סֻכּוֹת

𐤎𐤊𐤅𐤕

Sukot

H5523 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Proper noun: name of several locations attested in the Hebrew Bible; also plural of 'sukkah,' meaning temporary shelter or booth. As a toponym, 'Succoth' refers to a place east of the Jordan associated with Israelite settlement and events in the patriarchal, exodus, and judges periods, as well as a location in Egypt marking stages of the exodus journey. Lexically, the term relates to temporary structures made from interwoven branches, used for shelter, livestock pens, or ritual festival usage.

Semantic Range

temporary shelter, booth, hut, livestock pen; proper noun: location named for such shelters in Canaan and Egypt; by extension, designation of the pilgrimage festival Sukkot (later usage)

Root / Etymology

From the root סכך (s-k-k), 'to weave, cover, protect,' forming the noun סֻכָּה (sukkah), 'booth, hut, shelter.' סֻכּוֹת (Sukkot/Succoth) is the plural form, and when used as a place name likely refers to locations where such booths or enclosures characterized the site or its historical usage.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In historical context, the primary referent of סֻכּוֹת is geographical: (1) a city east of the Jordan River, prominent in Jacob's journey, the narratives of Gideon, and post-settlement tribal boundaries; (2) a departure point in Egypt for the Israelites during the exodus; (3) a place with the same or similar name within the territory allotted to ancient Israelite tribes. The lexical meaning of 'booths' underlies the toponym, suggesting these places were associated with temporary shelters (for livestock, people, or travelers). Later, 'sukkot' became culturally and religiously significant as the term for the festival of booths (Sukkot), but this development postdates the earliest biblical references as place names. English translation 'Succoth' presents a transliterated place name, but its underlying meaning as 'booths' may be obscured in translation. Standard English Bibles rarely clarify the etymological sense tied to the structures, instead presenting the place name as a proper noun. Related terms: סֻכָּה (sukkah, 'booth'), סֻכּוֹת (sukkot, 'booths' or location), distinguished from other terms for dwelling (e.g., בית, 'house').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or סֻכֹּת; plural of סֻכָּה; booths; Succoth, the name of a place in Egypt and of three in Palestine; Succoth.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

סכך (Sikut) — to cover, to shield, to protect

Root סכך to weave, to cover, to protect
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4329 מֵיסָךְ sheltering portico of
H4539 מָסָךְ the screening-curtain
H4540 מְסֻכָּה your shelter
H5519 סָךְ dense throng
H5520 סֹךְ in his woven-shelter

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5523-03 סֻכּ֖וֹת sukot HNp Succoth woven shelters Sukot 12
H5523-02 מִ/סֻּכֹּ֑ת misukot HR/Np from Succoth from Sukkot from Sukot 2
H5523-04 סֻכֹּ֑תָ/ה sukotah HNp/Sd to Succoth Booths (Succoth) Sukot 2
H5523-01 בְּ/סֻכֹּֽת besukot HR/Np at Succoth in Booths in Sukot 1
H5523-05 וְ/סֻכּ֣וֹת vesukot HC/Np and Succoth Booths and Sukot 1

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5523-04 Genesis 33:17 סֻכֹּ֔תָ/ה sukotah HNp/Sd to Succoth Booths (Succoth) Sukot
H5523-03 Genesis 33:17 סֻכּֽוֹת sukot-2 HNp Succoth woven shelters Sukot
H5523-04 Exodus 12:37 סֻכֹּ֑תָ/ה sukotah HNp/Sd to Succoth Booths (Succoth) Sukot
H5523-02 Exodus 13:20 מִ/סֻּכֹּ֑ת misukot HR/Np from Succoth from Sukkot from Sukot
H5523-01 Numbers 33:5 בְּ/סֻכֹּֽת besukot HR/Np at Succoth in Booths in Sukot
H5523-02 Numbers 33:6 מִ/סֻּכֹּ֑ת misukot HR/Np from Succoth from Sukkot from Sukot
H5523-05 Joshua 13:27 וְ/סֻכּ֣וֹת vesukot HC/Np and Succoth Booths and Sukot
H5523-03 Judges 8:5 סֻכּ֔וֹת sukot HNp Succoth woven shelters Sukot
H5523-03 Judges 8:6 סֻכּ֔וֹת sukot HNp Succoth woven shelters Sukot
H5523-03 Judges 8:8 סֻכּֽוֹת sukot HNp Succoth woven shelters Sukot
H5523-03 Judges 8:14 סֻכּ֖וֹת sukot HNp Succoth woven shelters Sukot
H5523-03 Judges 8:14 סֻכּוֹת֙ sukot-2 HNp Succoth woven shelters Sukot
H5523-03 Judges 8:15 סֻכּ֔וֹת sukot HNp Succoth woven shelters Sukot
H5523-03 Judges 8:16 סֻכּֽוֹת sukot HNp Succoth woven shelters Sukot
H5523-03 1 Kings 7:46 סֻכּ֖וֹת sukot HNp Succoth woven shelters Sukot
H5523-03 Psalms 60:8 סֻכּ֣וֹת sukot HNp of-Succoth woven shelters Sukot
H5523-03 Psalms 108:8 סֻכּ֣וֹת sukot HNp of Succoth woven shelters Sukot
H5523-03 2 Chronicles 4:17 סֻכּ֖וֹת sukot HNp Succoth woven shelters Sukot