Lexical Summary shathal: To plant, to transplant Original Word: שָׁתַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance plant A primitive root; to transplant -- plant. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to transplant NASB Translation plant (2), planted (8). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׁתַל] verb transplant (Late Hebrew id.; Aramaic שְׁתַל,  ; Vulgar Arabic  plant,  slip, cutting, Dozy (loan-words ?) Thes1488; Assyrian šitlu apparently = shoot, slip); — Qal Perfect1singular שָׁתַ֫לְתִּי Ezekiel 17:22; Imperfect1singular suffix אֶשְׁתֳּלֶנּוּ Ezekiel 17:23; Passive participle שָׁתוּל Jeremiah 17:8 = Psalm 1:3, etc. (8 t.); — transplant (poetry): tree or vine, with ב location, Ezekiel 17:10,23; Ezekiel 19:13; Psalm 92:14; עַלמַֿיִם Ezekiel 19:10; Jeremiah 17:8; "" עַלמַּֿלְגֵי מִיִם Psalm 1:3, עַלהַֿר Ezekiel 17:22, אֶלמַֿיִם Ezekiel 17:8; לְצוֺר שְׁתוּלָה בְנָוֶה֑ Hosea 9:13 is corrupt ᵐ5 Che We Now (both in translation) GASm Harper לָצַ֫יִד שָׁתוּ בָנָיו (or the like; somewhat differently Marti) Ephraim ... for a prey have they set his sons. Topical Lexicon Overview The verb שָׁתַל (Shatal) depicts deliberate planting or transplanting, most often of trees or vines intentionally set where they can thrive. In all ten occurrences the action is purposeful, emphasizing the planter’s sovereignty over the plant’s location, welfare, and destiny. Imagery of Deliberate Planting Ancient Near Eastern agriculture often required transplanting young trees from nurseries to fertile plots near watercourses. Scripture employs this practice as a metaphor for lives, dynasties, and nations placed by God where they may flourish (Psalm 1:3; Ezekiel 17:8) or wither (Ezekiel 17:10; 19:13). The image is richer than mere sowing; it conveys care, investment, and a desired outcome of fruitfulness. Blessing on the Righteous Psalm 1:3 sets the pattern: “He is like a tree planted by streams of water… he prospers in all he does.” Likewise Psalm 92:13 celebrates the covenant community—“Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.” Jeremiah 17:8 echoes the same promise during Judah’s crisis, assuring the faithful remnant that dependence on the LORD secures perpetual vitality even in drought. In each case שָׁתַל portrays stability, longevity, and productivity that stem from an intimate, nourishing relationship with God. National Allegories and Warnings Ezekiel repeatedly uses שָׁתַל to interpret Judah’s political fortunes. Hosea 9:13 broadens the warning to the Northern Kingdom: “I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, planted in a meadow; but Ephraim will bring out his children to the slaughter.” Divine planting had furnished every advantage, yet rebellion would end in devastation. The verb thus underscores both privilege and accountability. Messianic Promise Against the backdrop of failed monarchs, Ezekiel 17:22–23 introduces a fresh act of planting: “I will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar… and plant it on Israel’s high mountain… It will become a magnificent cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it.” The future King from David’s line is “planted” by God Himself, guaranteeing success where human effort failed. The imagery anticipates the universal shelter offered through Messiah’s kingdom (compare Matthew 13:32), reinforcing the certainty of God’s redemptive plan. Theological Themes 1. Sovereign Placement—God alone decides where and how His people are established (Psalm 92:13; Ezekiel 17:23). Ministry Application Pastors and disciplers may draw on שָׁתַל to encourage believers toward intentional rooting in Scripture, prayer, and fellowship, trusting that the Lord “transplants” lives into contexts suited for growth and witness. Church planters can also see in this verb a mandate to plant congregations where living water is accessible, confident that the God who places the seedling will secure the harvest. Key References Psalm 1:3; Psalm 92:13; Jeremiah 17:8; Ezekiel 17:8, 10, 22–23; Ezekiel 19:10, 13; Hosea 9:13 Forms and Transliterations אֶשְׁתֳּלֶ֔נּוּ אשתלנו וְשָׁתַ֣לְתִּי ושתלתי שְׁ֭תוּלִים שְׁתוּלָ֑ה שְׁתוּלָ֖ה שְׁתוּלָ֣ה שָׁת֣וּל שָׁת֪וּל שתול שתולה תולים ’eš·to·len·nū ’eštolennū eshtoLennu šā·ṯūl šāṯūl šə·ṯū·lāh šəṯūlāh shaTul shetuLah ṯū·lîm tulim ṯūlîm veshaTalti wə·šā·ṯal·tî wəšāṯaltîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 1:3 HEB: וְֽהָיָ֗ה כְּעֵץ֮ שָׁת֪וּל עַֽל־ פַּלְגֵ֫י NAS: He will be like a tree [firmly] planted by streams KJV: And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers INT: will be like A tree planted by streams Psalm 92:13 Jeremiah 17:8 Ezekiel 17:8 Ezekiel 17:10 Ezekiel 17:22 Ezekiel 17:23 Ezekiel 19:10 Ezekiel 19:13 Hosea 9:13 10 Occurrences |
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