8153. shenath

Lexical Summary

shenath: Year

Original Word: שְׁנָת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: shnath
Pronunciation: shay-nath'
Phonetic Spelling: (shen-awth')
KJV: sleep
Word Origin: [from H3462 (יָשֵׁן - sleep)]

1. sleep

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

sleep

From yashen; sleep -- sleep.

see HEBREW yashen

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
the same as shenah, q.v.

Topical Lexicon

שְׁנָת (Strong’s Hebrew 8153)

Biblical Occurrence

Psalm 132:4 contains the only attested use of שְׁנָת, translated “sleep.” The psalmist, speaking for David, vows, “I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids” (Berean Standard Bible).

Context in Psalm 132

Psalm 132 recalls David’s intense desire to secure a permanent resting place for the Ark of the Covenant. In verses 3–5 he declares that he will forego the most basic human comforts until he establishes “a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” His refusal of שְׁנָת is not asceticism for its own sake; it is an act of worship that places God’s presence above personal rest.

Sleep as a Literary Motif

1. Refreshment and Preservation: Sleep is often presented positively—Genesis 28:11; Psalm 127:2; Proverbs 3:24—signifying God’s gracious provision of rest.
2. Spiritual Apathy: Conversely, sleep can picture dullness toward divine things—Jonah 1:5; Matthew 26:40; Romans 13:11. In Psalm 132 the negative sense predominates, as David’s wakefulness is a call to active devotion.
3. Mortality: Sleep sometimes serves as a euphemism for death—Daniel 12:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:14—drawing attention to the hope of resurrection.

Historical Significance

David’s vow culminated in Solomon’s construction of the Jerusalem temple (1 Kings 8). The intensity of David’s oath, expressed through refusal of שְׁנָת, underlines the centrality of the Ark—and later the temple—in Israel’s worship, national identity, and covenant life.

Theological Themes

• Zeal for God’s Presence: The word highlights the priority of worship over personal comfort.
• Covenant Faithfulness: David’s sleepless pursuit mirrors the Lord’s own watchfulness over Israel (Psalm 121:4).
• Rest Found in God Alone: True, lasting rest is ultimately located not in physical sleep but in communion with God (Psalm 62:1; Hebrews 4:9–11).

Ministry Implications

• Personal Devotion: Believers are challenged to examine priorities. While sleep is a gift, there are moments when earnest prayer, service, or vigilance for the kingdom may justifiably displace it.
• Corporate Worship: Psalm 132 encourages congregations to value the gathered presence of God above routine and convenience.
• Balanced Stewardship: Scripture does not commend chronic sleep deprivation; rather, it calls for willing sacrifice when the Spirit leads, coupled with reliance on God for sustaining rest.

Christological Reflection

Jesus Christ embodies both aspects of the theme: He willingly relinquished comfort—even basic needs such as sleep (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12)—to accomplish redemption, yet He also invites the weary to find rest in Him (Matthew 11:28–30). David’s lesser vow thus foreshadows the greater self-giving of the Son of David.

Practical Exhortation

“Let us not sleep as others do, but let us remain awake and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6). Steadfast alertness to God’s purposes, tempered with trust in His provision of rest, fulfills the spirit of Psalm 132:4 in the life of the church today.

Forms and Transliterations

שְׁנַ֣ת שנת šə·naṯ šənaṯ sheNat

Englishman's Concordance

Psalm 132:4
HEB: אִם־ אֶתֵּ֣ן שְׁנַ֣ת לְעֵינָ֑י לְֽעַפְעַפַּ֥י
KJV: I will not give sleep to mine eyes,
INT: I will not give sleep to my eyes to my eyelids

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 8153
1 Occurrence

šə·naṯ — 1 Occ.