שֶׁ֖קֶל

𐤔𐤒𐤋

sheqel

shekel

from שָׁקַל; probably a weight; used as a commercial standard; shekel.

H8255

Numbers 7:49 · Word #12

Lexicon H8255

Lemmaשֶׁקֶל
Lemma (Paleo)𐤔𐤒𐤋
Transliterationsheqel
Strong'sH8255
In-contextshekel

Morphology HNcmsa All morphology codes

Part of Speech N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea
Subtype c — Common — Common noun
Gender m — Masculine — Masculine
Number s — Singular — Singular
State a — Absolute — The noun stands independently

SIBI-P1 H8255-07

a weighing-standard

Rootשקל (sh-q-l)
Core Meaningsto weigh, to measure by weight, to assess, to evaluate
Semantic Rangea unit of weight, a standard measure for precious metals, a monetary unit based on weight, by extension a coin of set value
Conceptual SignificanceThe sheqel functioned as a standard of economic fairness in Israel, grounding commerce in weighed value rather than arbitrary pricing. Its root connection to "weighing" reinforces biblical themes of just measures, honest scales, and divine evaluation according to true weight.
Morphological NotesHebrew noun, common masculine singular (absolute or construct state). From the verbal root שקל (Qal: to weigh). In construct it governs a following noun (e.g., "a weighing-standard of silver").
Rendering RationaleThe noun שֶׁקֶל derives from the root שקל, "to weigh." Rendering it as "a weighing-standard" preserves the concrete idea of something established by weight rather than merely naming a coin. The morphology indicates a masculine singular noun (absolute or construct), which is reflected by the singular English form.

AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)

Words from Root שקל (to weigh, to measure by weight, to assess, to evaluate)

SILEX Code Transliteration SIBI-P1
H831-01 asheqelon Weighing-Place
H4948-01 bamisheqal by the weight
H4948-02 bemisheqal by weight-measure

Word Usage (88 occurrences of H8255)

Location Form Transliteration Meaning
Genesis 23:15 שֶֽׁקֶל sheqel shekels
Genesis 23:16 שֶׁ֣קֶל sheqel shekels
Exodus 21:32 שְׁקָלִ֗ים sheqalim shekels