H8148 H8148
sharp word, taunt, byword; a cutting, mocking saying or proverbial object of scorn among the nations
This noun refers to sharp, cutting words—specifically taunts or bywords that make someone an object of scorn. It appears in contexts of covenant curse and judgment. Deuteronomy 28:37 warns that disobedient Israel will become 'a horror, a proverb, and a byword among all peoples.' 1 Kings 9:7 and 2 Chronicles 7:20 repeat the warning concerning the temple: it will become 'a proverb and a byword' if Israel turns from God. Jeremiah 24:9 pronounces the same fate on those remaining in the land. The multilingual glosses (Spanish burla/escarnio 'mockery', French byword) capture both the sharp quality and the public shame. This is verbal humiliation codified into proverbial form—when Israel's name becomes a punchline among the nations.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A sharp, cutting word or taunt; specifically a byword or proverbial saying that makes someone an object of public scorn. Used in covenant curse contexts: Israel will become a byword among nations if they disobey (Deut 28:37, 1 Kgs 9:7, 2 Chr 7:20, Jer 24:9). This is not just insult but codified mockery—when a people's shame becomes proverbial, their name invoked as an example of divine judgment. The sharpness (sheninah, related to 'tooth') suggests biting, pointed ridicule. 4×
AR["لِلسُّخْرِيَةِ", "وَ-لِـ-هُزْءٍ", "وَ-هُزْءًا", "وَلِ-سُخْرِيَّةٍ"]·ben["এবং-উপহাসের-বিষয়", "এবং-বিদ্রূপের-জন্য", "ও-বিদ্রূপ", "বিদ্রূপে"]·DE["[ולשנינה]", "[לשנינה]", "und-fuer-byword", "und-fuer-taunt"]·EN["and-as-a-byword", "and-for-byword", "and-for-taunt", "for-a-taunt"]·FR["[ולשנינה]", "[לשנינה]", "et-pour-byword", "et-pour-raille"]·heb["ו-ל-שנינה", "וְ-לִ-שְׁנִינָה", "ל-שנינה"]·HI["और-उपहास", "और-ताना", "और-ताने-के-लिए", "ताने-के-लिए"]·ID["dan-sebagai-olok-olok", "dan-sindiran", "sebagai-sindiran"]·IT["[ולשנינה]", "[לשנינה]", "e-per-byword", "e-per-taunt"]·jav["kangge-panyenges", "lan-kanggé-gegujengèn", "lan-kanggé-gujèngan", "lan-poyokan"]·KO["그리고-비웃음으로", "그리고-비웃음이-되리라", "그리고-조롱거리-로", "에-조롱을-위하여"]·PT["e-para-escárnio", "e-para-zombaria", "por-escárnio"]·RU["в-насмешку", "и-насмешкой", "и-посмешищем", "и-посмеянием"]·ES["para-escarnio", "y-para-burla", "y-por-burla"]·SW["kitu-cha-kejeli", "na-dharau", "na-dhihaka", "na-kejeli"]·TR["alaya", "ve-alay-konusu", "ve-alay-konusu-olarak", "ve-için-alay"]·urd["اور-طنز-کے-لیے", "اور-مذاق", "اور-مذاق-کے-لیے", "طعنے-کے-لئے"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† שְׁנִינָה n.f. sharp (cutting) word, taunt;—Dt 28:37; 1 K 9:7 = 2 Ch 7:20, Je 24:9 (cf. ψ 64:4; 140:4).