Lexical Summary shanan: To sharpen, to whet, to teach diligently Original Word: שָׁנַן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance prick, sharpen, teach diligently, whet A primitive root; to point (transitive or intransitive); intensively, to pierce; figuratively, to inculcate -- prick, sharp(-en), teach diligently, whet. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to whet, sharpen NASB Translation pierced (1), sharp (4), sharpen (2), sharpened (1), teach them diligently (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׁנַן] verb whet, sharpen (compare Arabic  id.; Aramaic שְׁנִינָא,  sharp, etc.; Ethiopic [ ] III, 2,  contend, litigate; hence שֵׁן tooth, Late Hebrew id., Assyrian šinnu, Arabic  , Ethiopic  Aramaic שִׁנָּא,  ); — Qal whet, sharpen: Perfect1singular אִם שַׁנּוֺתִ֫י בְּרַק חַרְבִּי (Ges§ 67ee) Deuteronomy 32:41, of ׳יs preparation for judgment; 3 plural (כַחֶרֶב) שָֽׁנְנוּ לְשׁוֺנָם Psalm 64:4; Psalm 140:4 of uttering sharp words; Passive participle שְׁנוּנִים sharpened, of arrows, Isaiah 5:28; Psalm 45:6, figurative of tongue Psalm 120:4, of false witness Proverbs 25:18. Pi`el Perfect consecutive וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ Deuteronomy 6:7 i.e. teach the words incisively, German 'einschärfen.' Hithpo`el Imperfect1singular Psalm 73:21 in my kidneys אֶשְׁתּוֺנָ֑ן I was pierced (of poignant envy). Topical Lexicon Semantic Scope and ImageryShānan paints the picture of something honed to a keen edge. Whether the object is a blade, an arrow, a tongue, or even the inner conscience, the verb signals deliberate sharpening so that the point will strike true. The nine appearances of the verb cluster around three main spheres: covenant instruction (Deuteronomy 6:7), divine and human warfare (Deuteronomy 32:41; Psalm 45:5; Psalm 120:4; Isaiah 5:28), and incisive speech or emotion (Psalm 64:3; Psalm 73:21; Psalm 140:3; Proverbs 25:18). Covenantal Catechesis: Deuteronomy 6:7 The foundational use of shānan in Scripture is pedagogical: “And you shall teach them diligently to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:7). The covenant words are to be pressed, whetted, and etched into the next generation. The image moves beyond casual instruction to the repetitive act of sharpening a blade—consistent, intentional, and thorough. Every setting (“when you sit at home… when you lie down and when you get up”) becomes a honing stone for truth. In family discipleship and church ministries the verse stands as the Old Testament paradigm for formative teaching that shapes hearts for lifelong obedience. The Warrior God and His Armory • Deuteronomy 32:41 depicts the LORD Himself: “when I sharpen My flashing sword… I will take vengeance on My adversaries.” The sharpened sword underscores His readiness to execute righteous judgment. • Psalm 45:5, a royal-messianic psalm, transfers the imagery to the Davidic King: “Your arrows are sharp… nations fall beneath Your feet.” The victorious Messiah wields perfectly honed weapons to subdue evil. • Isaiah 5:28 broadens the vision to the instruments of divine discipline against a wayward nation: “Their arrows are sharp, and all their bows are strung.” Assyria’s military precision is ultimately a rod in God’s hand. • Psalm 120:4 uses the same battle metaphor in an imprecatory setting, calling for “sharp arrows from the warrior, with burning coals of the broom tree!” as retribution for deceitful lips. Together these texts assert that sharpening precedes judgment. God’s holiness ensures that He never wields a dull blade; His acts are decisive and accurate. Weaponized Words Shānan shifts from metal to mouth when applied to speech: • “They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows” (Psalm 64:3). • “They sharpen their tongues like a serpent” (Psalm 140:3). • “Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor” (Proverbs 25:18). The same edge that punishes the wicked can be replicated by sinners in malicious talk, slander, and perjury. Scripture warns that conversational daggers are as lethal as drawn steel, calling believers to guard both speech and ears. Piercing of the Inner Person Psalm 73:21 looks inward: “When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within.” Asaph describes conviction that cuts like a sharpened blade. The verb captures the painful clarity that arrives when the believer finally recognizes jealousy and doubt. God’s Spirit often employs His Word as a scalpel to expose and heal (Hebrews 4:12). Theological Thread 1. The same God who commands fathers to sharpen truth into their children also sharpens His sword against unrepentant foes. Covenant grace and covenant justice are perfectly balanced in Him. 2. The Messiah’s triumph (Psalm 45) flows from weapons prepared by the Father. The sharp arrow motif foreshadows the conquering Christ of Revelation 19:15 whose sharp sword proceeds from His mouth. 3. Human speech must reflect the sanctifying edge of truth, not the corrosive edge of deceit. Sanctified sharpening produces edification; sinful sharpening destroys. 4. Inner conviction, though painful, is evidence of God’s sanctifying work. A sharpened conscience steers the believer away from envy and toward worship. Ministry Implications • Christian education—whether in the home, pulpit, or classroom—should aim for precision and repetition. Half-sharpened doctrine leaves dull disciples. • Intercession and preaching may rightly invoke God’s sharpened sword against unrepentant evil while offering the gospel as the greater deliverance. • Pastoral counseling must address sharpened tongues within the congregation, restoring truthfulness and gentleness as hallmarks of redeemed speech. • Personal devotional life benefits from praying Psalm 139:23–24 in the light of Psalm 73:21, inviting the Lord to pierce and refine hidden motives. Summary Shānan gathers the motifs of instruction, warfare, speech, and conscience under one vivid verb. The biblical writers enlist the image of sharpening to call God’s people to diligent teaching, sober awareness of divine judgment, disciplined tongues, and receptive hearts. Wherever this sharpening occurs, it prepares God’s servants for effective witness and holy living. Forms and Transliterations אֶשְׁתּוֹנָֽן׃ אשתונן׃ וְשִׁנַּנְתָּ֣ם ושננתם שְׁנ֫וּנִ֥ים שְׁנוּנִ֑ים שְׁנוּנִ֔ים שַׁנּוֹתִי֙ שָֽׁנֲנ֣וּ שָׁנ֑וּן שָׁנְנ֣וּ שנון שנונים שנותי שננו ’eš·tō·w·nān ’eštōwnān eshtoNan šā·nă·nū šā·nə·nū šā·nūn šan·nō·w·ṯî šānănū šānənū šannōwṯî šānūn šə·nū·nîm šənūnîm shanaNu shaneNu shannoTi shaNun sheNuNim veshinnanTam wə·šin·nan·tām wəšinnantāmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 6:7 HEB: וְשִׁנַּנְתָּ֣ם לְבָנֶ֔יךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֖ NAS: You shall teach them diligently to your sons KJV: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, INT: shall teach to your sons and shall talk Deuteronomy 32:41 Psalm 45:5 Psalm 64:3 Psalm 73:21 Psalm 120:4 Psalm 140:3 Proverbs 25:18 Isaiah 5:28 9 Occurrences |
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