שָׁכַב
𐤔𐤊𐤁
shâkab
H7901 verb
SILEX Entry
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.
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שׁכב (sh-k-b) — to lie down, to recline, to sleep, to have sexual union, to die (as euphemism)
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 |