← H5532 H5534 →

סָכַן

𐤎𐤊𐤍

çâkan

H5533 verb

SILEX Entry

Root סכן to be useful, to be experienced, to be accustomed, to associate closely

Definition

(qal) To be useful, skillful, or experienced; to be accustomed or habituated to something. (piel/hiphil) To make familiar, to train, to cause to be accustomed, sometimes to associate with, or become attached. The verb centers around the idea of becoming familiar, experienced, or skillful, and thus useful or accustomed.

Semantic Range

to be of use, to be useful, to be beneficial, to be skilled, to be experienced, to become familiar, to be habituated, to make accustomed, to train, to associate closely

Root / Etymology

The root is סכן (sin-kaf-nun). Its basic sense is 'to be of use, to be useful, to be experienced.' The precise original sense is not fully certain, but cognate evidence in other Semitic languages suggests links with 'to be useful/fitting.' The connection to 'to cut' or 'damage' as posited in Strong’s is linguistically weak and likely erroneous. This verb is not a denominative from שַׂכִּין (knife), as earlier suggested.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, סָכַן occurs mainly in poetic or wisdom literature (e.g., Job, Psalms) and does not bear the meanings 'to cut' or 'to damage.' Its principal use is for someone who is experienced, skilled, or familiar—either through habit or thorough knowledge of something (cf. Job 22:2, 'Can a man be of use [סָכַן] to El?'). The verb can also take on the causative sense 'to make familiar' or 'to train' (cf. hiphil/causative forms). The idea of 'becoming poor' or 'making poor' does not authentically belong to this root but may have arisen from confusion with similar roots. In the late biblical and post-biblical period, the root develops connotations around association, friendship, or making oneself useful within a group. English translations often render the root too narrowly as 'profit,' 'benefit,' or 'usefulness,' missing the connotations of skill, experience, or relationship-building. Contrast with roots conveying harm or damage, e.g., חבל (to destroy), which are semantically distinct.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably a denominative from שַׂכִּין; properly, to cut, i.e. damage; also to grow (causatively, make) poor; endanger, impoverish.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

סכן (s-k-n) — to be useful, to be experienced, to be accustomed, to associate closely

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4542 מִסְכֵּן the dependent poor man
H4544 מִסְכֵּנֻת in poverty
H5532 סָכַן to cause to be accustomed

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5533-02 יִסָּ֥כֶן yisakhen HVNi3ms is endangered he will become accustomed 1
H5533-01 הַֽ/מְסֻכָּ֣ן hamesukan HTd/VPsmsa the one impoverished the trained one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5533-01 Isaiah 40:20 הַֽ/מְסֻכָּ֣ן hamesukan HTd/VPsmsa the one impoverished the trained one
H5533-02 Ecclesiastes 10:9 יִסָּ֥כֶן yisakhen HVNi3ms is endangered he will become accustomed
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