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שַׂק

𐤔𐤒

saq

H8242 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁקק to run, rush (root level); from this root, 'sack, coarse cloth', 'mourning attire' (derived noun usage)

Definition

A coarse cloth, typically woven from goat or camel hair, used primarily for making sacks or bags for storage and transport of goods, and prominently for garments worn as a symbol of mourning, affliction, and penitence. The cloth is characterized by its rough texture and loose weave, which distinguishes it from finer fabrics. In biblical contexts, שַׂק denotes both an everyday material object (sack, bag) and, in ritual contexts, a distinctive garment marking sorrow, repentance, or distress.

Semantic Range

coarse woven cloth, sack or bag for storage, garment made of sackcloth for mourning or penitence, symbol of affliction or humility

Root / Etymology

Root from שָׁקַק (shaqaq), meaning 'to run' or 'to rush', possibly alluding to the original function of the material as a coarse fabric through which grain or liquid could pass. The noun שַׂק (saq) derives from this root and denotes the physical object made from this material, although over time its lexical meaning came to emphasize rough, mourning attire.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israel, the use of שַׂק as mourning attire was a public expression of grief, humility, or penitence, often paired with ashes. This practice is attested across various periods, from early monarchy (1 Kings) through the exilic and post-exilic eras (Esther, Daniel). The donning of sackcloth is frequently associated with mourning for the dead, national calamity, or acts of repentance before YHWH. While the basic usage as a material for bags and storage persisted, its cultural association with mourning became dominant in biblical literature. English 'sackcloth' is a direct translation, though modern readers may overlook the strong ritual connotations in ancient contexts. Related terms include אֵפֶר (ashes) and שָׂמֵחַ (garment of celebration), providing antonymic context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁקַק; properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e. coarse loose cloth or sacking (used in mourning and for bagging); hence, a bag (for grain, etc.); sack(-cloth, -clothes).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁקק (š-q-q) — to run, rush; coarse porous material; sackcloth

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4944 מַשָּׁק like a surge of
H8264 שָׁקַק swift-ranging one

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8242-05 שַׂ֖ק saq HNcmsa sackcloth coarse sackcloth 17
H8242-08 שַׂקִּ֤ים saqim HNcmpa sackcloth coarse-woven sacks 11
H8242-01 בַּ/שָּׂ֔ק basaq HRd/Ncmsa with sackcloth coarse sackcloth 3
H8242-09 שַׂקּ֔/וֹ saqo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his sack his coarse-cloth sack 3
H8242-02 בַּ/שַּׂקִּ֑ים basaqim HRd/Ncmpa with sackcloth in the coarse-cloth garments 3
H8242-12 וְ/שַׂ֖ק vesaq HC/Ncmsa and sackcloth and coarse sackcloth 3
H8242-04 הַ/שַּׂ֜ק hasaq HTd/Ncmsa sackcloth the coarse-woven sackcloth 3
H8242-03 בְּ/שַׂקּ֑/וֹ besaqo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his sack in his coarse-cloth sack 1
H8242-11 בַ/שַּׂקִּ֔ים vasaqim HRd/Ncmpa in sackcloth in the coarse sackcloths 1
H8242-07 שַׂקִּ֑/י saqi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my sackcloth my coarse-cloth 1

Occurrences in Scripture

48 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8242-05 Genesis 37:34 שַׂ֖ק saq HNcmsa sackcloth coarse sackcloth
H8242-09 Genesis 42:25 שַׂקּ֔/וֹ saqo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his sack his coarse-cloth sack
H8242-09 Genesis 42:27 שַׂקּ֗/וֹ saqo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his sack his coarse-cloth sack
H8242-06 Genesis 42:35 שַׂקֵּי/הֶ֔ם saqeyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their sacks their coarse-cloth sacks
H8242-03 Genesis 42:35 בְּ/שַׂקּ֑/וֹ besaqo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his sack in his coarse-cloth sack
H8242-05 Leviticus 11:32 שָׂ֔ק saq HNcmsa sack coarse sackcloth
H8242-08 Joshua 9:4 שַׂקִּ֤ים saqim HNcmpa sacks coarse-woven sacks
H8242-08 2 Samuel 3:31 שַׂקִּ֔ים saqim HNcmpa sackcloth coarse-woven sacks
H8242-04 2 Samuel 21:10 הַ/שַּׂ֜ק hasaq HTd/Ncmsa the sackcloth the coarse-woven sackcloth
H8242-08 1 Kings 20:31 שַׂקִּ֨ים saqim HNcmpa sackcloth coarse-woven sacks
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