant faithfulness.
5. Comfort ministry: For those in grief or hardship, passages like Isaiah 66:11 offer a picture of God’s gentle, mother-like consolation, balancing fatherly authority with tender care.

Representative References

Genesis 49:25; Job 3:12; Psalm 22:9; Song of Songs 4:5; Song of Songs 8:10; Isaiah 28:9; Isaiah 66:11; Lamentations 4:3; Ezekiel 23:3; Hosea 2:2; Hosea 9:14; Joel 2:16.

Shaped by these varied contexts, שַׁד encompasses literal nourishment, marital delight, prophetic admonition, and eschatological comfort—each thread woven into the unified testimony of Scripture to God’s faithful provision and redemptive purpose.

Forms and Transliterations
דים וְשָׁדַ֖י וְשָׁדַ֖יִךְ וְשָׁדַ֖יִם וְשָׁדַ֣יִךְ וְשֹׁ֥ד ושד ושדי ושדיך ושדים מִשָּׁדָֽיִם׃ מִשֹּׁ֖ד מִשֹּׁ֣ד משד משדים׃ שְׁדֵ֣י שְׁדֵ֥י שְׁדֵיהֶ֔ן שַׁ֔ד שָּׁ֝דַ֗יִם שָׁדֶֽיהָ׃ שָׁדַ֖י שָׁדַ֖יִם שָׁדַ֙יִךְ֙ שָׁדַ֛יִךְ שָׁדַ֤יִם שָׁדָ֑יִם שד שדי שדיה׃ שדיהן שדיך שדים ḏa·yim Dayim ḏayim miš·šā·ḏā·yim miš·šōḏ mishshaDayim mishShod miššāḏāyim miššōḏ šā·ḏa·yiḵ šā·ḏa·yim šā·ḏā·yim šā·ḏay šā·ḏe·hā šaḏ šāḏay šāḏayiḵ šāḏayim šāḏāyim šāḏehā šə·ḏê šə·ḏê·hen šəḏê šəḏêhen Shad shaDai shaDayich shaDayim shaDeiha sheDei shedeiHen veshaDai veshaDayich veshaDayim veShod wə·šā·ḏa·yiḵ wə·šā·ḏa·yim wə·šā·ḏay wə·šōḏ wəšāḏay wəšāḏayiḵ wəšāḏayim wəšōḏ
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 49:25
HEB: תָּ֑חַת בִּרְכֹ֥ת שָׁדַ֖יִם וָרָֽחַם׃
NAS: Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
KJV: under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
INT: beneath Blessings of the breasts the womb

Job 3:12
HEB: בִרְכָּ֑יִם וּמַה־ שָּׁ֝דַ֗יִם כִּ֣י אִינָֽק׃
NAS: me, And why the breasts, that I should suck?
KJV: prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
INT: the knees and why the breasts should suck

Job 24:9
HEB: יִ֭גְזְלוּ מִשֹּׁ֣ד יָת֑וֹם וְֽעַל־
NAS: the orphan from the breast, And against
KJV: the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge
INT: snatch the breast the orphan sucking child

Psalm 22:9
HEB: מַ֝בְטִיחִ֗י עַל־ שְׁדֵ֥י אִמִּֽי׃
NAS: [when] upon my mother's breasts.
KJV: [when I was] upon my mother's breasts.
INT: trust and breasts my mother's

Songs 1:13
HEB: לִ֔י בֵּ֥ין שָׁדַ֖י יָלִֽין׃
NAS: between my breasts.
KJV: unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
INT: my beloved between my breasts lies

Songs 4:5
HEB: שְׁנֵ֥י שָׁדַ֛יִךְ כִּשְׁנֵ֥י עֳפָרִ֖ים
NAS: Your two breasts are like two fawns,
KJV: Thy two breasts [are] like two young
INT: your two breasts two fawns

Songs 7:3
HEB: שְׁנֵ֥י שָׁדַ֛יִךְ כִּשְׁנֵ֥י עֳפָרִ֖ים
NAS: Your two breasts are like two fawns,
KJV: Thy two breasts [are] like two young
INT: your two breasts two fawns

Songs 7:7
HEB: דָּֽמְתָ֣ה לְתָמָ֔ר וְשָׁדַ֖יִךְ לְאַשְׁכֹּלֽוֹת׃
NAS: a palm tree, And your breasts are [like its] clusters.
KJV: to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters
INT: is like A palm and your breasts clusters

Songs 7:8
HEB: וְיִֽהְיוּ־ נָ֤א שָׁדַ֙יִךְ֙ כְּאֶשְׁכְּל֣וֹת הַגֶּ֔פֶן
NAS: Oh, may your breasts be like clusters
KJV: of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters
INT: become may your breasts clusters of the vine

Songs 8:1
HEB: לִ֔י יוֹנֵ֖ק שְׁדֵ֣י אִמִּ֑י אֶֽמְצָאֲךָ֤
NAS: at my mother's breasts. [If] I found
KJV: that sucked the breasts of my mother!
INT: A brother nursed breasts my mother's found

Songs 8:8
HEB: לָ֙נוּ֙ קְטַנָּ֔ה וְשָׁדַ֖יִם אֵ֣ין לָ֑הּ
NAS: And she has no breasts; What
KJV: sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do
INT: sister little breasts has What

Songs 8:10
HEB: אֲנִ֣י חוֹמָ֔ה וְשָׁדַ֖י כַּמִּגְדָּל֑וֹת אָ֛ז
NAS: I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers;
KJV: I [am] a wall, and my breasts like towers:
INT: I was a wall and my breasts towers Then

Isaiah 28:9
HEB: מֵֽחָלָ֔ב עַתִּיקֵ֖י מִשָּׁדָֽיִם׃
NAS: Those [just] taken from the breast?
KJV: [and] drawn from the breasts.
INT: the milk drawn the breasts

Isaiah 32:12
HEB: עַל־ שָׁדַ֖יִם סֹֽפְדִ֑ים עַל־
NAS: Beat your breasts for the pleasant
KJV: They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant
INT: and your breasts Beat and

Isaiah 60:16
HEB: חֲלֵ֣ב גּוֹיִ֔ם וְשֹׁ֥ד מְלָכִ֖ים תִּינָ֑קִי
NAS: And suck the breast of kings;
KJV: and shalt suck the breast of kings:
INT: the milk of nations the breast of kings and suck

Isaiah 66:11
HEB: תִּֽינְקוּ֙ וּשְׂבַעְתֶּ֔ם מִשֹּׁ֖ד תַּנְחֻמֶ֑יהָ לְמַ֧עַן
NAS: with her comforting breasts, That you may suck
KJV: and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations;
INT: you may nurse and be satisfied breasts her comforting that

Lamentations 4:3
HEB: ק) חָ֣לְצוּ שַׁ֔ד הֵינִ֖יקוּ גּוּרֵיהֶ֑ן
NAS: offer the breast, They nurse
KJV: draw out the breast, they give suck
INT: dragon offer the breast nurse their young

Ezekiel 16:7
HEB: בַּעֲדִ֣י עֲדָיִ֑ים שָׁדַ֤יִם נָכֹ֙נוּ֙ וּשְׂעָרֵ֣ךְ
NAS: for fine ornaments; [your] breasts were formed
KJV: ornaments: [thy] breasts are fashioned,
INT: for fine breasts were formed and your hair

Ezekiel 23:3
HEB: שָׁ֚מָּה מֹעֲכ֣וּ שְׁדֵיהֶ֔ן וְשָׁ֣ם עִשּׂ֔וּ
NAS: there their breasts were pressed
KJV: in their youth: there were their breasts pressed,
INT: there were pressed their breasts and there was handled

Ezekiel 23:21
HEB: דַּדַּ֔יִךְ לְמַ֖עַן שְׁדֵ֥י נְעוּרָֽיִךְ׃ ס
NAS: because of the breasts of your youth.
KJV: by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.
INT: your bosom because of the breasts of your youth

Ezekiel 23:34
HEB: חֲרָשֶׂ֛יהָ תְּגָרֵ֖מִי וְשָׁדַ֣יִךְ תְּנַתֵּ֑קִי כִּ֚י
NAS: And tear your breasts; for I have spoken,'
KJV: thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts: for I have spoken
INT: fragments will gnaw your breasts and tear for

Hosea 2:2
HEB: וְנַאֲפוּפֶ֖יהָ מִבֵּ֥ין שָׁדֶֽיהָ׃
NAS: from between her breasts,
KJV: and her adulteries from between her breasts;
INT: adultery between her breasts

Hosea 9:14
HEB: רֶ֣חֶם מַשְׁכִּ֔יל וְשָׁדַ֖יִם צֹמְקִֽים׃
NAS: womb and dry breasts.
KJV: womb and dry breasts.
INT: womb A miscarrying breasts and dry

Joel 2:16
HEB: עֽוֹלָלִ֔ים וְיֹנְקֵ֖י שָׁדָ֑יִם יֵצֵ֤א חָתָן֙
KJV: and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom
INT: the children suck the breasts come the bridegroom

24 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7699
24 Occurrences


ḏa·yim — 1 Occ.
miš·šā·ḏā·yim — 1 Occ.
miš·šōḏ — 2 Occ.
šaḏ — 1 Occ.
šā·ḏay — 1 Occ.
šā·ḏa·yiḵ — 3 Occ.
šā·ḏa·yim — 4 Occ.
šā·ḏe·hā — 1 Occ.
šə·ḏê — 3 Occ.
šə·ḏê·hen — 1 Occ.
wə·šā·ḏay — 1 Occ.
wə·šā·ḏa·yiḵ — 2 Occ.
wə·šā·ḏa·yim — 2 Occ.
wə·šōḏ — 1 Occ.

7698
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