שָׁכַב

𐤔𐤊𐤁

shâkab

H7901 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׁכב to lie down, to recline, to have sexual union, to die (as euphemism)

Definition

To lie down, with the primary sense of reclining or resting, but frequently also as an idiom for sexual union and as a euphemism for death. Schakab is used for a range of physical states from ordinary rest or sleep, to the act of sleeping together (sexual intercourse), and for dying (particularly 'to lie with ancestors' as an idiom for death). Broader usage includes simply lying down for rest, remaining or staying in a certain position, and lodging for the night.

Semantic Range

to lie down (for rest or sleep), to sleep, to have sexual intercourse, to die (figuratively 'to lie with ancestors'), to stay or lodge, to cast down or lay low, to rest, to remain motionless, to be buried

Root / Etymology

Root שׁ־כ־ב sh-k-b, meaning 'to lie down.' The root primarily signifies the physical action of reclining or prostrating oneself. The various nominal and verbal forms derive consistently from this physical imagery, with extension to social or relational meaning (sexual union, death) based on shared conceptual association throughout Semitic languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁכַב occurs in varied contexts: from describing natural human actions such as sleeping or resting (Gen 28:11; 2 Sam 7:18), to the act of sexual intercourse (Gen 19:33–35, Lev 18, Deut 22:22), and as a standard formulaic euphemism for dying, particularly in the phrase 'to lie with one's ancestors' (e.g., Gen 47:30; 1 Kings 2:10; 2 Kings 20:21). This formula is frequent in Deuteronomistic history to denote burial with earlier generations. The lexical field of שָׁכַב overlaps with other verbs of lying or resting (e.g., שֵׁן 'to sleep,' רָבַץ 'to lie sprawling'), but שָׁכַב is more frequently used for acts that carry legal, relational, or ritual significance (especially sexual acts and death). English translations tend to maintain the physical sense ('lie down') but sometimes obscure the sexual or death idiom. In biblical law, שָׁכַב is a formal term for unlawful sexual acts. In later periods (post-exilic), the formulaic use for death continues. The semantic range narrows in later Hebrew, while ancient Near Eastern parallels (Akkadian šakābu) show similar range.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose); [idiom] at all, cast down, (lover-)lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

שׁכב (sh-k-b) — to lie down, to recline, to sleep, to have sexual union, to die (as euphemism)

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4903 מִשְׁכַּב your lying-place
H7903 שְׁכֹבֶת your sexual lying

Word Forms

62 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7901-40 וַ/יִּשְׁכַּ֖ב vayishekav HC/Vqw3ms and he lay down and he lay down 54
H7901-57 יִשְׁכַּ֤ב yishekav HVqi3ms lies he will lie down 17
H7901-24 שֹׁכֵ֣ב shokhev HVqrmsa lying down one who lies down 17
H7901-30 תִּשְׁכַּ֥ב tishekav HVqi3fs you shall lie she will lie down 11
H7901-15 שָׁכַ֞ב shakhav HVqp3ms lay he lay down 10
H7901-48 וְ/שָׁכַ֣ב veshakhav HC/Vqp3ms and lies and he lay down 8
H7901-11 לִ/שְׁכַּב֙ lishekav HR/Vqc to lie down to lie down 7
H7901-21 שְׁכָ֑ב shekhav HVqv2ms lie down Lie down! 7
H7901-19 שָׁכְב֥וּ shakhevu HVqp3cp lie they lay down 5
H7901-37 וַ/תִּשְׁכַּ֣ב vatishekav HC/Vqw3fs and she lay down and she lay down 4

Occurrences in Scripture

213 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7901-59 Genesis 19:4 יִשְׁכָּבוּ֒ yishekavu HVqi3mp they lay down they will lie down
H7901-47 Genesis 19:32 וְ/נִשְׁכְּבָ֣ה venishekevah HC/Vqh1cp and we will lie and let us lie down
H7901-37 Genesis 19:33 וַ/תִּשְׁכַּ֣ב vatishekav HC/Vqw3fs lay and she lay down
H7901-02 Genesis 19:33 בְּ/שִׁכְבָ֖/הּ beshikhevah HR/Vqc/Sp3fs when she lay down in her lying down
H7901-17 Genesis 19:34 שָׁכַ֥בְתִּי shakhaveti HVqp1cs I lay I lay down
H7901-23 Genesis 19:34 שִׁכְבִ֣י shikhevi HVqv2fs lie Lie down
H7901-37 Genesis 19:35 וַ/תִּשְׁכַּ֣ב vatishekav HC/Vqw3fs and she lay and she lay down
H7901-02 Genesis 19:35 בְּ/שִׁכְבָ֖/הּ beshikhevah HR/Vqc/Sp3fs when she lay down in her lying down
H7901-15 Genesis 26:10 שָׁכַ֞ב shakhav HVqp3ms had lain he lay down
H7901-40 Genesis 28:11 וַ/יִּשְׁכַּ֖ב vayishekav HC/Vqw3ms and lay down and he lay down