שׇׁפְכָה
𐤔𐤐𐤊𐤄
shophkâh
H8212 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A tube-like conduit or spout for pouring out, especially of liquids; by anatomical extension, the male genital member, understood in the context of bodily function but not limited to euphemistic translation. In rare usage, refers to a pipe or spout through which liquid is poured or discharged.
Semantic Range
conduit or channel for pouring (pipe, spout); male genital organ (penis, phallus); physical organ of emission; rarely, a channel or tube
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁפַךְ (to pour, pour out, shed), שׇׁפְכָה is a feminine noun form deriving its sense from something through which pouring takes place, i.e., a conduit or channel. The connection to the physical member comes from the function of pouring or discharging.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שׇׁפְכָה is infrequently attested and occurs in anatomical context, notably in Deuteronomy 23:2 (English, Deut 23:1), where it refers specifically to the male sexual organ as the organ of discharge, and is associated with the function of 'pouring out' or emission. The word is a literal, somewhat technical anatomical term, not an abstract or euphemistic reference. The choice of this word, rather than broader terms for 'organ' or 'flesh,' emphasizes the functional and physical aspect rooted in the underlying verb ('to pour'). English translations traditionally render it as 'member,' 'privy member,' or, more obliquely, 'male organ.' However, their idioms do not capture the overtly functional imagery present in the Hebrew. No developed connotations of social or ritual impurity are inherent in the term itself, though contextually, it appears in discussions of cultic eligibility and bodily integrity in Deuteronomy. There is no clear shift in meaning over time, given its rarity; related terms that refer to bodily parts, such as אֵיבָר (limb/member), are more general and lack the explicit 'pouring' association. Later Rabbinic Hebrew continues technical anatomical usage based on this stem, though the exact term is rare.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of a derivative from שָׁפַךְ; a pipe (for pouring forth, e.g. wine), i.e. the penis; privy member.
Bantu Hebrew
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שׁפך (sh-p-kh) — to pour, to shed, to spill
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8212-01 |
שָׁפְכָ֖ה | shafekhah | HNcfsa |
penis | pouring conduit | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8212-01 |
Deuteronomy 23:2 | שָׁפְכָ֖ה | shafekhah | HNcfsa |
penis | pouring conduit |