שָׁכַב
shâkab · H7901 · Hebrew · 212 occurrences
Meanings
-
to lie, to lie down
State or action by which a human being or animal is in or assumes a horizontal position; in order to rest, sleep, or have sex with someone, or because of being unable to stand up as a result of weakness or death; sometimes associated with security
ExamplesGenesis 19:4 Before they lay down, the men of the city—the men of Sodom—surrounded the house, both young and old, all the people from every quarter;
-
to lay down, to make lie down, to tilt, to tip over
Causative action by which a human being or deity causes an object or human being to assume a horizontal position
Examples2 Samuel 8:2 And he defeated Moab, and measured them with the line, making them lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and a full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, bringing tribute.
-
to lie with > to sleep with, to have sex with
Literally: to lie down with or next to someone; hence: action by which humans have sexual relations with other humans or animals
ExamplesGenesis 19:32 “Come, let’s make our father drink wine, and let’s sleep with him so that we may keep our family alive through our father.”
-
to lie down with one's fathers > to rest with one's ancestors
Literally: to lie down with one's fathers; hence: process by which a human being dies and so shares the fate and destination of his/her ancestors; only said of people in positions demanding respect, such as patriarchs and kings
ExamplesGenesis 47:30 but when I lie down with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.”
Deuteronomy 31:16 The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, you are about to lie down with your fathers; and this people will arise and play the prostitute with the foreign gods of the land into the midst of which they are going, and they will abandon Me and break My covenant which I have made with them.
2 Samuel 7:12 “When your days are finished and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from you, and I will establish his kingdom.
-
to rest > to stop, to give up, to have respite
Literally: to rest; hence: state in which an event stops taking place, as if in need of rest
ExamplesJob 30:17 “At night it pierces my bones within me, And my gnawing pains do not rest.
Ecclesiastes 2:23 Because all his days his activity is painful and irritating; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is futility.
-
to lie down in > to accept, to bear
Literally: to lie down in a certain state; hence: acts by which a human being accepts and acquiesces in a certain state
ExamplesJeremiah 3:25 “Let us lie down in our shame, and let our humiliation cover us; for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day. And we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”
How it’s used In 9 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Who or what does itSubject
209 occurrences in 64 groups
- Not stated: he, she or it 57
- Not stated: you (one person) 24
- Not stated (participle) 14
- Not stated: they 10
- Not stated (infinitive) 9
- Not stated: I 8
- Other words · 51 groups that occur once or twice (67) 67
What it acts on, or what is saidObject
8 occurrences in 4 groups
- וֹhim 4
- הֶםthem 2
- בֵּןson 1
- נֶבֶלharp, jar 1
With prepositionsPrepositional phrases
151 occurrences in 68 groups
- עִםwith+ אָבfather 38
- עִםwith+ הָher 9
- עַלon, upon, over, against+ מִטָּהcouch 6
- עַלon, upon, over, against+ וֹhim 6
- אֵתwith+ הָher 6
- עִםwith+ אִשָּׁהwoman, wife 5
- Other words · 53 groups that occur once or twice (62) 62
With adverbsAdverbs
22 occurrences in 7 groups
- לֹאnot 8
- שָׁםthere 5
- יַחַדtogether 3
- טֶרֶםbefore 2
- עַתָּהnow 2
- סָבִיבround about, around, on every side 1
Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive
2 occurrences in 2 groups
- חֵיקbosom 1
- קֶבֶרgrave, tomb 1
Named alongside itApposition
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- חָלָלslain, wounded 1
What it doesIt is the subject
6 occurrences in 3 groups
- אָרַרto curse 4
- כָּבַסto wash 1
- מוּתto die 1
What is done to itIt is the object
3 occurrences in 2 groups
- שָׁמַעto hear, to listen, to obey 2
- מָצָאto find 1
After prepositionsPrepositional phrases
12 occurrences in 5 groups
- לto/for 4
- כlike/as 3
- אַחַרafter, behind 2
- מִןfrom 2
- בin/on/with 2
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Near synonyms 1 word
- רָבַע râbaʻ · H7250 · to lie down, to mate, to have intercourse
- Both denote lying down in a sexual context, referring to the act of mating or sexual intercourse. They are distinct Hebrew roots with overlapping sense.
In the other Testament 2 words
- κοιμάω koimáō · G2837 · to sleep, to be asleep, sleep
- κοιμάω (koimáō, G2837) κοιμάω represents the standard Greek rendering of שָׁכַב (shâkab, H7901) שָׁכַב in LXX contexts, covering both literal sleep/lying down and the euphemistic sense of death ('to decease'), matching the Hebrew's core semantic range of reclining, sleeping, and resting.
- καθεύδω katheúdō · G2518 · to sleep, to be asleep, sleep
- καθεύδω (katheúdō, G2518) specifically denotes lying down to sleep or the state of sleeping, while שָׁכַב (shâkab, H7901) has broader semantic range including non-sleep contexts of lying down, or sexual intercourse.
Semantic domains 6 entries
- Stance002001001061
- The verb's physical sense of lying down, used of the men of Sodom surrounding Lot's house "before they lay down" for the night (Genesis 19:4).
- Dead002001001018
- This domain reflects the well-known idiomatic use of this verb for death ("to lie down with one's fathers"), not directly shown by this entry's own five sampled citations, which describe Lot's daughters' actions rather than death.
- Copulate002003001004
- The verb's sexual sense, directly shown in Lot's daughters' plan to "sleep with" their father to preserve their family line (Genesis 19:32, 19:33, 19:34, 19:35).
- Space002002001017
- The spatial sense of lying down in a place, shown alongside the Stance domain above in the men of Sodom lying down for the night (Genesis 19:4), not sharply distinguished from it in this citation.
- End002003003010
- This domain reflects the "stay" sense named in the gloss (coming to rest or ceasing motion), not directly shown by this entry's own sampled citations.
- Bear002003003003
- This domain reflects a further extension of the gloss's broad range ("take rest," "cast down"), not directly shown by this entry's own sampled citations.
Word family 5 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H7901. shakab שָׁכַב (LagBN 63) verb lie down (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; שכב Ecclus…
שָׁכַב (LagBN 63) verb lie down (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; שכב Ecclus 47:23 (in death), משכב bed Ecclesiasticus 40:5; Ecclesiasticus 47:20d, = death bed Ecclesiasticus 46:19; Phoenician משכב שכב, (see ׳מ
1 below), Lzb375; Ethiopic lie, Aramaic שְׁכַב, ; Nabataean משכבא couch; Arabic only pour out (water, tears), be poured out (compare
Hiph`il below, and LagBN 63)); —
Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳שׁ Gen 26:10 +, etc.; Imperfect יִשְׁכַּב Gen 30:15 +, 3 masculine plural יִשְׁכְּבֻן 1Sa 2:22, יִשְׁכָּב֑וּן Jos 2:8; Job 30:17, etc.; Imperative masculine singular שְׁכַב 2Sa 13:5; Eze 4:4, שִׁכְבָה Gen 39:7, Gen 39:12, etc.; Infinitive absolute שָׁכֹב Lev 15:24; construct שְׁכַב 1Ki 1:21 +, suffix שָׁכְבוֺ Rth 3:4, שִׁכְבָהּ Gen 19:33, Gen 19:35, שָׁכְבְּךָ Deu 6:7 Deu 6:2t.; Participle שֹׁכֵב Gen 28:13 +, feminine שֹׁכֶ֫בֶת Mic 7:5; Rth 3:8, etc.; —
1 lie down (sometimes opposed to הֵקִיץ קוּם,):
a. Jdg 5:27 (prostrated by blow, + נָפַל כָּרַע,).
b. to sleep, Gen 19:4 (J), Gen 28:11 (E), 1Sa 3:5; Deu 7:7; Pro 6:22 + often; read וַיִּשְׁכַּב also (for וַיַּשְׁכֵּם) 1Sa 9:26 ᵐ5 Th We Dr and modern; ׳שׁ + יָשֵׁן sleep 1Ki 19:5; Psa 3:6; Psalm 4:9, compare Pro 3:24 (twice in verse), + נִרְדָּם Jon 1:5; = be lying 1Sa 3:2-3, 1Sa 26:5 (all בְּ local), 1Sa 26:7; 1Sa 4:5 (accusative of congnate meaning with verb noon-repose), 2Sa 13:8, compare בְּלֶביָֿם שֹׁכֵב Pro 23:34, of two lying (together, for warmth) Ecc 4:11; + be sleeping 1Sa 26:7 = keep lying, with עַד Jdg 16:3; 1Sa 3:15; Rth 3:13; Pro 6:9; emphasis on resting, Lev 26:6 (H), Job 11:18; token of mourning, אָ֑רְצָה וְשָׁכַב (וְלָן) 2Sa 12:16, compare 2Sa 13:21, ׳שׁ בַּשָּׂק 1Ki 21:27, ׳שׁ שְׁפַתָּ֑יִם בֵּין Psa 68:14 (of indolence?); figurative of prostration by disease Psa 41:9; among foes Psa 57:5; of humiliation Jer 3:25; with עַל of thing: land Gen 28:13 (J), usually bed 2Sa 13:5; 1Ki 21:4; Lev 15:4, Lev 15:24, Lev 15:26, compare Lev 15:20, for midday repose 2Sa 4:7.
c. lie on (עַל) one's side Eze 4:4 (twice in verse); Eze 4:6, Eze 4:9 (symbolic).
d. lie, עַל person 1Ki 3:19 (fatally), 2Ki 4:34 (to revive).
e. lie בְּחֵיק, of lamb (i.e. be cherished) 2Sa 12:3, of woman Mic 7:5 (intimacy), 1Ki 1:2 (vital warmth); lie down for copulation Gen 19:33, Gen 19:35 (of woman, see
3 below; both opposed to קוּם).
2 = lodge (for night), ׳שׁ (שָׁ֫מָּהׅ Jos 2:1 (E), 2Ki 4:11, compare 2Ki 9:16 (yet perhaps = lie ill), Lev 14:47 (בְּ local).
3 of sexual relations, lie with: subject man, with עִם Gen 30:15-16, Gen 39:7, Gen 39:12, Gen 39:14 (J), Exo 22:13 (E), Deu 22:22 Deu 22:8t. Deuteronomy; 2Sa 11:4, 2Sa 11:11; 2Sa 12:11, 2Sa 12:24; Lev 15:33; with אֶת feminine with (אֹתָהּ ᵑ0, etc., originally אִתָּהּ, etc., see Dr2Sa 13:14 and II. אֵת, p. 85:a above), Gen 26:10; Gen 34:2, Gen 34:7; Gen 35:22 (all J), 1Sa 2:22 (omitted by ᵐ5 and modern), 2Sa 13:14; Eze 23:8 (figurative), Lev 15:24 (יִשְׁכַּב שָׁכֹב), Num 5:19, also (with accusative of congnate meaning with verb שִׁכְבַתזֶֿרַע) Num 5:13; Lev 15:18; Lev 19:20; with accusative (suffix) feminine Deu 28:30 Kt (see [ שָׁגֵל]); with אֵצֶל feminine Gen 39:10 (J); with אֵת of a man (sodomy), Lev 18:22; Lev 20:13 (both H; with accusative of congnate meaning with verb אִשָּׁה מִשְׁכְּבֵי); with עִםבְּֿהֵמָה Deu 27:21; Lev 22:18 (H); subject woman, with עִם of a man Gen 19:32, Gen 19:34, Gen 19:35 (J) 2Sa 13:11; אֵת of a man Gen 19:33-34, (compare 1e above).
4. a. lie down in death, Isa 14:8; Isa 43:17 (opposed to קוּם), Eze 31:18; Eze 32:27-28, Eze 32:29, Eze 32:30; Job 14:12 (opposed to הֵקִיץ קוּם,), ׳שׁ וְאֶשְׁקוֺט Job 3:12; be lying (dead) Isa 51:20; Lam 2:21.
b. especially in phrase ׳שׁ אֲבוֺתָיו עִם lie down with his fathers, of kings 1Ki 1:21; 1Ki 2:10 1Ki 2:35t. Kings Chronicles, compare Gen 47:30 (J) Deu 31:16, and (with אֵת) 2Sa 7:12
c. in grave, בְּבֵיתוֺ Isa 14:18 (opposed to מִקִּבְרְךָ), קֶבֶר שֹׁכְבֵי Psa 88:6; לֶעָפָר Job 7:21, ׳עַלעֿ Job 20:11; Job 21:26; in sh®°ôl Eze 32:21; in Gehenna (?) Isa 50:11.
5 figurative = relax: Job 30:17 my gnawing pains do not sleep; = have rest, שׁ ׳לֹא לִבּוֺ Ecc 2:23.
Niph`al Pu`al = be lain with (sexually; subject woman), only as Qr for Kt [שָׁגֵל]
Niph`al Pu`al q. v.
Hiph`il lay, Perfect3feminine singular הִשְׁכִּיבָה with accusative puer. + בְּחֵיק 1Ki 3:20, so Imperfect3feminine singular suffix וַתַּשְׁכִּיבֵהוּ 1Ki 3:20, compare (עַלמִֿטָּה) 1Ki 17:19; 2Ki 4:21; Infinitive absolute אַ֫רְצָה אוֺתָם הַשְׁכֵּב 2Sa 8:2 making them lie down on ground; Imperfect also lay בַּמִּשְׁכָּב2Ch 16:14 (of burial); יַשְׁכִּיב מִי שָׁמַיִם נִבְלֵי Job 38:37 i.e. tip them so that contents may flow out (compare Arabic above).
Hoph`al Participle מֻשְׁכָּב 2Ki 4:32 laid עַלמִֿטָּה; Perfect consecutive וְהֻשְׁכַּב Eze 32:32 shall be laid (in death), with בְּתוֺךְ and אֵת person (with); so Imperative masculine singular הָשְׁכְּבָה Eze 32:19 (with אֵת person only).
Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain
Topical studies with this word 6 entries
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
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