שָׁכַן
𐤔𐤊𐤍
shâkan
H7931 verb
SILEX Entry
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 WordRoot 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 |