שִׁכְמָה
𐤔𐤊𐤌𐤄
shikmâh
H7929 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Shoulder blade; the upper part of the back or side where the shoulder joins the body, specifically denoting the flat bone or region associated with the scapula in humans and animals. In anatomical and ritual contexts, refers specifically to the scapula as a cut of meat or part designated in sacrificial animals.
Semantic Range
shoulder blade, scapula, upper back region, shoulder cut (in sacrificial context)
Root / Etymology
From the root שׁ-כ-ם (שכם), meaning 'shoulder,' 'upper back,' or 'to incline the shoulder, take up a burden.' שִׁכְמָה is a feminine noun form that refers more narrowly to the shoulder blade or scapular region, derived directly from the root but signaling a specific anatomical part rather than the general area or the act of bearing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שִׁכְמָה appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible and is attested in contexts concerned with anatomy (as in Ezekiel 24:4, designating a piece of flesh associated with sacrifice or butchery). Distinguished from שֶׁכֶם (shekhem), which more commonly refers to the whole shoulder or upper back, including metaphorical senses such as 'bearing a load' or 'taking up responsibility.' The feminine form emphasizes the specific bone or anatomical region (scapula), similar to distinctions made in ritual sacrificial terminology. The term maintains its anatomical precision from monarchic through post-exilic periods, with no significant semantic development attested. Later rabbinic usage and some ancient translations use 'shoulder blade' or cognate terms for ritual meat portions. English translations typically render it as 'shoulder blade,' but in ritual, the precise location may not match modern butchery terms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of שְׁכֶם; the shoulderbone; shoulder blade.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שכם (š-k-m) — shoulder, upper back, bearing on the shoulder
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7925 | שָׁכַם | to rise early |
| H7926 | שְׁכֶם | from his shoulder |
| H7927 | שְׁכֶם | in Shekem |
| H7928 | שֶׁכֶם | shoulder of |
| H7930 | שִׁכְמִי | the Shikmite |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7929-01 |
מִ/שִּׁכְמָ֣/ה | mishikhemah | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs |
from its shoulderblade | from her shoulder blade | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7929-01 |
Job 31:22 | מִ/שִּׁכְמָ֣/ה | mishikhemah | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs |
from its shoulderblade | from her shoulder blade |