Lexical Summary
shaan: To lean, to support oneself, to rely
Original Word:שָׁעַן
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:sha`an
Pronunciation:shaw-an'
Phonetic Spelling:(shaw-an')
KJV: lean, lie, rely, rest (on, self), stay
NASB:relied, rely, lean, leaned, leaning, leans, rest yourselves
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to support one's self
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
lean, lie, rely, rest on, self, stay
A primitive root; to support one's self -- lean, lie, rely, rest (on, self), stay.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto lean, support oneself
NASB Translationlean (3), leaned (2), leaning (2), leans (2), relied (4), rely (4), rest yourselves (1), supported (1), trust (1), trusted (1), trusts (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] ; —
Perfect3masculine singular consecutive
Numbers 21:15;
Isaiah 10:20; 1plural 2Chron 14:10, etc.;
Imperfect3masculine singular
Job 8:15 +, etc.;
Imperative masculine plural
Genesis 18:4;
Infinitive constructIsaiah 10:20, suffix 2Chronicles 16:7,8, etc.;
Participle2 Samuel 1:6 +; —
lean, with
upon,
2 Samuel 1:6;
2 Kings 5:18;
2 Kings 7:2,17,
against pillars
Judges 16:26, house
Job 8:15 (figurative);
Genesis 18:4 (J); poetic of cliff,
Numbers 21:15leans to (upon)
the border of Moab;
lean (figurative = trust) upon, person king
Isaiah 10:20;
Ezekiel 29:7; 2Chronicles 16:7;
Micah 3:11;
Isaiah 10:20; 2Chronicles 13:18; 2 Chronicles 14:10; 2 Chronicles 16:7,8;
Isaiah 50:10; absolute
Job 24:23;
Isaiah 31:1; with abstract noun
Isaiah 30:12;
Proverbs 3:5.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe verb translated variously as “lean,” “rest,” “rely,” or “trust” appears twenty-two times in the Old Testament. Whether describing a literal physical posture or a spiritual disposition, the word always pictures something—or someone—receiving weight it must bear. The contexts fall naturally into two broad categories: tangible support and figurative reliance. Within these, Scripture contrasts the sure support found in the LORD with the unreliability of every other prop.
Literal Physical Support
1. Personal posture. Abraham’s guests are invited to “rest under the tree” (Genesis 18:4). Saul is found “leaning on his spear” before his death (2 Samuel 1:6). Samson asks to “feel the pillars on which the house rests, so that I can lean against them” (Judges 16:26).
2. Architectural or topographical support. The ancient Song of the Wars of the LORD speaks of ravines that “lean toward the border of Moab” (Numbers 21:15). Job notes the fragility of a spider’s web that a wicked man “leans on” for safety (Job 8:15).
3. Social custom. Soldiers and officials physically support their superiors: Naaman’s master “leans on my arm” in the temple of Rimmon (2 Kings 5:18); an officer on whom the king “leaned” mocks Elisha (2 Kings 7:2) and later dies at the city gate (2 Kings 7:17).
These literal scenes prepare the reader to understand the spiritual use of the verb: whatever carries weight must be strong enough to hold it.
Reliance upon God Commended
The Chronicler repeatedly highlights victories that flowed from depending on the LORD:
• “The children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the LORD, the God of their fathers” (2 Chronicles 13:18).
• Asa prayed, “Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You” (2 Chronicles 14:11).
• Hanani reminds Asa of an earlier triumph: “Because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand” (2 Chronicles 16:8).
Proverbs sets the principle in wisdom form: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
Isaiah foresees a purified remnant: “The survivors of the house of Jacob will no longer depend on him who struck them, but will truly rely on the LORD” (Isaiah 10:20). Ultimately, the prophet exhorts the faithful: “Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and lean on his God” (Isaiah 50:10).
Reliance upon Human Power Condemned
Asa’s later years illustrate misplaced trust: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped your hand” (2 Chronicles 16:7). The prophets widen the warning:
• Political alliances: “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses… They do not seek the LORD” (Isaiah 31:1).
• Oppressive structures: “You have trusted in oppression and relied on deceit” (Isaiah 30:12).
• Religious presumption: “Her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, saying, ‘Is not the LORD among us?’” (Micah 3:11).
• Unstable nations: Israel leaned on Egypt, “but when they leaned on you, you shattered and made all their backs strain” (Ezekiel 29:7).
Job’s satire captures the folly: “He leans on his web, but it gives way” (Job 8:15). When the object of trust is weak, the one leaning is exposed.
Pattern in Salvation History
From patriarchs to prophets, the biblical narrative reveals a consistent theme: victory, safety, and covenant blessing come only when the people place their weight on the LORD. Every alternative support—spears, pillars, chariots, foreign kings, wealth, or deceptive religion—ultimately collapses. This pattern culminates in the call of the gospel, where saving faith is likewise portrayed as resting wholly on the finished work of God’s appointed Redeemer.
Ministry Application
1. Preaching. The word furnishes vivid sermon material. Physical scenes (Saul on his spear, Samson on the pillars) illustrate unseen spiritual realities. Exhortations can move naturally from “What are you leaning on?” to “Christ alone bears the full weight of sin and need.”
2. Pastoral care. Counsel grounded inProverbs 3:5 resists the modern temptation to rely on human insight or technique. Believers are urged to transfer dependence from their own understanding to the wisdom and sufficiency of God.
3. Worship and prayer. Corporate prayers may echo Asa’s: “Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You.” Such language keeps the congregation conscious of their absolute dependence on divine grace.
4. Discipleship. Teaching should expose false props—political power, financial security, cultural approval—and train disciples to “lean on their God” even when walking in darkness (Isaiah 50:10).
Conclusion
The recurring verb paints a consistent biblical portrait: life requires something strong enough to bear our weight. Scripture commends and commands one reliable support—Yahweh Himself. All who “lean on” Him find Him faithful; all other supports, sooner or later, give way.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּהִשָּׁ֨עֶנְךָ֜ בהשענך וְאֶשָּׁעֵ֖ן וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּ וְיִשָּׁעֵ֑ן וְיִשָּׁעֵ֖ן וְנִשְׁעַ֖ן וְנִשְׁעַ֗ן וַתִּֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּ וּבְהִֽשָּׁעֲנָ֤ם וּבְהִשָּֽׁעֶנְךָ֥ ואשען ובהשענך ובהשענם והשענו וישען ונשען ותשענו יִשָּׁעֵ֑נוּ יִשָּׁעֵ֣ן יִשָּׁעֵ֣נוּ ישען ישענו לְהִשָּׁעֵ֖ן להשען נִשְׁעֲנ֔וּ נִשְׁעַ֔נּוּ נִשְׁעַ֙נְתָּ֙ נִשְׁעָ֣ן נִשְׁעָ֤ן נִשְׁעָ֨ן נשען נשענו נשענת תִּשָּׁעֵֽן׃ תשען׃ bə·hiš·šā·‘en·ḵā behishShaencha bəhiššā‘enḵā lə·hiš·šā·‘ên lehishshaEn ləhiššā‘ên niš‘ān niš‘annū niš‘antā niš‘ănū niš·‘ă·nū niš·‘ān niš·‘an·nū niš·‘an·tā nishAn nishAnnu nishAnta nishaNu tiš·šā·‘ên tishshaEn tiššā‘ên ū·ḇə·hiš·šā·‘ă·nām ū·ḇə·hiš·šā·‘en·ḵā ūḇəhiššā‘ănām ūḇəhiššā‘enḵā uvehishshaaNam uvehishshaenCha vattishshaaNu veeshshaEn vehishshaaNu venishAn veyishshaEn wat·tiš·šā·‘ă·nū wattiššā‘ănū wə’eššā‘ên wə·’eš·šā·‘ên wə·hiš·šā·‘ă·nū wə·niš·‘an wə·yiš·šā·‘ên wəhiššā‘ănū wəniš‘an wəyiššā‘ên yiš·šā·‘ê·nū yiš·šā·‘ên yishshaEn yishshaEnu yiššā‘ên yiššā‘ênū
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