H7705 H7705
uncertain term, possibly women, concubines, or musical instruments; meaning disputed
This rare word appears twice in Ecclesiastes 2:8, and its meaning remains genuinely uncertain. Ancient versions differed: the Septuagint suggested 'cupbearer,' the Vulgate 'cup,' while rabbinic tradition proposed 'woman' or 'concubine.' Modern proposals include musical instruments, luxury items, or female companions. The context lists royal pleasures Solomon accumulated, so 'women' fits thematically with his legendary harem. Spanish mujer and the paired singular-plural form suggest female companions, though German Feld (field) shows the textual confusion. The term's obscurity reminds us that not every Hebrew word's meaning has survived with certainty.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A disputed term appearing in Solomon's catalog of acquired pleasures in Ecclesiastes 2:8. The paired forms (singular and plural) appear together, suggesting a comprehensive collection of something. Spanish 'mujer, y-mujeres' and English 'woman, and-women' favor the interpretation as female companions or concubines, fitting Solomon's reputation. However, ancient versions diverged widely, and the precise referent remains debated. The uncertainty highlights gaps in our lexical knowledge. 2×
AR["سَيِّدَةً", "وَسَيِّدَاتٍ"]·ben["উপপত্নী", "এবং-উপপত্নীসমূহ"]·DE["Feld", "[ושדות]"]·EN["and-women", "woman"]·FR["et-événement", "événement"]·heb["ו-שידות", "שידה"]·HI["और-रखैलें", "रखैल"]·ID["dan-gundik-gundik", "gundik"]·IT["donna", "e-e-women"]·jav["lan-selir-selir", "selir"]·KO["그리고-첩들", "첩"]·PT["e-mulheres", "mulher"]·RU["и-наложниц.", "наложницу"]·ES["mujer", "y-mujeres"]·SW["wanawake", "wengi"]·TR["cariye", "ve-cariyeler"]·urd["اور-عورتیں", "عورت"]
Related Senses
H0376 1. man, person, human male (2130×)H0251 1. brother (blood sibling) (573×)H0120 1. man, human being (individual/generic) (527×)H0802 1. woman, female person (519×)H0802 2. wife, spouse (255×)H0517 1. mother, female parent (217×)G0435 1. man, male person (202×)G1135 1. woman, adult female (190×)H2233 1. offspring, descendants (172×)H0001 2. ancestor, forefather (146×)H5288 1. Youth, young man (122×)H0269 1. sister (female sibling) (113×)H1755 1. generation, contemporaries (96×)G5043 1. child, offspring (89×)G0444 2. people, humankind (86×)H3206 1. child, boy, youth (86×)H2145 1. male (human being) (79×)G3384 1. mother (77×)H6485a 1. Qal passive participle: numbered ones, enrollment (76×)H1397 1. man (strong/mighty) (65×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† שִׁדָּה n.f. meaning unknown;—only s. et pl. שִׁדָּה וְשִׁדּוֹת Ec 2:8, apparently appos. of תַּעֲנֻגוֹת (𝔊 οἰνοχόον καὶ οἰνοχόας, i.e. שֹׁדֶה וְשֹׁדוֹת, from Aramaic שְׁדָא pour out [but not spec. of wine]; Aq κυλίκιον καὶ κυλίκια (cf. 𝔙), prob. from same √; Dl Prol. 97 Kö ii. 1. 161 Wildeb Siegf cp. Assyrian šadâdu, love (Siegf ‘Haremsperlen’), but this word lacks evidence; poss. שָׂרָה וְשָׂרוֹת, v. i. שָׂרָה).