Lexical Summary shochad: bribe, bribes, present Original Word: שַׁחַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bribery, gift, present, reward From shachad; a donation (venal or redemptive) -- bribe(-ry), gift, present, reward. see HEBREW shachad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shachad Definition a present, bribe NASB Translation bribe (15), bribes (3), corrupt (1), gifts (1), present (2), reward (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שֹׁ֫חַד noun masculine present, specifically bribe; — ׳שׁ absolute Isaiah 1:23 22t.; — bribe, usually to pervert justice, object of לָקַח Exodus 23:8 a (E), = Deuteronomy 16:19a, Deuteronomy 10:17; 1 Samuel 8:3; 2Chronicles 19:7; Psalm 15:5; Proverbs 17:23; + infinitive, take bribe to do something, Deuteronomy 27:25; Ezekiel 22:12; ׳אָהַב שׁ Isaiah 1:23; compare also Isaiah 5:23; Isaiah 33:15; Exodus 23:8b (E) = Deuteronomy 16:19b, Micah 3:11; Psalm 26:10; Proverbs 17:8; Proverbs 21:14; ׳אָהֳלֵישֿׁ Job 15:34, i.e. abode of bribe-givers; ׳שׁ Proverbs 6:35 ("" כֹּפֶר) is hush-money, or (possibly) legal compensation (compare Toy); ׳שׁ elsewhere (with שָׁהַ) of bribing king to take sides 1 Kings 15:19; 2 Kings 16:8, compare Isaiah 45:13 ("" מְחִיר). Topical Lexicon Core Concept of שַׁחַדThe word refers to a “gift” given with the intent of securing favor or bending judgment. Although in some settings it can denote a diplomatic tribute, the overwhelming accent in Scripture is on its corrupting power. The Old Testament treats שַׁחַד as a moral pollutant that blinds, perverts, and destroys equity among God’s covenant people. Divine Prohibition of Bribery The earliest legal texts confront the practice head-on: “You shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous” (Exodus 23:8). Deuteronomy repeats the command (Deuteronomy 16:19) and roots it in the character of God Himself: “For the LORD your God … shows no partiality and accepts no bribe” (Deuteronomy 10:17). When Israel’s judges were appointed, they were warned, “there is no injustice or partiality or bribe with the LORD our God” (2 Chronicles 19:7). The Torah therefore establishes an unchangeable principle—justice must be protected from all monetary influence. Bribery as Spiritual Corruption Accepting שַׁחַד is portrayed as an act of covenant infidelity. The psalmist identifies the one who “does not accept a bribe against the innocent” as fit to dwell on God’s holy hill (Psalm 15:5), whereas the corrupt have “hands … full of bribes” (Psalm 26:10). Samuel’s sons “turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice” (1 Samuel 8:3), precipitating Israel’s demand for a king. Bribery is thus more than a civic crime; it is rebellion against the just order God established. Socio-Political Usage: Tribute and Diplomatic Gifts On two occasions the term describes international payments intended to buy protection. Asa of Judah “took all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the house of the LORD … and sent them to Ben-hadad … saying, ‘Let there be a treaty between me and you’” (1 Kings 15:18-19). Ahaz later stripped the temple and royal palace “and sent the tribute to the king of Assyria” (2 Kings 16:8). Although these payments achieved short-term political goals, the narrative context discloses their spiritual cost: trust shifted from the LORD to human powers, revealing that שַׁחַד undermines faith as well as justice. Wisdom Literature and the Psychology of Bribery Proverbs probes the inner dynamics of bribery. “A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds” (Proverbs 17:8) diagnoses its seductive appeal. Yet the same chapter condemns the practice outright: “A wicked man takes a bribe in secret to pervert the course of justice” (Proverbs 17:23). Proverbs 21:14 acknowledges the pragmatic power of a covert gift to pacify anger, but the broader canonical witness casts such tactics as morally perilous. Even the spurned husband of Proverbs 6:35 “will not accept any compensation” (שַׁחַד), showing that righteous indignation cannot be bought off. Prophetic Denunciations The prophets treat bribery as a hallmark of societal collapse. Isaiah laments, “Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts” (Isaiah 1:23). He warns against those “who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent” (Isaiah 5:23) and commends the one “who refuses a bribe to stop his ears from hearing of bloodshed” (Isaiah 33:15). Ezekiel holds Jerusalem to account: “In you they take bribes to shed blood” (Ezekiel 22:12). Micah exposes the trifecta of corruption—“Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money” (Micah 3:11)—underscoring that bribery infects every level of leadership. Theological Significance 1. God’s Impartiality: Because God “accepts no bribe” (Deuteronomy 10:17), His people must mirror His integrity in their judicial and financial dealings. Practical Ministry Application • Church Leadership: Elders and deacons must be “free from the love of money,” guarding against subtle forms of bribery such as favoritism toward wealthy donors. Forms and Transliterations בְּשֹׁ֣חַד בְשֹׁ֔חַד בַּשֹּׁ֔חַד בשחד הַ֭שֹּׁחַד הַשֹּׁ֗חַד הַשֹּׁ֙חַד֙ השחד וְשֹׁ֖חַד וְשֹׁ֥חַד ושחד שֹּֽׁחַד׃ שֹֽׁחַד׃ שֹׁ֑חַד שֹׁ֔חַד שֹׁ֙חַד֙ שֹׁ֣חַד שֹׁ֥חַד שחד שחד׃ baš·šō·ḥaḏ bashShochad baššōḥaḏ bə·šō·ḥaḏ ḇə·šō·ḥaḏ beShochad bəšōḥaḏ ḇəšōḥaḏ haš·šō·ḥaḏ hashShochad haššōḥaḏ Shochad šō·ḥaḏ šōḥaḏ veShochad wə·šō·ḥaḏ wəšōḥaḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 23:8 HEB: וְשֹׁ֖חַד לֹ֣א תִקָּ֑ח NAS: You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe KJV: And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift INT: A bribe shall not take Exodus 23:8 Deuteronomy 10:17 Deuteronomy 16:19 Deuteronomy 16:19 Deuteronomy 27:25 1 Samuel 8:3 1 Kings 15:19 2 Kings 16:8 2 Chronicles 19:7 Job 15:34 Psalm 15:5 Psalm 26:10 Proverbs 6:35 Proverbs 17:8 Proverbs 17:23 Proverbs 21:14 Isaiah 1:23 Isaiah 5:23 Isaiah 33:15 Isaiah 45:13 Ezekiel 22:12 Micah 3:11 23 Occurrences |
    |