The tool for deep Hebrew research into the biblical Scriptures
שָׁנָא shânâʼ — to alter
pronounced shaw-naw' · Strong's H8132 · 3 occurrences in the Hebrew Bible · 3 stems: Pi'el, Pu'al, Qal (Pa'al)
Translated in the KJV as change.
a primitive root; to alter.
shânâʼ in each stem
Pi'el 1×
Intensive · active — the action intensified, repeated or brought about; the subject does it
Sequential perfect (weqatal) 1
וְשִׁנָּ֕א2Kgs 25:29Sequential perfect (weqatal), 3rd person masculine singular
And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. (KJV)
Pu'al 1×
Intensive · passive — the action intensified, repeated or brought about; the subject has it done to them
Imperfect (yiqtol) 1
יְשֻׁנֶּֽאEccl 8:1Imperfect (yiqtol), 3rd person masculine singular
Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed. (KJV)
Qal (Pa'al) 1×
Simple · active — the plain action; the subject does it
Imperfect (yiqtol) 1
יִשְׁנֶ֖אLam 4:1Imperfect (yiqtol), 3rd person masculine singular
How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. (KJV)
What the stems mean
A Hebrew verb is its root letters set into a pattern. The pattern — the binyan — is the grammar's way of saying three things at once: whether the action is simple, intensive or causative, and whether its subject is active, passive or reflexive. That is why one Hebrew word can need six English ones. All seven binyanim, explained ›
In the app, tap any Hebrew verb while reading: its root, stem and form are named, the letters of the word itself are coloured to show which is which, and the stem's meaning is put in plain English. shânâʼ in the lexicon ›
Morphology from OpenScriptures MorphHB (CC BY 4.0); definitions from Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (public domain); text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex.
