שָׁכַן

𐤔𐤊𐤍

shâkan

H7931 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שכן to dwell, to reside, to settle, to inhabit

Definition

To dwell, settle, reside, or inhabit in a place or among a group. In its primary usage, שָׁכַן (shâkan) conveys the act of dwelling—either in a temporary or settled sense—referring both to humans residing in a location and, in particular, to the presence of YHWH among the Israelites in cultic and theological traditions. The term may denote physical occupancy (such as a person or family living in a tent or house), or the settled presence of a community within a region. In certain contexts, it expresses the continued, enduring presence of YHWH in the midst of his people, particularly in relation to the tabernacle (מִשְׁכָּן), thus acquiring an extended theological nuance.

Semantic Range

to dwell, to reside, to live among, to inhabit, to settle, to encamp, to abide, to remain, to rest (as presence), to make a dwelling, to cause to dwell

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁכן, meaning 'to dwell or settle.' The root underlies a cluster of terms related to dwelling, such as מִשְׁכָּן (tabernacle, 'dwelling-place') and שָׁכֵן (neighbor, literally 'dweller'). Cognate roots in Arabic and Aramaic also convey ideas of deposition, residing, or settling down. The association with שָׁכַב ('to lie down') is by transmission rather than direct derivation; both ultimately relate to occupancy or presence. The root conveys the act of dwelling but the actual lexical senses extend from human habitation to divine indwelling.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite tradition, שָׁכַן is often used for the dwelling of families or tribes, typically in tents, reflecting the nomadic or semi-nomadic context of the patriarchs and early settlement period (e.g., Gen 9:27, Num 24:2). In the narratives of the wilderness wanderings and cultic texts, the verb becomes key for describing YHWH's presence: YHWH 'dwells' (שָׁכַן) among the Israelites, first in the portable sanctuary (the tabernacle, מִשְׁכָּן), signifying his immanent presence without visual representation (Exod 25:8; Num 35:34). During the monarchy, the language of שָׁכַן extends to describe the divine presence in the Jerusalem temple (cf. 1 Kgs 8:12–13), but the Semitic notion of divine indwelling remains distinct from later ideas of sanctity or omnipresence. In post-exilic and Second Temple literature, the derived noun שְׁכִינָה (Shekhinah, not found in the Hebrew Bible) develops as a term for the divine presence, but this reflects later interpretive traditions. English translations such as 'dwell' and 'abide' capture some, but not all, nuances, sometimes missing the sense of divine immanence in cultic texts. Related Hebrew verbs for 'settle' (e.g., יָשַׁב) may have broader connotations (including sitting down or urban settlement), whereas שָׁכַן often carries a stronger emphasis on inhabitation or lasting presence, particularly in theological or cultic contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (apparently akin (by transmission) to שָׁכַב through the idea of lodging; compare סִכְלוּת, שָׁכַם); to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively); abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up).

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

שכן (sh-k-n) — dwelling, residing, settling, inhabiting

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4907 מִשְׁכַּן his dwelling-place
H4908 מִשְׁכָּן the dwelling-place
H7932 שְׁכַן he caused to dwell
H7933 שֶׁכֶן to his dwelling-place
H7934 שָׁכֵן the resident women

Word Forms

53 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7931-52 יִשְׁכֹּֽן yishekon HVqi3ms shall dwell he will dwell 14
H7931-23 שֹׁכֵ֨ן shokhen HVqrmsa dwelling the one who dwells 10
H7931-51 יִשְׁכְּנוּ yishekenu HVqi3mp dwell they will dwell 9
H7931-08 לְ/שַׁכֵּ֥ן leshaken HR/Vpc to dwell to cause to dwell 8
H7931-41 וְ/שָׁכַנְתִּ֖י veshakhaneti HC/Vqq1cs and I will dwell and I will dwell 7
H7931-10 לִ/שְׁכֹּ֣ן lishekon HR/Vqc to dwell to dwell 6
H7931-28 תִשְׁכֹּ֖ן tishekon HVqi3fs be dwelt in she will dwell 6
H7931-35 וַ/יִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן vayishekon HC/Vqw3ms and dwelt and he dwelt 5
H7931-39 וְ/שָׁכַ֣ן veshakhan HC/Vqq3ms and he will dwell and he dwelt 4
H7931-25 שֹׁכְנִ֖י shokheni HVqrmsc of the One who dwells dwelling-one 4

Occurrences in Scripture

129 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7931-32 Genesis 3:24 וַ/יַּשְׁכֵּן֩ vayasheken HC/Vhw3ms and he stationed and he caused to dwell
H7931-48 Genesis 9:27 וְ/יִשְׁכֹּ֖ן veyishekon HC/Vqj3ms and may he dwell may he dwell
H7931-23 Genesis 14:13 שֹׁכֵ֨ן shokhen HVqrmsa was dwelling the one who dwells
H7931-52 Genesis 16:12 יִשְׁכֹּֽן yishekon HVqi3ms he shall live he will dwell
H7931-34 Genesis 25:18 וַ/יִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ vayishekenu HC/Vqw3mp and they dwelt and they dwelt
H7931-18 Genesis 26:2 שְׁכֹ֣ן shekhon HVqv2ms dwell Dwell!
H7931-01 Genesis 35:22 בִּ/שְׁכֹּ֤ן bishekon HR/Vqc while dwelling in dwelling
H7931-52 Genesis 49:13 יִשְׁכֹּ֑ן yishekon HVqi3ms he shall dwell he will dwell
H7931-35 Exodus 24:16 וַ/יִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן vayishekon HC/Vqw3ms and dwelt and he dwelt
H7931-41 Exodus 25:8 וְ/שָׁכַנְתִּ֖י veshakhaneti HC/Vqq1cs and I will dwell and I will dwell