7737. shavah
Lexical Summary
shavah: To level, equalize, resemble, compare, adjust

Original Word: שָׁוָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shavah
Pronunciation: sha-vah'
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-vaw')
KJV: avail, behave, bring forth, compare, countervail, (be, make) equal, lay, be (make, a-)like, make plain, profit, reckon
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to level, i.e. equalize
2. (figuratively) to resemble
3. (by implication) to adjust (i.e. counterbalance, be suitable, compose, place, yield, etc.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
avail, behave, bring forth, compare, countervail, be, make equal, lay,

A primitive root; properly, to level, i.e. Equalize; figuratively, to resemble; by implication, to adjust (i.e. Counterbalance, be suitable, compose, place, yield, etc.) -- avail, behave, bring forth, compare, countervail, (be, make) equal, lay, be (make, a-)like, make plain, profit, reckon.

Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. שָׁוָה verb (be even, smooth, see

Pi`el, hence) agree with, be like, resemble (Arabic II. make even, flat, uniform (with something else); Aramaic שְׁוָא (derived species) be like, be equal, fit, like, Pa`el lay out smoothly, Aph`el make plain, fit, worthy); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular לִי ׳לֹא שׁ Job 33:27 (si vera lectio) it was not equalled to me, i.e. (see infra; according to most) not requited (so De Di Da, and Isaiah 16:6 ᵑ7); Bu אֵל לֹא שִׁוָּה God did not requite (or שִׁלֵּם for שׁוה); Du לֹא שִׁוָּה כַעֲוֺנִי (compare ᵐ5); Imperfect1singular of ׳י, אֶלמִֿי ֗֗֗ אֶשְׁוֶה Isaiah 40:25 to whom shall I be like ? ("" תְּדַמְּיוּנִי), implying that he is incompare; 3 masculine plural לֹא יִשְׁווּבָֿהּ Proverbs 3:15 are not comparable with her (wisdom), so Proverbs 8:11; 2masculine singular מֶּןתִּֿשְׁוֶהלֿוֺ Proverbs 26:4 lest thou be like him (a fool); Participle שֹׁוֶה בְּ Esther 7:4 is not an equivalent for; with לִ, suitable for Esther 3:8, so Esther 1:22 Hi Or RyKau (reading כֹּל שֹׁוֶה עִמּוֺ for כִּלְשׁוֺן עַמּוֺ, but see Siegf.); adequate for Esther 5:13.

Pi`el Perfect3masculine singular שִׁוָּה Isaiah 28:25 he hath levelled its (the ground's) surface; 1 singular שִׁוִּיתִי וְדוֺמַמְתִּי נַפְשִׁי Psalm 131:2 I have smoothed (composed) and stilled my soul; so, that is נַפְשִׁי Isaiah 38:13 ᵑ9 Ges De and others; Houb Lo Che Du and others read שִׁוַּעְתִּי I cried; accusative מִשְׁמָּטִים Psalm 119:30 accounted suitable, meet ("" דֶּרֶךְ אֱמוּנָח בָּחָ֑רְתִּי), Hi, compare Gr Psalm 119:128 (see

Qal Esther 3:8); We inserts לְנֶגְדִּי (II. ׳שׁ, compare Psalm 16:8); Zenner Du אִזִּיתִי.

Hiph`il make like: Imperfect1singular מָח אַשְׁוֶחלָֿךְ Lamentations 2:13 ("" אֲדַמֶּה); 2 masculine plural לְמִי תְדַמְּיוּנִי וְתַשְׁווּ Isaiah 46:5 (compare

Qal Isaiah 40:25).

Nithp. (apparently) Perfect3feminine singular נִשְׁתָּ֑וָה (for נִשְׁתְּוָה) Proverbs 27:15 are alike, but read probably Niph`al 3 feminine singular נִשְׁוָ֑תָה Ges§ 75x Toy and others — תשׁוה Job 30:22 Kt see II. שׁוא.

II. [שָׁוָה] verb Pi`el set, place (Biblical Aramaic Hithpa. ᵑ7 שְׁוָא Pa`el set, make (often ᵑ7 = שׁום, שׁית); Thes and others below I. ׳שׁ, originally set, place, then set together, compare, < weakened from original make even, right, compare Vulgar Arabic II. make (Wahrm, compare also BaES 66)); — Perfect1singular שִׁוִּיתִי Psalm 16:8 I have set ׳י before me (לְנֶגְּדִּי); עֵזֶר עַל ׳שׁ Psalm 89:20 I have placed strength upon a hero, compare Psalm 21:6; Participle מְשַׁוֶּח רַנְלַי כְּ 2 Samuel 22:34 setting my feet like hinds = Psalm 18:34 (compare ᵑ7 שַׁוִּי כְּ Genesis 48:20; Jeremiah 29:22, for שׂים כְּ); — Isaiah 38:13 see I. שׁוה; — Imperfect = make, produce, 3 masculine singular מְּרִי יְשַׁוֶּה לוֺ Hosea 10:1 (Israel as vine), si vera lectio, see We Now ("" עשׂת מְּרִי Hosea 9:16, compare Hosea 8:7).

I. [שְׁוָה] verb become like (Biblical Hebrew I. שָׁוָה); —

Pa`el Perfect3masculine plural שַׁוִּי Qr (see וְ following; >

Pe`îl שְׁוִי Kt, see K§ 47 Beisp. 3, and p. 175) Daniel 5:21, accusative of thing, with עִם.

Topical Lexicon
Overview of the Verb’s Biblical Function

The verb שָׁוָה appears twenty-one times, spreading over historical narrative, poetry, wisdom, and prophetic literature. Its core idea is “to level, set, make equal, or compare.” Whether describing God’s steadying power, the futility of idolatry, or the surpassing worth of wisdom, the term invites readers to measure all things against the Lord’s righteous standard.

Stability and Surefootedness (2 Samuel 22:34; Psalm 18:33; Psalm 89:19)

David twice celebrates the Lord who “makes my feet like those of a deer; He causes me to stand on the heights” (Psalm 18:33; cf. 2 Samuel 22:34). “Makes…stand” renders שָׁוָה, portraying Yahweh as the One who levels treacherous ground beneath the believer’s feet. Psalm 89:19 recalls God’s covenant promise: “I have exalted one chosen from the people.” The same verb conveys God’s decisive act of positioning His anointed securely. The theology is covenantal confidence; the believer’s footing is firm because the Lord has evened the terrain.

Unswerving Devotion (Psalm 16:8; 119:30; 131:2)

In personal piety the verb depicts conscious alignment. “I have set the LORD always before me” (Psalm 16:8). The worshiper has actively leveled his will with God’s presence. Psalm 119:30 parallels: “I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances before me.” Psalm 131:2, “I have calmed and quieted my soul,” shows the heart’s posture smoothed into restful trust. שָׁוָה thus becomes language for discipleship: habits, affections, and ambitions are continually adjusted to match the revealed word.

Surpassing Value in Wisdom Literature (Proverbs 3:15; 8:11; 26:4; 27:15)

Wisdom’s worth defies equivalence. “She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her” (Proverbs 3:15; cf. 8:11). Here שָׁוָה functions negatively—nothing can be set on the same plane as godly wisdom. Proverbs 26:4 warns not to “answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him,” highlighting the danger of lowering oneself to an unworthy comparison. Proverbs 27:15 likens a contentious wife to “a constant dripping,” an ironic leveling that exposes folly’s corrosive parity.

Political and Social Equilibrium (Esther 3:8; 5:13; 7:4)

Haman’s scheming pivots on שָׁוָה. He claims the Jews’ laws “are different from those of every other people, and it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them” (Esther 3:8). Later, despite honors received, “all this does not satisfy me” (Esther 5:13), because Mordecai will not bow. At Esther 7:4 the queen clarifies that extermination of her people is beyond any monetary equivalence. The verb exposes political malice when human lives are weighed on unjust scales and affirms providence that finally topples such arrogance.

Prophetic Challenges to Idolatrous Parity (Isaiah 40:25; 46:5; Lamentations 2:13)

“‘To whom will you compare Me, or who is My equal?’ says the Holy One” (Isaiah 40:25). Shavah stands at the heart of prophetic polemic: no created power matches Yahweh. Isaiah 46:5 repeats the challenge. Lamentations 2:13 asks, “What can I say for you? With what can I compare you, O Daughter of Jerusalem?” The devastated city seems beyond comparison, yet hope endures because God Himself transcends every measure.

Agricultural and National Imagery (Isaiah 28:25; Hosea 10:1)

Isaiah describes the farmer who “levels its surface” before sowing (Isaiah 28:25), while Hosea pictures Israel as “a luxuriant vine” accruing altars proportional to its fruit (Hosea 10:1). In both contexts shavah captures preparation or expansion on a level plane, warning that external prosperity without covenant fidelity invites judgment.

Pastoral and Homiletical Application

1. Spiritual Alignment: Believers are exhorted to continually “set” the Lord before them, cultivating conscious God-centeredness that steadies emotions and decisions.
2. Evaluative Discernment: Wisdom literature’s negations urge the church to renounce false equivalencies—no earthly treasure, doctrine, or relationship may rival Christ.
3. Apologetic Confidence: Isaiah’s challenges equip Christians to rebut relativism; the incomparable God alone defines truth and worth.
4. Justice and Mercy: Esther’s narrative warns against utilitarian valuations of people groups and encourages courageous advocacy when life is deemed expendable.

Christological Outlook

While shavah never directly names the Messiah, its themes converge in Him. He alone perfectly “sets” the Father’s will before Him (John 8:29), levels the path for believers (Hebrews 12:13), and proves “of infinite value” (Philippians 3:8). In Him every disparity—between Jew and Gentile, heaven and earth—is reconciled without compromising righteousness.

Summary

Shavah calls God’s people to evaluate, align, and level all aspects of life under the Lord’s unchanging standard. Whether assuring the saint’s footing, exposing idolatrous comparisons, or proclaiming wisdom’s incomparable worth, the verb underscores a worldview in which Yahweh alone is without equal and His ways alone provide a firm, even path.

Forms and Transliterations
אַשְׁוֶה־ אשוה־ וְאֶשְׁוֶ֑ה וְתַשְׁו֑וּ ואשוה ותשוו יְשַׁוֶּה־ יִֽשְׁווּ־ ישוה־ ישוו־ מְשַׁוֶּ֣ה מְשַׁוֶּ֥ה משוה נִשְׁתָּוָֽה׃ נשתוה׃ שִׁוִּ֣יתִי שִׁוִּ֤יתִי שִׁוִּ֨יתִי ׀ שִׁוִּ֬יתִי שִׁוִּֽיתִי׃ שִׁוָּ֣ה שָׁ֥וָה שֹׁוֶ֖ה שוה שויתי שויתי׃ תְּשַׁוֶּ֥ה תִּשְׁוֶה־ תשוה תשוה־ ’aš·weh- ’ašweh- ashveh mə·šaw·weh məšawweh meshavVeh niš·tā·wāh nishtaVah ništāwāh šā·wāh šāwāh Shavah shivVah shivViti shoVeh šiw·wāh šiw·wî·ṯî šiwwāh šiwwîṯî šō·weh šōweh tə·šaw·weh təšawweh teshavVeh tiš·weh- tishveh tišweh- veeshVeh vetashVu wə’ešweh wə·’eš·weh wə·ṯaš·wū wəṯašwū yə·šaw·weh- yəšawweh- yeshavveh yiš·wū- yishvu yišwū-
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Englishman's Concordance
2 Samuel 22:34
HEB: מְשַׁוֶּ֥ה [רַגְלָיו כ]
NAS: He makes my feet like hinds'
KJV: my feet like hinds'
INT: makes be able to endure hinds'

Esther 3:8
HEB: וְלַמֶּ֥לֶךְ אֵין־ שֹׁוֶ֖ה לְהַנִּיחָֽם׃
NAS: so it is not in the king's interest to let them remain.
KJV: therefore it [is] not for the king's profit to suffer
INT: the king's else interest to suffer

Esther 5:13
HEB: זֶ֕ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁוֶ֖ה לִ֑י בְּכָל־
NAS: of this does not satisfy me every
KJV: Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as
INT: of this does not satisfy every time

Esther 7:4
HEB: אֵ֥ין הַצָּ֛ר שֹׁוֶ֖ה בְּנֵ֥זֶק הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
NAS: for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance
KJV: although the enemy could not countervail the king's
INT: for the trouble not be commensurate the annoyance to the king

Job 33:27
HEB: הֶעֱוֵ֗יתִי וְלֹא־ שָׁ֥וָה לִֽי׃
NAS: is right, And it is not proper for me.
KJV: [that which was] right, and it profited me not;
INT: and perverted is not proper

Psalm 16:8
HEB: שִׁוִּ֬יתִי יְהוָ֣ה לְנֶגְדִּ֣י
NAS: I have set the LORD continually
KJV: I have set the LORD always
INT: have set the LORD before

Psalm 18:33
HEB: מְשַׁוֶּ֣ה רַ֭גְלַי כָּאַיָּל֑וֹת
NAS: He makes my feet like hinds'
KJV: He maketh my feet like hinds'
INT: makes my feet hinds'

Psalm 21:5
HEB: ה֥וֹד וְ֝הָדָר תְּשַׁוֶּ֥ה עָלָֽיו׃
NAS: and majesty You place upon him.
KJV: and majesty hast thou laid upon him.
INT: Splendor and majesty place and

Psalm 89:19
HEB: לַֽחֲסִידֶ֗יךָ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר שִׁוִּ֣יתִי עֵ֭זֶר עַל־
NAS: And said, I have given help
KJV: and saidst, I have laid help
INT: to your godly and said have given help unto

Psalm 119:30
HEB: בָחָ֑רְתִּי מִשְׁפָּטֶ֥יךָ שִׁוִּֽיתִי׃
NAS: way; I have placed Your ordinances
KJV: thy judgments have I laid [before me].
INT: have chosen your ordinances have placed

Psalm 131:2
HEB: אִם־ לֹ֤א שִׁוִּ֨יתִי ׀ וְדוֹמַ֗מְתִּי נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י
NAS: Surely I have composed and quieted
KJV: Surely I have behaved and quieted
INT: lo not have composed and quieted my soul

Proverbs 3:15
HEB: חֲ֝פָצֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א יִֽשְׁווּ־ בָֽהּ׃
NAS: you desire compares with her.
KJV: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
INT: desire not compares

Proverbs 8:11
HEB: חֲ֝פָצִ֗ים לֹ֣א יִֽשְׁווּ־ בָֽהּ׃
NAS: cannot compare with her.
KJV: and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
INT: desirable cannot compare

Proverbs 26:4
HEB: כְּאִוַּלְתּ֑וֹ פֶּֽן־ תִּשְׁוֶה־ לּ֥וֹ גַם־
NAS: Or you will also be like him.
KJV: according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
INT: to his folly Or be like will also you

Proverbs 27:15
HEB: (מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים ק) נִשְׁתָּוָֽה׃
NAS: And a contentious woman are alike;
KJV: and a contentious woman are alike.
INT: woman brawling are alike

Isaiah 28:25
HEB: הֲלוֹא֙ אִם־ שִׁוָּ֣ה פָנֶ֔יהָ וְהֵפִ֥יץ
NAS: Does he not level its surface And sow
KJV: When he hath made plain the face
INT: not not level surface and sow

Isaiah 38:13
HEB: שִׁוִּ֤יתִי עַד־ בֹּ֙קֶר֙
NAS: I composed [my soul] until morning.
KJV: I reckoned till morning,
INT: composed until morning

Isaiah 40:25
HEB: מִ֥י תְדַמְּי֖וּנִי וְאֶשְׁוֶ֑ה יֹאמַ֖ר קָדֽוֹשׁ׃
NAS: then will you liken Me That I would be [his] equal? says
KJV: To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith
INT: whom liken shall I be equal saith the Holy

Isaiah 46:5
HEB: לְמִ֥י תְדַמְי֖וּנִי וְתַשְׁו֑וּ וְתַמְשִׁל֖וּנִי וְנִדְמֶֽה׃
NAS: would you liken Me And make Me equal and compare
KJV: To whom will ye liken me, and make [me] equal, and compare
INT: to whom liken and make and compare liken

Lamentations 2:13
HEB: יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם מָ֤ה אַשְׁוֶה־ לָּךְ֙ וַאֲנַֽחֲמֵ֔ךְ
NAS: To what shall I liken you as I comfort
KJV: of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort
INT: Jerusalem to what liken comfort virgin

Hosea 10:1
HEB: יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל פְּרִ֖י יְשַׁוֶּה־ לּ֑וֹ כְּרֹ֣ב
NAS: vine; He produces fruit
KJV: vine, he bringeth forth fruit
INT: Israel fruit produces the more his fruit

21 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7737
21 Occurrences


’aš·weh- — 1 Occ.
mə·šaw·weh — 2 Occ.
niš·tā·wāh — 1 Occ.
šā·wāh — 1 Occ.
šiw·wāh — 1 Occ.
šiw·wî·ṯî — 5 Occ.
šō·weh — 3 Occ.
tə·šaw·weh — 1 Occ.
tiš·weh- — 1 Occ.
wə·’eš·weh — 1 Occ.
wə·ṯaš·wū — 1 Occ.
yə·šaw·weh- — 1 Occ.
yiš·wū- — 2 Occ.

7736
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