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שֶׁקֶץ

𐤔𐤒𐤑

sheqets

H8263 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שקץ to be detestable, abhor, find loathsome

Definition

A detestable thing, especially something considered ritually or ceremonially unclean; in practice, this term refers primarily to objects, animals, or practices regarded as abhorrent or offensive according to ritual purity laws. In legal contexts, it often specifies creatures prohibited for consumption or idols prohibited for veneration. The semantic range includes what is considered loathsome, ritually defiling, or repugnant, both in a literal and figurative sense.

Semantic Range

detestable thing, ritually unclean animal, idolatrous object, object of abhorrence, thing to be avoided for ritual reasons, filth (ritual sense)

Root / Etymology

שֶׁקֶץ is a masculine noun derived from the root שׁקץ, which carries the sense of being detestable or abominable. The root implication is of something forbidden or abhorrent, often within a context of ritual or ceremonial law. There is no clear evidence of a wider Semitic cognate, and the derivation is based on established Hebrew usage.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שֶׁקֶץ is especially prominent in priestly (Leviticus, Deuteronomy) and ritual purity contexts, where it designates animals forbidden for Israelite consumption (e.g., certain sea creatures and swarming things, Leviticus 11). It also applies to abhorrent objects associated with idolatrous worship (e.g., Ezekiel 8:10, 11:18, 11:21), highlighting their status as ritually polluting or unclean. Over time, the term’s connotation was closely associated with violations of Torah purity strictures, rather than a general label for moral repugnance. The translation "abomination" often conflates the specific ritual-legal context of שֶׁקֶץ with the broader ethical or moral term תּוֹעֵבָה (toʿevah), though the two are not identical; תּוֹעֵבָה is more often used for social or ethical transgressions. English translations such as "abomination" or "detestable thing" sometimes obscure the technical ritual-legal framework of שֶׁקֶץ, and can import later or theological implications not present in the ancient context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁקַץ; filth, i.e. (figuratively and specifically) an idolatrous object; abominable(-tion).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שקץ (sh-q-ts) — to be detestable, abhor, find loathsome

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8251 שִׁקּוּץ detested cult-object

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8263-01 שֶׁ֣קֶץ sheqets HNcmsa detestable ritually detestable thing 9
H8263-03 וְ/שֶׁ֖קֶץ vesheqets HC/Ncmsa and an abomination detestable thing 1
H8263-02 וְ/הַ/שֶּׁ֖קֶץ vehasheqets HC/Td/Ncmsa and the abomination and the detestable thing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8263-01 Leviticus 7:21 שֶׁ֣קֶץ sheqets HNcmsa detestable thing ritually detestable thing
H8263-01 Leviticus 11:10 שֶׁ֥קֶץ sheqets HNcmsa detestable ritually detestable thing
H8263-03 Leviticus 11:11 וְ/שֶׁ֖קֶץ vesheqets HC/Ncmsa and an abomination detestable thing
H8263-01 Leviticus 11:12 שֶׁ֥קֶץ sheqets HNcmsa detestable ritually detestable thing
H8263-01 Leviticus 11:13 שֶׁ֣קֶץ sheqets HNcmsa an abomination ritually detestable thing
H8263-01 Leviticus 11:20 שֶׁ֥קֶץ sheqets HNcmsa detestable ritually detestable thing
H8263-01 Leviticus 11:23 שֶׁ֥קֶץ sheqets HNcmsa detestable thing ritually detestable thing
H8263-01 Leviticus 11:41 שֶׁ֥קֶץ sheqets HNcmsa detestable ritually detestable thing
H8263-01 Leviticus 11:42 שֶׁ֥קֶץ sheqets HNcmsa an abomination ritually detestable thing
H8263-02 Isaiah 66:17 וְ/הַ/שֶּׁ֖קֶץ vehasheqets HC/Td/Ncmsa and the abomination and the detestable thing
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