Lexical Summary shamen: Fat, rich, fertile Original Word: שָׁמֵן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fat, lusty, plenteous From shaman; greasy, i.e. Gross; figuratively, rich -- fat, lusty, plenteous. see HEBREW shaman Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׁמֵן adjective fat, robust; — ׳שׁ masculine Judges 3:29 +, feminine שְׁנֵנָה Genesis 49:20 +; — 1 fat, rich, of food, Genesis 49:20 (poem in J), Isaiah 30:23 (+ דָּשֵׁן), Habakkuk 1:16 (""); of land, festile Numbers 13:20 (E), Nehemiah 9:25,35, pasturage Ezekiel 34:14; 1 Chronicles 4:40. (1Samuel 15:9 see מִשְׁנֶה 3). 2 stout, robust, of men Judges 3:29 ("" אִישׁ חַיִל; see GFM); feminine collective (figurative of flock) Ezekiel 34:16 (+ הַחֲזְקָהִ). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Semantic Range שָׁמֵן describes a state of fatness, richness, or luxuriant abundance. Whether applied to land, produce, livestock, or human physique, the term marks something as well-nourished and overflowing with resources. Occurrences and Distribution Ten Old Testament verses employ שָׁמֵן. Six speak of fertile land or pasture (Genesis 49:20; Numbers 13:20; 1 Chronicles 4:40; Nehemiah 9:25; Nehemiah 9:35; Isaiah 30:23). Two relate to prosperous livestock (Ezekiel 34:14, Ezekiel 34:16). One depicts robust warriors (Judges 3:29). One portrays the idolatrous abundance of an oppressor (Habakkuk 1:16). Agricultural and Economic Significance 1. Covenant Prosperity Theological and Spiritual Symbolism 1. Blessing and Hospitality Shamen embodies the generosity of God who “opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16). A well-fed land reflects covenant fidelity (Deuteronomy 28:11, though the specific term is absent). Nehemiah 9:25 recounts Israel’s history: “They captured fortified cities and a fertile land… So they ate and were filled and grew fat and delighted in Your great goodness.” Verse 35 laments that despite living in that same “rich land,” the people rebelled. Material plenty without gratitude breeds spiritual apathy (cf. Deuteronomy 32:15, where a cognate verb describes Jeshurun who “grew fat and kicked”). In Ezekiel 34:16 the good Shepherd vows: “but the fat and strong I will destroy.” Excess that tramples others will be judged. Shamen thus swings between blessing and indictment depending on the moral posture of its recipient. Missional and Christological Implications The rich pasture theme anticipates the Messiah as Shepherd who leads His flock “to green pastures” (Psalm 23:2) and offers life “abundantly” (John 10:10). Earthly fertility points to the greater spiritual fullness found in Christ, in whom “we have all received one grace after another” (John 1:16). Practical Ministry Application • Stewardship: Seasons of plenty call for generosity toward the poor, lest shamen become spiritual obesity. Related Old Testament Concepts • “Fat of the land” (Genesis 45:18) and “fat portions” of sacrifices (Leviticus 3) utilize a cognate noun שֶׁמֶן (oil, fat), reinforcing the motif of abundance. New Testament Resonance While שָׁמֵן does not appear in Greek, its themes reemerge: Shamen, therefore, is more than a descriptor of physical fatness; it is a narrative thread binding land, people, and livestock to the covenant economy of God—an economy that still calls believers to gratitude, stewardship, and dependence upon the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Forms and Transliterations הַשְּׁמֵנָ֧ה הַשְּׁמֵנָ֨ה השמנה וְהַשְּׁמֵנָ֛ה וְשָׁמֵ֑ן והשמנה ושמן שְׁמֵנָ֣ה שְׁמֵנָה֒ שָׁמֵ֖ן שָׁמֵ֛ן שָׁמֵ֣ן שמן שמנה haš·šə·mê·nāh hashshemeNah haššəmênāh šā·mên šāmên šə·mê·nāh šəmênāh shaMen shemeNah vehashshemeNah veshaMen wə·haš·šə·mê·nāh wə·šā·mên wəhaššəmênāh wəšāmênLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 49:20 HEB: מֵאָשֵׁ֖ר שְׁמֵנָ֣ה לַחְמ֑וֹ וְה֥וּא NAS: his food shall be rich, And he will yield KJV: his bread [shall be] fat, and he shall yield INT: Asher shall be rich his food and he Numbers 13:20 Judges 3:29 1 Chronicles 4:40 Nehemiah 9:25 Nehemiah 9:35 Isaiah 30:23 Ezekiel 34:14 Ezekiel 34:16 Habakkuk 1:16 10 Occurrences |
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