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שְׁכֶם

𐤔𐤊𐤌

Shekhem

H7927 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁכם to rise early, rise, shoulder

Definition

Proper noun designating an ancient city located in the hill country of Ephraim, between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, known as Shekem. Additionally, as a common noun in biblical Hebrew, designates 'shoulder, upper back, neck area'—a part of the body indicative of strength, burden-bearing, or leadership. As a place name, connotes proximity to a ridge or shoulder-like geographical feature.

Semantic Range

Shekem (proper place name, ancient city in Ephraim); shoulder, upper back, neck region (anatomical); figurative use for strength, burden, leadership; geographical feature resembling a 'shoulder' or ridge

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁכם (ש־כ־ם), which means 'to rise early,' or 'shoulder, upper back.' The place name שְׁכֶם (Shekem) is derived from the same root, likely referencing the city's location on the slopes of a mountain, metaphorically likened to a 'shoulder.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Shekem was one of the most ancient settlements in the land later known as Israel, frequently mentioned from the patriarchal period through the monarchic and post-exilic periods. It was significant as a political and religious center, a site of covenant ceremonies (e.g., Joshua 24), and events involving both Israelites and non-Israelites. The toponym possibly references its physical location on the 'shoulder' or slope between two mountains. In narrative contexts, the meaning as 'shoulder' sometimes carries a metaphorical sense relating to bearing responsibility, burden, or leadership. The term שְׁכֶם is never used as 'Jew' or in the sense of ethnicity or religious identity, and the English equivalents 'Shechem' or 'shoulder' must be contextually determined. The Septuagint typically transliterates as Συχεμ (Sychem). Use and precise significance may differ in pre-monarchic versus monarchic passages; in later Hebrew and Jewish literature, the site later became associated with Samaritan tradition as well.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

the same as שְׁכֶם; ridge; Shekem, a place in Palestine; Shechem.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שכם (š-k-m) — rise early, rise, shoulder

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7925 שָׁכַם to rise early
H7926 שְׁכֶם from his shoulder
H7928 שֶׁכֶם shoulder of
H7929 שִׁכְמָה from her shoulder blade
H7930 שִׁכְמִי the Shikmite

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7927-03 שְׁכֶ֔ם shekhem HNp Shechem Shoulder-Ridge (Shekem) 45
H7927-01 בִּ/שְׁכֶֽם bishekhem HR/Np in Shechem in Shekem 7
H7927-04 שְׁכֶֽמָ/ה shekhemah HNp/Sd to Shechem toward Shekem 7
H7927-05 וּ/שְׁכֶ֥ם ushekhem HC/Np and Shechem and Shekem 2
H7927-02 מִ/שְּׁכֶ֞ם mishekhem HR/Np from Shechem from Shekem 1
H7927-06 בִ/שְׁכֶם֒ vishekhem HR/Np at Shechem in Shekem 1

Occurrences in Scripture

63 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7927-03 Genesis 12:6 שְׁכֶ֔ם shekhem HNp of Shechem Shoulder-Ridge (Shekem)
H7927-03 Genesis 33:18 שְׁכֶ֗ם shekhem HNp of Shechem Shoulder-Ridge (Shekem)
H7927-03 Genesis 33:19 שְׁכֶ֑ם shekhem HNp Shechem Shoulder-Ridge (Shekem)
H7927-03 Genesis 34:2 שְׁכֶ֧ם shekhem HNp Shechem Shoulder-Ridge (Shekem)
H7927-03 Genesis 34:4 שְׁכֶ֔ם shekhem HNp Shechem Shoulder-Ridge (Shekem)
H7927-03 Genesis 34:6 שְׁכֶ֖ם shekhem HNp Shechem Shoulder-Ridge (Shekem)
H7927-03 Genesis 34:8 שְׁכֶ֣ם shekhem HNp Shechem Shoulder-Ridge (Shekem)
H7927-03 Genesis 34:11 שְׁכֶם֙ shekhem HNp Shechem Shoulder-Ridge (Shekem)
H7927-03 Genesis 34:13 שְׁכֶ֨ם shekhem HNp Shechem Shoulder-Ridge (Shekem)
H7927-03 Genesis 34:18 שְׁכֶ֥ם shekhem HNp Shechem Shoulder-Ridge (Shekem)
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