Lexical Summary shenah or shena: Sleep Original Word: שֵׁנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sleep Or shena (Psa. 127:2) {shay-naw'}; from yashen; sleep -- sleep. see HEBREW yashen NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yashen Definition sleep NASB Translation asleep (1), sleep (22), sleep* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שֵׁנָה, שֵׁנָא, שְׁנָת noun feminine sleep — שֵׁנָה Psalm 90:5 3t.; שֵׁנָא Psalm 127:2, שְׁנָת Psalm 132:4 (Ges§ 80 g, h.); construct שְׁנַת Jeremiah 51:39 3t.; שְׁנָתִי Genesis 31:40; Jeremiah 31:26, etc.; plural absolute שֵׁנוֺת Proverbs 6:10; Proverbs 24:33; — sleep Genesis 28:16 (J), Judges 16:14,20; Proverbs 3:24; Proverbs 6:9; Proverbs 20:13; Ecclesiastes 5:11; Jeremiah 31:26; Zechariah 4:1; Proverbs 6:4 ("" תְּנוּמָה); מְעַט שֵׁנוֺת מְעַט תְּנוּמוֺת Proverbs 6:10 = Proverbs 24:33 (these two of sluggard אִישׁ עָצֵל; see also Proverbs 6:9; Proverbs 20:13); note also וַתִּדּד שְׁנָתִי מֵעֵינָ֑י Genesis 31:40 (E) and my sleep fled from mine eyes; נָ֑דֲדָה שְׁנַת הַמֶּלֶךְ Esther 6:1; וְנִגְזְלָה שְׁנָתָם Proverbs 4:16; וּשְׁנָתוֺ נִהְיְתָה עָלָיו Daniel 2:1; שֵׁנָה בְּעֵינָיו אֵינֶנּוּ רֹאֵה Ecclesiastes 8:16; אִם אֶתֵּן שְׁנָת לְעֵינָ֑י Psalm 132:4 (all of lack of sleep); יִתֵּן לִידִידוֺ שֵׁנָ֑א Psalm 127:2 = he giveth to his beloved in sleep, compare Ges§ 118, 3; of sleep of death (so Arabic יֶשְׁנוֺ see יֵשׁ. Topical Lexicon שֵׁנָה Overview שֵׁנָה designates natural sleep, yet Scripture employs it to illustrate divine revelation, covenant blessing, moral warning, and even death. The twenty-three occurrences span Torah, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, Prophets and Exile narratives, underscoring its theological breadth. Ordinary Rest and Refreshment Sleep is presented as a good, God-given rhythm of life. “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet” (Proverbs 3:24). The labourer “sleeps…sweet” regardless of his menu (Ecclesiastes 5:12), and the psalmist affirms, “He gives sleep to His beloved” (Psalm 127:2). Jeremiah’s report, “My sleep had been pleasant to me” (Jeremiah 31:26), follows a vision of promised restoration, implying that enjoyable sleep accompanies covenant hope. Sleep and Divine Revelation Sleep becomes a threshold for encounter with the LORD. Jacob awakens at Bethel exclaiming, “Surely the LORD is in this place” (Genesis 28:16). Nebuchadnezzar’s lost sleep (Daniel 2:1) and Zechariah’s angelic awakening (Zechariah 4:1) both precede prophetic disclosure. Thus, God can suspend or bestow sleep to call attention to His purposes. Sleep Withheld for Providential Intervention Sleeplessness in Esther 6:1 propels the narrative of Israel’s preservation: “That night sleep escaped the king.” Likewise, Jacob’s toil in harsh conditions is underscored by, “sleep fled from my eyes” (Genesis 31:40). The loss of sleep serves as an instrument in the LORD’s redemptive strategy. Vulnerability and Moral Danger Samson’s defeats are framed by sleep (Judges 16:14, 20), warning that complacency in covenant obligation invites loss of strength. Wisdom texts press the point: “Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor” (Proverbs 20:13). Repeated refrains—“A little sleep, a little slumber…” (Proverbs 6:10; 24:33)—make lethargy a metaphor for moral inertia. Sleep as Metaphor for Death and Judgment Job declares concerning mankind, “He will not…be roused from his sleep” (Job 14:12). Psalm 76:5 pictures defeated warriors who “have slipped into sleep.” The climactic warnings in Jeremiah 51:39, 57 announce a “perpetual sleep” for Babylon’s leaders, signalling irrevocable judgment. Sleep in these contexts is not soul-annihilation but a temporary state awaiting resurrection or final reckoning, cohering with the wider biblical doctrine of bodily resurrection. Covenant Blessing versus Covenant Curse The Mosaic and prophetic corpus sets restful sleep alongside covenant fidelity, whereas restless nights attend disobedience, oppression, or looming judgment. Psalm 90:5’s fleeting human lifespan—“You whisk them away in their sleep”—contrasts God’s eternal constancy, urging reverent obedience. Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Encouragement: Believers may receive sleep as a tangible token of God’s care (Psalm 127:2) and need not fear the night (Proverbs 3:24). Summary שֵׁנָה portrays more than biological rest. It is a sphere where God speaks, tests, blesses, or judges. Properly received, sleep becomes a sacrament of dependence on the Lord; improperly indulged, it illustrates sloth and spiritual blindness. In life, ministry, and eschatology, Scripture calls believers to value sleep as God’s gift while remaining ever awake to His voice. Forms and Transliterations וּשְׁנָת֖וֹ וּשְׁנָתִ֖י ושנתו ושנתי מִשְּׁנָת֔וֹ מִשְּׁנָת֗וֹ מִשְּׁנָתֶֽךָ׃ מִשְּׁנָתָֽם׃ מִשְּׁנָתֽוֹ׃ מִשְּׁנָתוֹ֒ משנתו משנתו׃ משנתך׃ משנתם׃ נה נות נתם שְׁ֝נָתָ֗ם שְׁנַ֣ת שְׁנַת־ שְׁנָתִ֖י שְׁנָתֶֽךָ׃ שְׁנָתָ֑ם שֵׁ֭נָה שֵׁ֭נוֹת שֵׁנָ֕ה שֵׁנָ֣ה שֵׁנָֽא׃ שנא׃ שנה שנת שנת־ שנתי שנתך׃ שנתם miš·šə·nā·ṯām miš·šə·nā·ṯe·ḵā miš·šə·nā·ṯōw mishshenaTam mishshenaTecha mishshenaTo miššənāṯām miššənāṯeḵā miššənāṯōw nā·ṯām nah nāh naTam nāṯām nō·wṯ not nōwṯ šê·nā šə·nā·ṯām šə·nā·ṯe·ḵā šə·nā·ṯî šê·nāh šə·naṯ šə·naṯ- šênā šênāh šənaṯ šənaṯ- šənāṯām šənāṯeḵā šənāṯî sheNa sheNah sheNat shenaTam shenaTecha shenaTi ū·šə·nā·ṯî ū·šə·nā·ṯōw ūšənāṯî ūšənāṯōw ushenaTi ushenaToLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 28:16 HEB: וַיִּיקַ֣ץ יַעֲקֹב֮ מִשְּׁנָתוֹ֒ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָכֵן֙ NAS: awoke from his sleep and said, KJV: awaked out of his sleep, and he said, INT: awoke Jacob his sleep and said Surely Genesis 31:40 Judges 16:14 Judges 16:20 Esther 6:1 Job 14:12 Psalm 76:5 Psalm 90:5 Psalm 127:2 Proverbs 3:24 Proverbs 4:16 Proverbs 6:4 Proverbs 6:9 Proverbs 6:10 Proverbs 20:13 Proverbs 24:33 Ecclesiastes 5:12 Ecclesiastes 8:16 Jeremiah 31:26 Jeremiah 51:39 Jeremiah 51:57 Daniel 2:1 Zechariah 4:1 23 Occurrences |
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