שׁוּק
𐤔𐤅𐤒
shûwq
H7784 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A public thoroughfare or open street, typically referring to main streets or plazas where trade, social interaction, and communal gatherings took place; occasionally denotes broader open areas in urban settings. The term connotes a relatively wide and accessible public area in ancient cities, distinguished from narrower alleyways.
Semantic Range
street, thoroughfare, wide public way, plaza, marketplace, open market area
Root / Etymology
Root שוק, commonly associated with the idea of 'running, rushing, or movement associated with the legs.' As a noun, שׁוּק likely developed a sense of 'place trodden underfoot,' indicating a commonly traversed route, thus 'street' or 'marketplace.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, שׁוּק designates main city streets or open public spaces, often where commerce or social assembly occurred (e.g. Nahum 2:5[4]). In ancient Israelite and Near Eastern urban geography, such spaces were the sites of buying, selling, and legal proclamations, as distinct from narrower residential lanes. Some later translations and traditions render שׁוּק as 'marketplace' or 'square,' reflecting its role as a place of public interaction. In post-biblical literature and developing urban vocabulary, related Aramaic forms refer explicitly to markets, further broadening the term's functional scope.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שׁוּק; a street (as run over); street.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שוק (sh-w-q) — run, rush, stride, move swiftly
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7783 | שׁוּק | they caused to overflow |
| H7785 | שׁוֹק | the lower leg |
| H8243 | שָׁק | his lower legs |
| H8669 | תְּשׁוּקָה | your longing |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7784-02 |
בַּ֭/שּׁוּק | bashuq | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the street | in the public thoroughfare | 2 |
H7784-01 |
בַּ/שְּׁוָקִים֙ | bashevaqim | HRd/Ncmpa |
in the streets | in public thoroughfares | 1 |
H7784-03 |
בָ/שּׁ֖וּק | vashuq | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the street | in the public thoroughfare | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7784-02 |
Proverbs 7:8 | בַּ֭/שּׁוּק | bashuq | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the street | in the public thoroughfare |
H7784-01 |
Song of Songs 3:2 | בַּ/שְּׁוָקִים֙ | bashevaqim | HRd/Ncmpa |
in the streets | in public thoroughfares |
H7784-02 |
Ecclesiastes 12:4 | בַּ/שּׁ֔וּק | bashuq | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the street | in the public thoroughfare |
H7784-03 |
Ecclesiastes 12:5 | בָ/שּׁ֖וּק | vashuq | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the street | in the public thoroughfare |