7849. shatach

Lexical Summary

shatach: To spread out, to stretch out, to extend

Original Word: שָׁטַח
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shatach
Pronunciation: shah-takh
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-takh')
KJV: all abroad, enlarge, spread, stretch out
NASB: spread, enlarges, scattered
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to expand

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

all abroad, enlarge, spread, stretch out

A primitive root; to expand -- all abroad, enlarge, spread, stretch out.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to spread, spread abroad
NASB Translation
enlarges (1), scattered (1), spread (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[שָׁטַח] verb spread, spread abroad (Late Hebrew id.; Arabic spread out; so Ethiopic Aramaic שְּׁטַח ); —

Qal Perfect3plural suffix consecutive לַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וּטָחוּם Jeremiah 8:2 they shall spread them abroad, etc., accusative of many separate things, so Imperfect3feminine singular וַקתִּשְׁטַךְ 2 Samuel 17:19 (עַל location; distinguished from מָּרַשׂ spread covering); 3 masculine plural + infinitive absolute וַיִּשְׁטְחוּ לָהֶם שָׁטוֺחַ Numbers 11:32 (J) they spread (that is, the quails) for themselves all abroad round about the camp (i.e. to dry them; ᵑ9 siccaverunt; compare Di Gray); Participle שֹׁטֵחַ לַנּוֺיִם Job 12:23 expanding the nations (compare ל 3b).

Pi`el Perfect1singular שִׁטַּחְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ כַמָּ֑י Psalm 88:10 I have spread out unto thee my palms.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The verb שָׁטַח (Strong’s Hebrew 7849) describes the intentional act of “spreading out” or “stretching forth,” whether of objects, nations, or hands in prayer. Each biblical occurrence reinforces themes of human responsibility, divine sovereignty, and the ultimate accountability of all people before the LORD.

Occurrences in Scripture

• Numbers 11:32 – After gathering quail, “they spread them out around the camp” as an act of self-preservation that quickly turned to greed and divine discipline.
• 2 Samuel 17:19 – During Absalom’s revolt, a loyal woman “spread a covering over the mouth of the well” to conceal David’s messengers, illustrating courageous resourcefulness in the service of the rightful king.
• Job 12:23 – Job declares that God “enlarges nations and then disperses them,” exposing human empires to His sovereign prerogative.
• Psalm 88:9 – In deep affliction the psalmist testifies, “I spread out my hands to You,” picturing complete dependence upon God in prayer.
• Jeremiah 8:2 – As a sign of judgment, the bones of apostate Judah will be “spread out before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven,” a public exposure of covenant unfaithfulness.

(The quail narrative in Numbers 11 accounts for two textual occurrences.)

Thematic Significance

1. Human Initiative versus Divine Judgment – Numbers 11 contrasts the Israelites’ anxious spreading of quail with the LORD’s swift judgment, underscoring the futility of self-indulgence apart from obedience.
2. Protection of Covenant Purposes – In 2 Samuel 17 the same action serves righteousness, shielding the messengers who guard David’s throne, foreshadowing the hidden yet unstoppable preservation of Messianic lineage.
3. Sovereign Dispersion of Nations – Job 12:23 elevates the verb to a geopolitical scale, affirming that the rise and scattering of peoples lies in God’s hands alone—a truth echoed in the Tower of Babel and the dispersion at Pentecost.
4. Posture of Supplication – Psalm 88:9 transforms spreading out into an act of worship; open hands symbolize surrender, dependence, and expectation that God hears the cries of His saints.
5. Public Exposure of Sin – Jeremiah 8:2 starkly warns that idolatry leads to disgrace; what is spread out before the heavenly bodies becomes a grim reversal of priestly blessing, turning honor into open shame.

Historical and Contextual Insights

• Wilderness Provision (Numbers 11) – Archaeological studies validate migratory quail patterns across the Sinai, heightening the realism of the narrative. Yet the text emphasizes not natural phenomenon but Israel’s heart.
• Royal Intrigue (2 Samuel 17) – The quick thinking of the woman at Bahurim preserves the line of promise; her spreading of the cloth is a small yet pivotal deed in redemptive history.
• Wisdom Literature (Job 12:23) – In an ancient Near Eastern context where kings boasted of empire building, Job’s confession relativizes all human power.
• Cultic Gesture (Psalm 88:9) – Ancient iconography shows worshippers with outstretched hands, matching the psalmist’s practice and later Christian liturgical traditions.
• Prophetic Judgment (Jeremiah 8:2) – Desecration of graves was a well-known Near Eastern curse. By invoking it, Jeremiah reinforces the seriousness of covenant violation.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Discern motives when “spreading out” resources; provision can quickly become idolatry.
• Employ creativity and courage, like the woman of Bahurim, to protect the gospel message and its messengers.
• Teach nations theology: every geopolitical shift ultimately serves God’s purposes, encouraging believers amid global upheaval.
• Encourage bodily expression in prayer; outstretched hands confess need and expectancy.
• Warn against hidden sin; what is concealed will one day be exposed unless covered by the righteousness of Christ.

Christological Insights and Eschatological Hope

The verb anticipates Jesus Christ, who “spread out His hands” on the cross, bearing judgment so that repentant sinners might be gathered, not scattered. At His return He will “gather His elect from the four winds” even as He judges those who persist in rebellion (Matthew 24:31). Thus every use of שָׁטַח points either to grace received or judgment faced, urging faithful response today.

Related Scriptures

Deuteronomy 32:11; Isaiah 65:2; Matthew 23:37; Acts 17:26; Revelation 6:16–17

Forms and Transliterations

וַיִּשְׁטְח֤וּ וַתִּשְׁטַ֥ח וּשְׁטָחוּם֩ וישטחו ושטחום ותשטח שִׁטַּ֖חְתִּי שָׁט֔וֹחַ שֹׁטֵ֥חַ שטוח שטח שטחתי šā·ṭō·w·aḥ šāṭōwaḥ shaToach shitTachti shoTeach šiṭ·ṭaḥ·tî šiṭṭaḥtî šō·ṭê·aḥ šōṭêaḥ ū·šə·ṭā·ḥūm ūšəṭāḥūm ushetaChum vaiyishteChu vattishTach wat·tiš·ṭaḥ wattišṭaḥ way·yiš·ṭə·ḥū wayyišṭəḥū

Englishman's Concordance

Numbers 11:32
HEB: עֲשָׂרָ֣ה חֳמָרִ֑ים וַיִּשְׁטְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ שָׁט֔וֹחַ
NAS: homers) and they spread [them] out for themselves all around
KJV: homers: and they spread [them] all abroad
INT: ten homers spread abroad all

Numbers 11:32
HEB: וַיִּשְׁטְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ שָׁט֔וֹחַ סְבִיב֖וֹת הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃
KJV: and they spread [them] all abroad for themselves round about
INT: homers spread abroad all the camp

2 Samuel 17:19
HEB: פְּנֵ֣י הַבְּאֵ֔ר וַתִּשְׁטַ֥ח עָלָ֖יו הָֽרִפ֑וֹת
NAS: mouth and scattered grain
KJV: mouth, and spread ground corn
INT: mouth the well's and scattered over grain

Job 12:23
HEB: לַ֭גּוֹיִם וַֽיְאַבְּדֵ֑ם שֹׁטֵ֥חַ לַ֝גּוֹיִ֗ם וַיַּנְחֵֽם׃
NAS: then destroys them; He enlarges the nations,
KJV: and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations,
INT: the nations destroys enlarges the nations leads

Psalm 88:9
HEB: בְּכָל־ י֑וֹם שִׁטַּ֖חְתִּי אֵלֶ֣יךָ כַפָּֽי׃
NAS: O LORD; I have spread out my hands
KJV: daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands
INT: every day have spread out my hands

Jeremiah 8:2
HEB: וּשְׁטָחוּם֩ לַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ וְלַיָּרֵ֜חַ
NAS: They will spread them out to the sun,
KJV: And they shall spread them before the sun,
INT: will spread to the sun the moon

6 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7849
6 Occurrences

šā·ṭō·w·aḥ — 1 Occ.
šiṭ·ṭaḥ·tî — 1 Occ.
šō·ṭê·aḥ — 1 Occ.
ū·šə·ṭā·ḥūm — 1 Occ.
way·yiš·ṭə·ḥū — 1 Occ.
wat·tiš·ṭaḥ — 1 Occ.