Lexical Summary showa': Cry for help, cry of distress Original Word: שׁוֹעַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bountiful, crying, rich From shava' in the original sense of freedom; a noble, i.e. Liberal, opulent; also (as noun in the derived sense) a halloo -- bountiful, crying, rich. see HEBREW shava' Brown-Driver-Briggs I. שׁוֺעַ adjective (free), idependent, noble (in station) (according to most from second. √ שׁוע = ישׁע in sense of Arabic  (compare תְּשׁוּעָה below); but actual existence of such a √ not proven; Thes allows שׁוֺעַ = יְשׁוֺעַ) — noble, of rank (and, by implication, of character) Isaiah 32:5 ("" נָדִיב opposed to כִּילַי), Job 34:19 (Di and others rich, but "" שָׂרִים opposed to דַּל). — II. שׁוֺעַ Isaiah 22:5, see below [שָׁוַע]. III. שׁוֺעַ proper name, of a people Ezekiel 23:23, see ׳שׁ II. שׁוֺעַ noun [masculine] cry, perhaps war-cry, or cry for help in war Isaiah 22:5. — I.שׁוֺעֵ see ישׁע. Topical Lexicon Essential Sense and Emphasis שׁוֹעַ (Strong’s 7771) denotes a person of substance—one whose outward circumstances manifest abundance, opulence, and social power. The word never functions as a compliment; each inspired use exposes the limitations of earthly wealth when weighed against divine justice, coming judgment, or true nobility of spirit. Occurrences and Literary Setting Job 34:19 places שׁוֹעַ beside “princes” and “the poor,” underscoring God’s impartiality: “He shows no partiality to princes nor regards the rich above the poor, for they are all the work of His hands”. Elihu insists that riches cannot purchase favor before the Almighty, a lesson coherent with the whole book of Job, where material standing proves powerless to shield anyone from trial or scrutiny. Isaiah 22:5 catalogues the Lord’s “day of tumult and trampling and terror,” when the defenses of Jerusalem fail. The cry (שׁוֹעַ) reaches the mountains, picturing the frantic appeal of a privileged class suddenly stripped of security. Pageantry collapses; wealth offers no cover when God overturns human pride. Isaiah 32:5 corrects social inversion in the Messianic kingdom: “No longer will a fool be called noble, nor a scoundrel be respected”. A miser (כִּילַי) will not be declared שׁוֹעַ. When righteousness reigns, titles derived from money or influence evaporate, and moral character becomes the only standard for honor. Theological Significance 1. Divine Impartiality. Each passage employs שׁוֹעַ to remind readers that God “does not judge by outward appearance” (compare 1 Samuel 16:7). Riches neither commend nor condemn a person; yet depending on them invites rebuke (Psalm 52:7; Proverbs 11:28). Historical and Cultural Background In the Ancient Near East, wealth commonly bought legal preference, political influence, and social esteem. Archaeological texts from Mesopotamia and Egypt illustrate court systems swayed by gifts. Israel’s law sharply diverged: “You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his lawsuit” (Exodus 23:3) and “You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great” (Leviticus 19:15). The prophetic use of שׁוֹעַ reflects this covenant ethic, condemning a culture that confuses financial might with intrinsic worth. Ministry and Discipleship Implications • Guard the heart against preferential treatment based on economic status (James 2:1–4). Summary שׁוֹעַ exposes the fragility of wealth before a holy God. In Job it is powerless to shield; in Isaiah it cannot avert judgment; in the promised kingdom it loses its prestige altogether. Scripture thus reorients the believer’s attitude toward riches, calling for humility, generosity, and trust in the Lord who “owns the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10). Forms and Transliterations וְשׁ֥וֹעַ ושוע שֽׁוֹעַ׃ שׁ֭וֹעַ שוע שוע׃ Shoa šō·w·a‘ šōwa‘ veShoa wə·šō·w·a‘ wəšōwa‘Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 34:19 HEB: וְלֹ֣א נִכַּר־ שׁ֭וֹעַ לִפְנֵי־ דָ֑ל NAS: Nor regards the rich above the poor, KJV: nor regardeth the rich more than INT: Nor regards the rich above the poor Isaiah 22:5 Isaiah 32:5 3 Occurrences |
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