The Expanded Meaning of "To Sit" in Hebrew

“I am now going to take exception to the present translation of the Bible in relation to these matters. Our latitude and longitude can be determined in the original Hebrew with far greater accuracy than in the English version. There is a grand distinction between the actual meaning of the prophets and the present translation.”

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 290-291

In a previous post I mentioned that the verb “to sit (down)” in Hebrew, lah-SHEH-veht, has a much broader meaning than the same verb does in English. The English verb only relates to the actual action of sitting down, but in Hebrew the verb includes the added meanings “to dwell or reside”. The implication is that scriptural invitations from God for us to sit mean that we are being invited to remain with Him permanently. Notice that the Hebrew verb used in the following Old Testament verses for “to sit” and “to dwell” are the same (lah-SHEH-veht), so they all use the same root of shin-vet (sh-v) in various conjugated forms.

“Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down (shvee שְּׁבִי), O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.” (Isaiah 52:2)

 “And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt (veh yeh-SHEHV וַיֵּשֶׁב) by the well Lahai-roi.” (Genesis 25:11)

“I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit (i.e., ‘dwell, stay’, loh eh-SHEHV לֹא אֵשֵׁב) with the wicked.” (Psalms 26:5)

“If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit (yesh’-VOO יֵשְׁבוּ) upon thy throne for evermore.” (Psalms 132:12, emphasis added)

But this verb in Hebrew also carries an additional connotation that reveals itself in a few related words. The Hebrew word for “tribe”, “clan”, or (my preferred term in English) “an extended family”, is SHEH-veht (שֶׁבֶט), which is derived from the verb “to sit (down)”. The relationship between the verb and this noun becomes clear when we consider that in ancient Middle Eastern culture usually just family members, immediate and extended, routinely sat together in council or in social gatherings. So when the Lord uses the verb "to sit" as an invitation, He means that we are all invited to dwell with Him as part of His Eternal family.

In New Testament writings, the Apostles often referenced this expanded meaning. See Ephesians 2:6 as an example.

“And (Christ) hath raised us up together, and made us sit (i.e., dwell) together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”