Strong's Hebrew: 7858. שֵׁ֫טֶף (sheteph) -- Flood, Overflow, Torrent

Original Word: שֶׁטֶף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: sheteph
Pronunciation: SHEH-tef
Phonetic Spelling: (sheh'-tef)
KJV: flood, outrageous, overflowing
NASB: flood, outburst, overflowing
Word Origin: [from H7857 (שָׁטַף - overflow)]

1. a deluge (literally or figuratively)

flood, outrageous, overflowing

Or sheteph {shay'-tef}; from shataph; a deluge (literally or figuratively) -- flood, outrageous, overflowing.

see HEBREW shataph

Word Origin
from shataph
Definition
a flood
NASB Translation
flood (5), outburst (1), overflowing (1).

שֶׁ֫טֶף, שֶׁ֫צֶף noun masculine^{Nahum 1:8} flood; — absolute שֶׁ֫טֶף Nahum 1:8 3t.; construct ׳שֶׁ Proverbs 27:4, ׳שֵׁ Psalm 32:6; — flood, figurative of ׳יs judgement, עֹבֵר ׳שׁ Nahum 1:8, compare Daniel 9:26, זְרֹעוֺת ׳הַשּׁ Daniel 11:22 (compare Dr); of calamity, מַיִם רַבִּים ׳שׁ Psalm 32:6; אָף ׳שׁ Proverbs 27:4 a flood of anger; so שֶׁצֶף קֶצֶף Isaiah 54:8 (צ for ט before following צ Ew Di; > Du Che Marti strike out ׳שׁ as dittograph); שֶׁטֶף literally of rainflood, Job 38:25.

שׁטר (√ of following; Assyrian ša‰âru, write, Sabean סטר Hom^{Chr 124} DHM^{Ep. Denkm.} Arabic lii. 2, liv. 2; Arabic rule (a book), write, row, line; Aramaic שְׁטָרָא, document, so Hilpr^{Babylonian Exp. x.8} CIS^ii.67, Nabataean, Palmyrene שטר Lzb^374:00:00 Hom^{NKZ i.69} all from Assyrian).

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Overview

The noun שֶׁטֶף pictures a sudden, irresistible rush—whether of literal water or any overwhelming force. Across its six appearances the term evokes power that exceeds human control, underscoring the Lord’s sovereign rule over nature, nations, passions, and judgment.

Old Testament Usage

1. Job 38:25 – Yahweh asks, "Who cuts a channel for the flood...?". Here שֶׁטֶף is a showcase of the Creator’s mastery; torrential waters move only where He directs.
2. Psalm 32:6 – David urges the faithful to pray "surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him." The flood symbolizes troubles that cannot drown those who seek God while He is near.
3. Proverbs 27:4 – "Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?" Natural deluge becomes an analogy for unchecked emotion, warning that jealousy surpasses even flooding anger in destructive potential.
4. Daniel 9:26 – "The end will come like a flood." The demise of Jerusalem and the sanctuary arrives with the same unstoppable speed as surging water, emphasizing the certainty of prophetic decree.
5. Daniel 11:22 – Military forces are swept away "like a flood," portraying invading armies as a torrent carrying away all resistance.
6. Nahum 1:8 – "With an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh." Assyria’s fall is framed as divine inundation, assuring Judah that oppressive powers cannot withstand the Lord.

Themes of Divine Sovereignty

שֶׁטֶף highlights the LORD’s unmatched authority. He not only unleashes torrents (Nahum 1:8) but also carves their channels (Job 38:25). Whether nature, empires, or emotions, every overwhelming surge remains under His command, fulfilling His purposes in judgment or protection.

Metaphorical Intensification

Proverbs 27:4 broadens the word’s scope to inner life; anger becomes a flood, warning that sin’s force can mirror natural catastrophe. In ministry settings this offers a vivid pastoral tool: unchecked passions will erode relationships as surely as waters erode land.

Prophetic and Eschatological Overtones

Daniel’s visions employ שֶׁטֶף to describe successive historical upheavals that prefigure end-time events. The flood-imagery anticipates final judgment scenes where rebellion is swept away, while the faithful remain secure—echoing Psalm 32:6.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Intercession: Psalm 32:6 encourages urgent prayer before crises swell beyond reach.
• Counseling: Proverbs 27:4 counsels believers to confront anger early; otherwise it will crest into destructive floodwaters.
• Preaching judgment and hope: Nahum and Daniel provide balanced proclamation—God’s wrath is overwhelming, yet His justice is precise and purposeful, offering refuge to those who repent.

Connection to New Testament Revelation

The imagery foreshadows New Testament warnings about a "flood of dissipation" (1 Peter 4:4) and the house that falls when "the floods came" (Matthew 7:25). In Christ, believers gain the firm foundation that withstands every שֶׁטֶף, fulfilling the protective promise glimpsed in Psalm 32:6.

Conclusion

שֶׁטֶף calls readers to revere God’s might, heed His warnings, and rest in His shelter. Whether the deluge is water, war, or wrath, the Lord stands sovereign above the torrent, faithful to judge evil and preserve those who trust in Him.

בַשֶּׁ֔טֶף בשטף הַשֶּׁ֛טֶף השטף וְשֶׁ֣טֶף וּבְשֶׁ֣טֶף ובשטף ושטף לְ֭שֵׁטֶף לַשֶּׁ֣טֶף לשטף ḇaš·še·ṭep̄ ḇaššeṭep̄ haš·še·ṭep̄ hashShetef haššeṭep̄ laš·še·ṭep̄ lashShetef laššeṭep̄ lə·šê·ṭep̄ ləšêṭep̄ Leshetef ū·ḇə·še·ṭep̄ ūḇəšeṭep̄ uveShetef vashShetef veShetef wə·še·ṭep̄ wəšeṭep̄Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts

Job 38:25
HEB: מִֽי־ פִלַּ֣ג לַשֶּׁ֣טֶף תְּעָלָ֑ה וְ֝דֶ֗רֶךְ
NAS: a channel for the flood, Or a way
KJV: a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way
INT: Who has cleft the flood A channel A way

Psalm 32:6
HEB: מְ֫צֹ֥א רַ֗ק לְ֭שֵׁטֶף מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֑ים
NAS: Surely in a flood of great
KJV: when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great
INT: may be found in A flood waters of great

Proverbs 27:4
HEB: אַכְזְרִיּ֣וּת חֵ֭מָה וְשֶׁ֣טֶף אָ֑ף וּמִ֥י
NAS: and anger is a flood, But who
KJV: and anger [is] outrageous; but who [is] able to stand
INT: is fierce Wrath flood and anger who

Daniel 9:26
HEB: הַבָּא֙ וְקִצּ֣וֹ בַשֶּׁ֔טֶף וְעַד֙ קֵ֣ץ
NAS: And its end [will come] with a flood; even to the end
KJV: and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end
INT: come end A flood even to the end

Daniel 11:22
HEB: וּזְרֹע֥וֹת הַשֶּׁ֛טֶף יִשָּׁטְפ֥וּ מִלְּפָנָ֖יו
NAS: The overflowing forces
KJV: And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown
INT: forces the overflowing will be flooded before

Nahum 1:8
HEB: וּבְשֶׁ֣טֶף עֹבֵ֔ר כָּלָ֖ה
NAS: But with an overflowing flood He will make
KJV: But with an overrunning flood he will make
INT: flood an overflowing A complete

6 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7858
6 Occurrences

haš·še·ṭep̄ — 1 Occ.
laš·še·ṭep̄ — 1 Occ.
lə·šê·ṭep̄ — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·še·ṭep̄ — 1 Occ.
ḇaš·še·ṭep̄ — 1 Occ.
wə·še·ṭep̄ — 1 Occ.