שָׁקַף
𐤔𐤒𐤐
shâqaph
H8259 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To look out or down from a high vantage, often with the nuance of observing or surveying below; by extension, to gaze, peer out, or look forth from a position of elevation. Frequently connotes intentional or attentive looking from a window, wall, or elevated location. The verb can also describe divine observation of human activity from an exalted perspective.
Semantic Range
to look out (from a window, wall, roof), to gaze from above, to observe attentively from a high place, to peer down, to watch over from elevation, to appear (by looking out), to be seen (by virtue of looking out or being visible from high vantage)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שָׁקַף, which conveys the idea of leaning out or inclining oneself outward. The core verbal sense is physical motion of the upper body out from a secure place (such as a window, wall, or rooftop) in order to view what is below or beyond. This root yields verbs and participles referring to acts of gazing or observing from such a vantage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שָׁקַף is used to describe both human and divine acts of looking out from height. In narratives, it can refer to someone observing from a literal window (e.g., Laban seeking Jacob, Michal witnessing David, Rahab watching the Israelite spies). In poetic and prophetic contexts, it can depict YHWH looking out from heaven to survey the world, often with an evaluative or searching intent. Unlike verbs such as רָאָה (to see) or הִבִּיט (to behold), שָׁקַף specifies the posture or context of seeing—from an elevated position, often with directed attention. English translations may obscure this specific sense by rendering it simply as 'look' or 'see,' but the Hebrew term emphasizes vantage point and intentionality. The word is found across multiple periods: narrative texts (Genesis, Joshua, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel), poetic passages (Psalms), and prophetic sections (Lamentations), with its core meaning consistent but applied variously to literal and metaphorical acts of looking.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle); appear, look (down, forth, out).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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שקף (sh-q-p) — leaning out, inclining outward, looking out from elevation
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H8260 | שֶׁקֶף | lookout window |
Word Forms
12 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8259-07 |
נִשְׁקְפָ֧ה | nisheqefah | HVNp3fs |
looked down | she was seen from above | 4 |
H8259-09 |
וַ/יַּשְׁקֵ֗ף | vayasheqef | HC/Vhw3ms |
and he looked down | and he looked down from above | 4 |
H8259-04 |
הִשְׁקִ֪יף | hisheqif | HVhp3ms |
looked down | he caused himself to look out from above | 3 |
H8259-10 |
וַ/יַּשְׁקִ֖פוּ | vayasheqifu | HC/Vhw3mp |
and looked | they looked down from elevation | 2 |
H8259-01 |
הַ/נִּשְׁקָ֖ף | hanisheqaf | HTd/VNrmsa |
that overlooks | the one being looked-out-from above | 2 |
H8259-05 |
נִשְׁקָֽף | nisheqaf | HVNp3ms |
will look down | was gazed down upon | 1 |
H8259-03 |
הַשְׁקִיפָ/ה֩ | hasheqifah | HVhv2ms/Sh |
Look down | Look down from above | 1 |
H8259-12 |
יַשְׁקִ֣יף | yasheqif | HVhi3ms |
looks down | he will peer down | 1 |
H8259-08 |
וַ/תַּשְׁקֵ֖ף | vatasheqef | HC/Vhw3fs |
and she looked out | and she looked out from above | 1 |
H8259-02 |
הַ/נִּשְׁקָפָ֖ה | hanisheqafah | HTd/VNrfsa |
that looks forth | the one leaning out | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
22 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8259-10 |
Genesis 18:16 | וַ/יַּשְׁקִ֖פוּ | vayasheqifu | HC/Vhw3mp |
and looked | they looked down from elevation |
H8259-09 |
Genesis 19:28 | וַ/יַּשְׁקֵ֗ף | vayasheqef | HC/Vhw3ms |
and he looked down | and he looked down from above |
H8259-09 |
Genesis 26:8 | וַ/יַּשְׁקֵ֗ף | vayasheqef | HC/Vhw3ms |
and he looked out | and he looked down from above |
H8259-09 |
Exodus 14:24 | וַ/יַּשְׁקֵ֤ף | vayasheqef | HC/Vhw3ms |
and He looked down | and he looked down from above |
H8259-11 |
Numbers 21:20 | וְ/נִשְׁקָ֖פָה | venisheqafah | HC/VNrfsa |
which overlooks | and the looking-out one |
H8259-01 |
Numbers 23:28 | הַ/נִּשְׁקָ֖ף | hanisheqaf | HTd/VNrmsa |
that overlooks | the one being looked-out-from above |
H8259-03 |
Deuteronomy 26:15 | הַשְׁקִיפָ/ה֩ | hasheqifah | HVhv2ms/Sh |
Look down | Look down from above |
H8259-07 |
Judges 5:28 | נִשְׁקְפָ֧ה | nisheqefah | HVNp3fs |
she looked out | she was seen from above |
H8259-01 |
1 Samuel 13:18 | הַ/נִּשְׁקָ֛ף | hanisheqaf | HTd/VNrmsa |
that looks | the one being looked-out-from above |
H8259-07 |
2 Samuel 6:16 | נִשְׁקְפָ֣ה | nisheqefah | HVNp3fs |
looked out | she was seen from above |