שְׁטוּת, (שָׁטָה) madness; folly. Num. R. s. 9⁶ (ref. to Num. V, 12) תשטה תשטה כתיב בשין … עד שיכנס בה רוח ש׳ (not בה הש׳ …) it is written with Shin so that you may read thishṭeh, to intimate that a woman will not go astray, unless the spirit of insanity has entered into her; Sot. 3ᵃ אין אדם עובר עבירה … רוח ש׳ no man sins unless &c. Midr. Till. to Ps. IX, v. מוֹרָא II. Y. Naz. IX, 57ᵈ אדיין … עומד בשְׁטוּתוֹ Bar P. still insists upon his foolish opinion. Bekh. 5ᵇ (play on שטים, Num. XXV, 1) שנתעסקו בדברי ש׳ they were engaged in foolish things; Snh. 106ᵃ. Midr. Till. to Ps. XXXIV (ref. to Koh. III, 11) כל מה … אבל הש׳ וכ׳ whatever thou hast made, thou hast made well, but insanity, which thou hast created, of what avail is it before thee?; a. fr.