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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.

Translation Consistency

primary "dwell" 44 occurrences

"Dwell" best captures the primary and typical sense of שָׁכַן: to reside, inhabit, or have a presence in a place or among a people (including the theological use of YHWH’s presence). It is the most common translation in the P2 data, is natural English, and flexibly covers temporary encamping and settled residence while allowing straightforward inflection for tense/person.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"dwelling-one of" (4x) "him lay" (1x) "lodge" (1x)

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 recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

שכן (Shekhaneyah) — to dwell, to reside, to settle

Root שכן to dwell, to reside, to settle, to inhabit
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4907 מִשְׁכַּן his dwelling-place
H4908 מִשְׁכָּן the dwelling-place
H7932 שְׁכַן he caused to dwell
H7934 שָׁכֵן the resident women
H7935 שְׁכַנְיָה to Yah-dwells

Word Forms

53 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7931-52 יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן yishekon HVqi3ms shall dwell he will dwell he will dwell 14
H7931-23 שֹׁכֵ֨ן shokhen HVqrmsa dwelling the one who dwells the one who dwells 10
H7931-51 יִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ yishekenu HVqi3mp dwell they will dwell they will dwell 9
H7931-08 לְ/שַׁכֵּ֤ן leshaken HR/Vpc to dwell to cause to dwell to cause to dwell 8
H7931-41 וְ/שָׁ֣כַנְתִּ֔י veshakhaneti HC/Vqq1cs and I will dwell and I will dwell and I will dwell 7
H7931-10 לִ/שְׁכֹּ֖ן lishekon HR/Vqc to dwell to dwell to dwell 6
H7931-28 תִשְׁכֹּ֖ן tishekon HVqi3fs be dwelt in she will dwell it will dwell 6
H7931-35 וַ/יִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן vayishekon HC/Vqw3ms and dwelt and he dwelt and it dwelt 5
H7931-25 שֹׁכְנִ֖י shokheni HVqrmsc of the One who dwells dwelling-one dwelling-one of 4
H7931-39 וְ/שָׁכַ֣ן veshakhan HC/Vqq3ms and he will dwell and he dwelt and it dwelt 4

Occurrences in Scripture

129 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7931-52 Isaiah 33:16 יִשְׁכֹּ֔ן yishekon HVqi3ms shall dwell he will dwell he will dwell
H7931-51 Isaiah 34:11 יִשְׁכְּנוּ yishekenu HVqi3mp shall dwell they will dwell they will dwell
H7931-51 Isaiah 34:17 יִשְׁכְּנוּ yishekenu HVqi3mp they shall dwell they will dwell they will dwell
H7931-23 Isaiah 57:15 שֹׁכֵ֥ן shokhen HVqrmsa who dwells the one who dwells the one who dwells
H7931-04 Isaiah 57:15 אֶשְׁכּ֑וֹן eshekon HVqi1cs I dwell I will dwell I dwell
H7931-51 Isaiah 65:9 יִשְׁכְּנוּ yishekenu HVqi3mp shall dwell they will dwell they will dwell
H7931-31 Jeremiah 7:3 וַ/אֲשַׁכְּנָ֣ה vaashakenah HC/Vph1cs and I will let dwell let me cause to dwell and I will let dwell
H7931-43 Jeremiah 7:7 וְ/שִׁכַּנְתִּ֤י veshikaneti HC/Vpq1cs then I will cause you to dwell and I will cause to dwell and I will cause to dwell
H7931-19 Jeremiah 7:12 שִׁכַּ֧נְתִּֽי shikaneti HVpp1cs I made dwell I caused to dwell I caused to dwell
H7931-39 Jeremiah 17:6 וְ/שָׁכַ֤ן veshakhan HC/Vqq3ms and he will dwell and he dwelt and it dwelt
H7931-52 Jeremiah 23:6 יִשְׁכֹּ֣ן yishekon HVqi3ms will dwell he will dwell he will dwell
H7931-07 Jeremiah 25:24 הַ/שֹּׁכְנִ֖ים hashokhenim HTd/Vqrmpa who dwell the dwelling ones the dwelling ones
H7931-28 Jeremiah 33:16 תִּשְׁכּ֣וֹן tishekon HVqi3fs will dwell she will dwell it will dwell
H7931-28 Jeremiah 46:26 תִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן tishekon HVqi3fs it-will-dwell she will dwell it will dwell
H7931-44 Jeremiah 48:28 וְ/שִׁכְנ֣וּ veshikhenu HC/Vqv2mp and dwell and dwell and dwell
H7931-25 Jeremiah 49:16 שֹֽׁכְנִי֙ shokheni HVqrmsc O you who dwell dwelling-one dwelling-one of
H7931-53 Jeremiah 49:31 יִשְׁכֹּֽנוּ yishekonu HVqi3mp they dwell they will dwell they will dwell
H7931-28 Jeremiah 50:39 תִשְׁכּ֖וֹן tishekon HVqi3fs be dwelt in she will dwell it will dwell
H7931-21 Jeremiah 51:13 שכנתי shkhnty HVqrfsc O you who dwell dwelling one dwelling one
H7931-22 Jeremiah 51:13 שֹׁכַנְתְּ֙ shokhanete HVqrfsc by dwelling-one of dwelling-one of
H7931-42 Ezekiel 17:23 וְ/שָׁכְנ֣וּ veshakhenu HC/Vqq3cp and they will dwell and they dwelt and they will dwell
H7931-29 Ezekiel 17:23 תִּשְׁכֹּֽנָּה tishekonah HVqi3fp they will dwell they will dwell they will dwell
H7931-51 Ezekiel 31:13 יִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ yishekenu HVqi3mp dwell they will dwell they will dwell
H7931-38 Ezekiel 32:4 וְ/הִשְׁכַּנְתִּ֤י vehishekaneti HC/Vhq1cs and-I-will-cause-to-settle and I will cause to dwell and I will cause to dwell
H7931-02 Ezekiel 43:7 אֶשְׁכָּן eshekan HVqi1cs I will dwell I will dwell I will dwell
H7931-41 Ezekiel 43:9 וְ/שָׁכַנְתִּ֥י veshakhaneti HC/Vqq1cs and I will dwell and I will dwell and I will dwell
H7931-23 Joel 4:17 שֹׁכֵ֖ן shokhen HVqrmsa dwelling the one who dwells the one who dwells
H7931-23 Joel 4:21 שֹׁכֵ֥ן shokhen HVqrmsa dwells the one who dwells the one who dwells
H7931-25 Obadiah 1:3 שֹׁכְנִ֥י shokheni HVqrmsc you who dwell dwelling-one dwelling-one of
H7931-40 Micah 4:10 וְ/שָׁכַ֣נְתְּ veshakhanete HC/Vqq2fs and dwell and you dwelt and you will dwell
H7931-25 Micah 7:14 שֹׁכְנִ֣י shokheni HVqrmsc those dwelling dwelling-one dwelling-one of
H7931-51 Nahum 3:18 יִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ yishekenu HVqi3mp lie down they will dwell they will dwell
H7931-41 Zechariah 2:14 וְ/שָׁכַנְתִּ֥י veshakhaneti HC/Vqq1cs and I will dwell and I will dwell and I will dwell
H7931-41 Zechariah 2:15 וְ/שָׁכַנְתִּ֣י veshakhaneti HC/Vqq1cs and-I-will-dwell and I will dwell and I will dwell
H7931-41 Zechariah 8:3 וְ/שָׁכַנְתִּ֖י veshakhaneti HC/Vqp1cs and I will dwell and I will dwell and I will dwell
H7931-42 Zechariah 8:8 וְ/שָׁכְנ֖וּ veshakhenu HC/Vqp3cp and they will dwell and they dwelt and they will dwell
H7931-49 Psalms 7:6 יַשְׁכֵּ֣ן yasheken HVhj3ms let him lay may he cause to dwell let him lay
H7931-52 Psalms 15:1 יִ֝שְׁכֹּ֗ן yishekon HVqi3ms shall dwell he will dwell will dwell
H7931-52 Psalms 16:9 יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן yishekon HVqi3ms will dwell he will dwell will dwell
H7931-17 Psalms 37:3 שְׁכָן shekhan HVqv2ms dwell dwelling dwell
H7931-30 Psalms 37:27 וּ/שְׁכֹ֥ן ushekhon HC/Vqv2ms and dwell and dwell and dwell
H7931-47 Psalms 37:29 וְ/יִשְׁכְּנ֖וּ veyishekenu HC/Vqi3mp and will dwell and they will dwell and they will dwell
H7931-37 Psalms 55:7 וְ/אֶשְׁכֹּֽנָה veeshekonah HC/Vqh1cs and-I-would-lodge and let me dwell and I would lodge
H7931-52 Psalms 65:5 יִשְׁכֹּ֪ן yishekon HVqi3ms he dwells he will dwell he will dwell
H7931-16 Psalms 68:7 שָׁכְנ֥וּ shakhenu HVqp3cp dwell they dwelt they dwelt
H7931-52 Psalms 68:17 יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן yishekon HVqi3ms will-dwell he will dwell he will dwell
H7931-10 Psalms 68:19 לִ/שְׁכֹּ֤ן lishekon HR/Vqc to dwell to dwell to dwell
H7931-51 Psalms 69:37 יִשְׁכְּנוּ yishekenu HVqi3mp shall-dwell they will dwell they will dwell
H7931-12 Psalms 74:2 שָׁכַ֬נְתָּ shakhaneta HVqp2ms you have dwelt you have dwelt you have dwelt
H7931-32 Psalms 78:55 וַ/יַּשְׁכֵּ֥ן vayasheken HC/Vhw3ms and-he-made-dwell and he caused to dwell and he caused to dwell
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