שָׁכַן (H7931) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁכַן

𐤔𐤊𐤍

shâkan

H7931 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To dwell, settle, reside, or inhabit in a place or among a group. In its primary usage, שָׁכַן (shâkan) conveys the act of dwelling—either in a temporary or settled sense—referring both to humans residing in a location and, in particular, to the presence of YHWH among the Israelites in cultic and theological traditions. The term may denote physical occupancy (such as a person or family living in a tent or house), or the settled presence of a community within a region. In certain contexts, it expresses the continued, enduring presence of YHWH in the midst of his people, particularly in relation to the tabernacle (מִשְׁכָּן), thus acquiring an extended theological nuance.

Semantic Range

to dwell, to reside, to live among, to inhabit, to settle, to encamp, to abide, to remain, to rest (as presence), to make a dwelling, to cause to dwell

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁכן, meaning 'to dwell or settle.' The root underlies a cluster of terms related to dwelling, such as מִשְׁכָּן (tabernacle, 'dwelling-place') and שָׁכֵן (neighbor, literally 'dweller'). Cognate roots in Arabic and Aramaic also convey ideas of deposition, residing, or settling down. The association with שָׁכַב ('to lie down') is by transmission rather than direct derivation; both ultimately relate to occupancy or presence. The root conveys the act of dwelling but the actual lexical senses extend from human habitation to divine indwelling.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite tradition, שָׁכַן is often used for the dwelling of families or tribes, typically in tents, reflecting the nomadic or semi-nomadic context of the patriarchs and early settlement period (e.g., Gen 9:27, Num 24:2). In the narratives of the wilderness wanderings and cultic texts, the verb becomes key for describing YHWH's presence: YHWH 'dwells' (שָׁכַן) among the Israelites, first in the portable sanctuary (the tabernacle, מִשְׁכָּן), signifying his immanent presence without visual representation (Exod 25:8; Num 35:34). During the monarchy, the language of שָׁכַן extends to describe the divine presence in the Jerusalem temple (cf. 1 Kgs 8:12–13), but the Semitic notion of divine indwelling remains distinct from later ideas of sanctity or omnipresence. In post-exilic and Second Temple literature, the derived noun שְׁכִינָה (Shekhinah, not found in the Hebrew Bible) develops as a term for the divine presence, but this reflects later interpretive traditions. English translations such as 'dwell' and 'abide' capture some, but not all, nuances, sometimes missing the sense of divine immanence in cultic texts. Related Hebrew verbs for 'settle' (e.g., יָשַׁב) may have broader connotations (including sitting down or urban settlement), whereas שָׁכַן often carries a stronger emphasis on inhabitation or lasting presence, particularly in theological or cultic contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "dwell" 47 occurrences

"Dwell" best captures the primary and typical sense of שָׁכַן: to reside, inhabit, or have a presence in a place or among a people (including the theological use of YHWH’s presence). It is the most common translation in the P2 data, is natural English, and flexibly covers temporary encamping and settled residence while allowing straightforward inflection for tense/person.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):

"dwellers of" (2x) "dwelling-one of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (apparently akin (by transmission) to שָׁכַב through the idea of lodging; compare סִכְלוּת, שָׁכַם); to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively); abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

שכן (Shekhaneyah) — to dwell, to reside, to settle

Root שכן to dwell, to reside, to settle, to inhabit

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4907	מִשְׁכַּן	his dwelling-place
H4908	מִשְׁכָּן	the dwelling-place
H7932	שְׁכַן	he caused to dwell
H7934	שָׁכֵן	the resident women
H7935	שְׁכַנְיָה	to Yah-dwells

Word Forms

53 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H7931-52`	יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן	yishekon	`HVqi3ms`	shall dwell	he will dwell	he will dwell	14
`H7931-23`	שֹׁכֵ֨ן	shokhen	`HVqrmsa`	dwelling	the one who dwells	the one who dwells	10
`H7931-51`	יִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ	yishekenu	`HVqi3mp`	dwell	they will dwell	they will dwell	9
`H7931-08`	לְ/שַׁכֵּ֤ן	leshaken	`HR/Vpc`	to dwell	to cause to dwell	to cause to dwell	8
`H7931-41`	וְ/שָׁ֣כַנְתִּ֔י	veshakhaneti	`HC/Vqq1cs`	and I will dwell	and I will dwell	and I will dwell	7
`H7931-10`	לִ/שְׁכֹּ֖ן	lishekon	`HR/Vqc`	to dwell	to dwell	to dwell	6
`H7931-28`	תִשְׁכֹּ֖ן	tishekon	`HVqi3fs`	be dwelt in	she will dwell	it will dwell	6
`H7931-35`	וַ/יִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן	vayishekon	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and dwelt	and he dwelt	and it dwelt	5
`H7931-25`	שֹׁכְנִ֖י	shokheni	`HVqrmsc`	of the One who dwells	dwelling-one	dwelling-one of	4
`H7931-39`	וְ/שָׁכַ֣ן	veshakhan	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and he will dwell	and he dwelt	and it dwelt	4
`H7931-14`	שָׁכֵֽן	shakhen	`HVqp3ms`	dwells	he dwelt	he dwelt	3
`H7931-42`	וְ/שָׁכְנ֣וּ	veshakhenu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they will dwell	and they dwelt	and they will dwell	3
`H7931-50`	יִשְׁכָּן	yishekan	`HVqi3ms`	dwells	he will dwell	he will dwell	3
`H7931-06`	הַ/שֹּׁכֵ֖ן	hashokhen	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	that dwells	the dwelling one	the one dwelling	2
`H7931-11`	שָׁכַ֥ן	shakhan	`HVqp3ms`	dwells	he dwelt	he dwelt	2
`H7931-13`	שָׁכַ֣נְתִּי	shakhaneti	`HVqp1cs`	dwell	I dwelt	I dwelt	2
`H7931-15`	שָֽׁכְנָ֖ה	shakhenah	`HVqp3fs`	had-dwelt	she dwelt	it had dwelt	2
`H7931-24`	שֹׁכְנֵ֣י	shokheney	`HVqrmpc`	dwellers	dwelling-ones of	dwellers of	2
`H7931-32`	וַ/יַּשְׁכֵּן֩	vayasheken	`HC/Vhw3ms`	and-he-made-dwell	and he caused to dwell	and he caused to dwell	2
`H7931-53`	יִשְׁכֹּֽנוּ	yishekonu	`HVqi3mp`	shall dwell	they will dwell	they will dwell	2
`H7931-01`	בִּ/שְׁכֹּ֤ן	bishekon	`HR/Vqc`	while dwelling	in dwelling	in the dwelling	1
`H7931-02`	אֶשְׁכָּן	eshekan	`HVqi1cs`	I will dwell	I will dwell	I will dwell	1
`H7931-03`	אֶ֝שְׁכְּנָ֗ה	eshekenah	`HVqh1cs`	I dwell	let me dwell	I dwell	1
`H7931-04`	אֶשְׁכּ֑וֹן	eshekon	`HVqi1cs`	I dwell	I will dwell	I dwell	1
`H7931-05`	הַ/שְּׁכוּנֵ֣י	hashekhuney	`HTd/Vqsmpc`	of the tent-dwellers	the inhabited ones of	the dwellers of	1
`H7931-07`	הַ/שֹּׁכְנִ֖ים	hashokhenim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	who dwell	the dwelling ones	the dwelling ones	1
`H7931-09`	לְ/שָׁכְנִ֣/י	leshakheni	`HR/Vqc/Sp1cs`	that I may dwell	for my dwelling	that I may dwell	1
`H7931-12`	שָׁכַ֬נְתָּ	shakhaneta	`HVqp2ms`	you have dwelt	you have dwelt	you have dwelt	1
`H7931-16`	שָׁכְנ֥וּ	shakhenu	`HVqp3cp`	dwell	they dwelt	they dwelt	1
`H7931-17`	שְׁכָן	shekhan	`HVqv2ms`	dwell	dwelling	dwell	1
`H7931-18`	שְׁכֹ֣ן	shekhon	`HVqv2ms`	dwell	Dwell!	dwell	1
`H7931-19`	שִׁכַּ֧נְתִּֽי	shikaneti	`HVpp1cs`	I made dwell	I caused to dwell	I caused to dwell	1
`H7931-20`	שִׁכֵּ֥ן	shiken	`HVpp3ms`	where he dwelt	he caused to dwell	he caused to dwell	1
`H7931-21`	שכנתי	shkhnty	`HVqrfsc`	O you who dwell	dwelling one	dwelling one	1
`H7931-22`	שֹׁכַנְתְּ֙	shokhanete	`HVqrfsc`	by	dwelling-one of	dwelling-one of	1
`H7931-26`	תַּשְׁכֵּ֖ן	tasheken	`HVhj2ms`	dwell	may you cause to dwell	let dwell	1
`H7931-27`	תִּשְׁכָּן	tishekan	`HVqi3fs`	let dwell	she will dwell	may dwell	1
`H7931-29`	תִּשְׁכֹּֽנָּה	tishekonah	`HVqi3fp`	they will dwell	they will dwell	they will dwell	1
`H7931-30`	וּ/שְׁכֹ֥ן	ushekhon	`HC/Vqv2ms`	and dwell	and dwell	and dwell	1
`H7931-31`	וַ/אֲשַׁכְּנָ֣ה	vaashakenah	`HC/Vph1cs`	and I will let dwell	let me cause to dwell	and I will let dwell	1
`H7931-33`	וַ/יַּשְׁכִּ֥ינוּ	vayashekinu	`HC/Vhw3mp`	and they set up	and they caused to dwell	and they caused to dwell	1
`H7931-34`	וַ/יִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ	vayishekenu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they dwelt	and they dwelt	and they dwelt	1
`H7931-36`	וְ֭/אֶשְׁכּוֹן	veeshekon	`HC/Vqi1cs`	and dwelt	and I will dwell	and I dwelt	1
`H7931-37`	וְ/אֶשְׁכֹּֽנָה	veeshekonah	`HC/Vqh1cs`	and-I-would-lodge	and let me dwell	and I would lodge	1
`H7931-38`	וְ/הִשְׁכַּנְתִּ֤י	vehishekaneti	`HC/Vhq1cs`	and-I-will-cause-to-settle	and I will cause to dwell	and I will cause to dwell	1
`H7931-40`	וְ/שָׁכַ֣נְתְּ	veshakhanete	`HC/Vqq2fs`	and dwell	and you dwelt	and you will dwell	1
`H7931-43`	וְ/שִׁכַּנְתִּ֤י	veshikaneti	`HC/Vpq1cs`	then I will cause you to dwell	and I will cause to dwell	and I will cause to dwell	1
`H7931-44`	וְ/שִׁכְנ֣וּ	veshikhenu	`HC/Vqv2mp`	and dwell	and dwell	and dwell	1
`H7931-45`	וְ/שֹׁ֣כְנֵי	veshokheney	`HC/Vqrmpc`	and dwellers	and dwellers of	and those who dwell in	1
`H7931-46`	וְ/שֹׁכְנֵי/הֶֽם	veshokheneyhem	`HC/Vqrmpc/Sp3mp`	and their inhabitants	and their dwellers	and their inhabitants	1
`H7931-47`	וְ/יִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ	veyishekenu	`HC/Vqi3mp`	and will dwell	and they will dwell	and they will dwell	1
`H7931-48`	וְ/יִשְׁכֹּ֖ן	veyishekon	`HC/Vqj3ms`	and may he dwell	may he dwell	and may he dwell	1
`H7931-49`	יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן	yasheken	`HVhj3ms`	let him lay	may he cause to dwell	let him lay	1

Occurrences in Scripture

129 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H7931-32`	Genesis 3:24	וַ/יַּשְׁכֵּן֩	vayasheken	`HC/Vhw3ms`	and he stationed	and he caused to dwell	and he caused to dwell
`H7931-48`	Genesis 9:27	וְ/יִשְׁכֹּ֖ן	veyishekon	`HC/Vqj3ms`	and may he dwell	may he dwell	and may he dwell
`H7931-23`	Genesis 14:13	שֹׁכֵ֨ן	shokhen	`HVqrmsa`	was dwelling	the one who dwells	the one who dwells
`H7931-52`	Genesis 16:12	יִשְׁכֹּֽן	yishekon	`HVqi3ms`	he shall live	he will dwell	he will dwell
`H7931-34`	Genesis 25:18	וַ/יִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ	vayishekenu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they dwelt	and they dwelt	and they dwelt
`H7931-18`	Genesis 26:2	שְׁכֹ֣ן	shekhon	`HVqv2ms`	dwell	Dwell!	dwell
`H7931-01`	Genesis 35:22	בִּ/שְׁכֹּ֤ן	bishekon	`HR/Vqc`	while dwelling	in dwelling	in the dwelling
`H7931-52`	Genesis 49:13	יִשְׁכֹּ֑ן	yishekon	`HVqi3ms`	he shall dwell	he will dwell	he will dwell
`H7931-35`	Exodus 24:16	וַ/יִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן	vayishekon	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and dwelt	and he dwelt	and it dwelt
`H7931-41`	Exodus 25:8	וְ/שָׁכַנְתִּ֖י	veshakhaneti	`HC/Vqq1cs`	and I will dwell	and I will dwell	and I will dwell
`H7931-41`	Exodus 29:45	וְ/שָׁ֣כַנְתִּ֔י	veshakhaneti	`HC/Vqq1cs`	And I will dwell	and I will dwell	and I will dwell
`H7931-09`	Exodus 29:46	לְ/שָׁכְנִ֣/י	leshakheni	`HR/Vqc/Sp1cs`	that I may dwell	for my dwelling	that I may dwell
`H7931-11`	Exodus 40:35	שָׁכַ֥ן	shakhan	`HVqp3ms`	settled	he dwelt	he dwelt
`H7931-06`	Leviticus 16:16	הַ/שֹּׁכֵ֣ן	hashokhen	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	that dwells	the dwelling one	the one dwelling
`H7931-23`	Numbers 5:3	שֹׁכֵ֥ן	shokhen	`HVqrmsa`	dwell	the one who dwells	the one who dwells
`H7931-50`	Numbers 9:17	יִשְׁכָּן	yishekan	`HVqi3ms`	it-abode	he will dwell	it will dwell
`H7931-52`	Numbers 9:18	יִשְׁכֹּ֧ן	yishekon	`HVqi3ms`	it abode	he will dwell	it dwelled
`H7931-10`	Numbers 9:22	לִ/שְׁכֹּ֣ן	lishekon	`HR/Vqc`	to abide	to dwell	to dwell
`H7931-35`	Numbers 10:12	וַ/יִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן	vayishekon	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and it rested	and he dwelt	and it dwelt
`H7931-08`	Numbers 14:30	לְ/שַׁכֵּ֥ן	leshaken	`HR/Vpc`	to dwell	to cause to dwell	to cause to dwell
`H7931-52`	Numbers 23:9	יִשְׁכֹּ֔ן	yishekon	`HVqi3ms`	dwells	he will dwell	he will dwell
`H7931-23`	Numbers 24:2	שֹׁכֵ֖ן	shokhen	`HVqrmsa`	dwelling	the one who dwells	the one who dwells
`H7931-23`	Numbers 35:34	שֹׁכֵ֣ן	shokhen	`HVqrmsa`	dwell	the one who dwells	the one who dwells
`H7931-23`	Numbers 35:34	שֹׁכֵ֕ן	shokhen-2	`HVqrmsa`	dwelling	the one who dwells	the one who dwells
`H7931-08`	Deuteronomy 12:11	לְ/שַׁכֵּ֤ן	leshaken	`HR/Vpc`	to cause to dwell	to cause to dwell	to cause to dwell
`H7931-08`	Deuteronomy 14:23	לְ/שַׁכֵּ֣ן	leshaken	`HR/Vpc`	to establish	to cause to dwell	to cause to dwell
`H7931-08`	Deuteronomy 16:2	לְ/שַׁכֵּ֥ן	leshaken	`HR/Vpc`	to make dwell	to cause to dwell	to cause to dwell
`H7931-08`	Deuteronomy 16:6	לְ/שַׁכֵּ֣ן	leshaken	`HR/Vpc`	to dwell	to cause to dwell	to cause to dwell
`H7931-08`	Deuteronomy 16:11	לְ/שַׁכֵּ֥ן	leshaken	`HR/Vpc`	to cause to dwell	to cause to dwell	to cause to dwell
`H7931-08`	Deuteronomy 26:2	לְ/שַׁכֵּ֥ן	leshaken	`HR/Vpc`	to cause to dwell	to cause to dwell	to cause to dwell
`H7931-52`	Deuteronomy 33:12	יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן	yishekon	`HVqi3ms`	shall dwell	he will dwell	he will dwell
`H7931-14`	Deuteronomy 33:12	שָׁכֵֽן	shakhen	`HVqp3ms`	dwells	he dwelt	he dwelt
`H7931-25`	Deuteronomy 33:16	שֹׁכְנִ֖י	shokheni	`HVqrmsc`	of the One who dwells	dwelling-one	dwelling-one of
`H7931-14`	Deuteronomy 33:20	שָׁכֵ֔ן	shakhen	`HVqp3ms`	he crouches	he dwelt	he dwelt
`H7931-35`	Deuteronomy 33:28	וַ/יִּשְׁכֹּן֩	vayishekon	`HC/Vqw3ms`	And Israel dwelt	and he dwelt	and it dwelt
`H7931-33`	Joshua 18:1	וַ/יַּשְׁכִּ֥ינוּ	vayashekinu	`HC/Vhw3mp`	and they set up	and they caused to dwell	and they caused to dwell
`H7931-11`	Joshua 22:19	שָֽׁכַן	shakhan	`HVqp3ms`	dwells	he dwelt	he dwelt
`H7931-14`	Judges 5:17	שָׁכֵ֔ן	shakhen	`HVqp3ms`	stayed	he dwelt	he dwelt
`H7931-52`	Judges 5:17	יִשְׁכּֽוֹן	yishekon	`HVqi3ms`	remained	he will dwell	he will dwell
`H7931-05`	Judges 8:11	הַ/שְּׁכוּנֵ֣י	hashekhuney	`HTd/Vqsmpc`	of the tent-dwellers	the inhabited ones of	the dwellers of
`H7931-39`	2 Samuel 7:10	וְ/שָׁכַ֣ן	veshakhan	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and it will dwell	and he dwelt	and it will dwell
`H7931-41`	1 Kings 6:13	וְ/שָׁ֣כַנְתִּ֔י	veshakhaneti	`HC/Vqq1cs`	And I will dwell	and I will dwell	and I will dwell
`H7931-10`	1 Kings 8:12	לִ/שְׁכֹּ֖ן	lishekon	`HR/Vqc`	to dwell	to dwell	to dwell
`H7931-06`	Isaiah 8:18	הַ/שֹּׁכֵ֖ן	hashokhen	`HTd/Vqrmsa`	the-one-dwelling	the dwelling one	the one dwelling
`H7931-28`	Isaiah 13:20	תִשְׁכֹּ֖ן	tishekon	`HVqi3fs`	it-will-be-lived-in	she will dwell	it will dwell
`H7931-42`	Isaiah 13:21	וְ/שָׁ֤כְנוּ	veshakhenu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and they will dwell	and they dwelt	and they will dwell
`H7931-45`	Isaiah 18:3	וְ/שֹׁ֣כְנֵי	veshokheney	`HC/Vqrmpc`	and dwellers	and dwellers of	and those who dwell in
`H7931-24`	Isaiah 26:19	שֹׁכְנֵ֣י	shokheney	`HVqrmpc`	dwellers	dwelling-ones of	dwellers of
`H7931-39`	Isaiah 32:16	וְ/שָׁכַ֥ן	veshakhan	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and justice will dwell	and he dwelt	and judgment will dwell
`H7931-23`	Isaiah 33:5	שֹׁכֵ֖ן	shokhen	`HVqrmsa`	He dwells	the one who dwells	the one who dwells

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