Lexical Summary shasah: To plunder, to spoil, to despoil Original Word: שָׁסָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance destroyer, rob, spoiler Or shasah (Isa. 10:13) {shaw-saw'}; a primitive root; to plunder -- destroyer, rob, spoil(-er). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to spoil, plunder NASB Translation despoiled (1), pillage (1), plunder (1), plundered (3), plunderers (2), plundering (1), taken spoil (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׁסָה] verb spoil, plunder (rarer synonym of שׁלל, בזז; with this √ WMMAs.u.Eur.131 connects Egyptian name of Beduin plunderers Šôs [Ša-su, ša-sa]; connection doubted by JenZA x (1895), 331); — Qal Perfect3plural שָׁ֫סוּ לָ֫מוֺ Psalm 44:11 they plunder for themselves; Imperfect3masculine singular ׳יִשְׁסֶה אוֺצַר וגו. Hosea 13:15 elsewhere Participle שֹׁסֶים plunderers Judges 2:14; 2 Kings 17:20; with accusative of location 1 Samuel 23:1; with suffix (as object) שֹׁסֵ֫הוּ 1 Samuel 14:48 (probably plural = שֹׁסֵ֫יהוּ, so Stap. 355 Dr Bu, compare Ges§ 91k), שׁוֺסֵ֫ינוּ Isaiah 17:14 ("" בֹּזְזֵינוּ), שֹׁסֵיהֶם Judges 2:16; שֹׁסַ֫יִח Jeremiah 30:16 Qr (Kt see שסס; "" בֹּזְזַיִח); construct (שֹׁסֵי נַחֲלָתִי Jeremiah 50:11; passive עַםבָּֿזוּז וְשָׁסוּי Isaiah 42:22. Po`.=Qal Perfect1singular שׁוֺשֵׂתִי (Ges§ 6k) Isaiah 10:13, with accusative of thing; read also probably Participle מְשׁוֺסֶה Isaiah 42:24 ("" בֹּזְזִים), for משוסה Kt, מְשִׁסָּה Qr; so Du Klo CheHpt Marti. Topical Lexicon Overview The verb שָׁסָה depicts the ruthless act of overrunning an enemy in order to seize goods, territory, or people. Every one of its eleven appearances occurs in contexts of conflict and covenant dealings, so the word becomes a lens through which Scripture exposes both the severity of divine judgment and the mercy that rescues from it. Covenant Sanction in the Era of the Judges Judges 2:14 introduces the term at the outset of Israel’s national account in the land: “Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He handed them over to raiders who plundered them”. Israel’s apostasy brings an immediate covenant sanction—being “plundered” by surrounding peoples. Verse 16 balances the account: “Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them.” Here שָׁסָה both punishes and awakens the people. The cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, cry, and deliverance in Judges pivots on this verb, underscoring that the Lord alone controls who may plunder and who is protected. Defensive Kingship and Temporary Relief 1 Samuel 14:48 commends Saul for striking the Amalekites and “delivering Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.” Although Saul’s reign ultimately unravels, the text records a moment when kingly leadership restrains the plundering threat. Likewise, David hears in 1 Samuel 23:1 that “the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and plundering the threshing floors,” prompting him to intervene. Shasah thus measures the faithfulness of leaders: true shepherds confront plunderers; unfaithful shepherds leave the flock exposed. Exile and National Collapse The same verb reappears when Israel’s rebellion matures into full-scale exile. “The LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel … and gave them into the hand of plunderers” (2 Kings 17:20). Psalm 44:10 laments, “You have made us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have plundered us.” Both passages treat plundering as the visible sign that the covenant hedge has been removed. The people’s treasures, autonomy, and even land can be stripped away when they abandon the Lord. Imperial Arrogance Exposed Isaiah twice deploys שָׁסָה to expose the pride of world powers. Assyria boasts, “I plundered their treasures” (Isaiah 10:13), yet in Isaiah 17:14 the prophet promises, “This is the portion of those who plunder us.” What earthly empires seize in their apparent strength will ultimately be reclaimed or lost by the decree of God. Jeremiah 50:11 adds Babylon to the list: “Because you rejoice … you who plunder My inheritance,” announcing coming retribution. Shasah thus marks the moment when nations mistake temporary license for ultimate authority. The Plight of the Helpless Isaiah 42:22 pictures Judah as “a people plundered and looted … with no one to say, ‘Send them back!’” The verb displays the misery of captives who have lost every resource. Hosea 13:15 turns the image inland: “The treasures in his storehouses will be plundered,” foretelling economic desolation alongside military defeat. Together these prophecies portray plundering as total vulnerability—military, economic, and social. Divine Mercy and the Hope of Restoration While שָׁסָה emphasizes loss, each occurrence nestles within a broader hope. The Judges cycle ends with deliverance; the prophetic oracles pivot to promises of return. Even Isaiah 42, after describing a plundered people, moves toward the Servant who will open blind eyes and release prisoners. The Lord’s willingness to allow plundering is therefore never detached from His commitment to restore a remnant. Christological Echoes Jesus evokes the metaphor when He speaks of “binding the strong man” in order to “plunder his house” (Matthew 12:29). The New Testament turns the image on its head: Christ Himself becomes the divine Champion who plunders the dominion of darkness to reclaim a people for God. The Old Testament pattern—oppression followed by Spirit-anointed deliverance—finds its ultimate fulfillment in the cross and resurrection. Ministry Implications • Intercession: Repeated references link national apostasy with exposure to plunderers. Prayer for holiness among God’s people remains a guard against spiritual and cultural pillage. Summary Shasah, though a small verb, threads through Israel’s history as a barometer of covenant faithfulness. It warns that rebellion invites plunder, comforts that deliverance belongs to the Lord, and anticipates the greater Deliverer who decisively plunders the powers of darkness to secure an eternal inheritance for His people. Forms and Transliterations וְשָׁסוּי֒ ושסוי יִשְׁסֶ֔ה ישסה שָׁ֣סוּ שֹׁסִ֑ים שֹׁסִ֔ים שֹׁסִ֥ים שֹׁסֵ֖י שֹׁסֵֽהוּ׃ שֹׁסֵיהֶֽם׃ שׁוֹסֵ֔ינוּ שׁוֹשֵׂ֔תִי שוסינו שושתי שסהו׃ שסו שסי שסיהם׃ שסים šā·sū šāsū Shasu shoSehu shoSei shoseiHem shoSeinu shoSeti shoSim šō·sê šō·sê·hem šō·sê·hū šō·sîm šō·w·sê·nū šō·w·śê·ṯî šōsê šōsêhem šōsêhū šōsîm šōwsênū šōwśêṯî veshaSui wə·šā·sui wəšāsui yiš·seh yishSeh yišsehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 2:14 HEB: וַֽיִּתְּנֵם֙ בְּיַד־ שֹׁסִ֔ים וַיָּשֹׁ֖סּוּ אוֹתָ֑ם NAS: them into the hands of plunderers who plundered KJV: them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled INT: gave the hands of plunderers plundered sold Judges 2:16 1 Samuel 14:48 1 Samuel 23:1 2 Kings 17:20 Psalm 44:10 Isaiah 10:13 Isaiah 17:14 Isaiah 42:22 Jeremiah 50:11 Hosea 13:15 11 Occurrences |
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