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אַשְׁקְלוֹן

𐤀𐤔𐤒𐤋𐤅𐤍

Asheqelon

H831 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שקל to weigh, to weigh out, to trade

Definition

A major coastal city in southwestern Canaan (region later known as Philistia) on the Mediterranean Sea, referred to as Ashkelon. The word denotes both the physical city and, by extension, its territory, inhabitants, and cultural sphere in ancient texts. In post-biblical and Greco-Roman periods, the term is also preserved as a major urban center (Ascalon).

Semantic Range

name of a city (Ashkelon), by extension its territory or inhabitants, place of trade or weighing (possible connotation)

Root / Etymology

From the root שָׁקַל (sh-q-l), meaning 'to weigh' or 'to trade.' The name is thought to relate to Ashkelon's historic function as a commercial and trading port, possibly meaning 'weighing-place' or 'marketplace.' However, the precise etymology is debated and some view it as a loanword of non-Hebrew origin, especially given the city's long history as a non-Israelite (Canaanite, later Philistine) stronghold.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Ashkelon features prominently in accounts of the Philistines, as one of their pentapolis cities during the monarchic period. It is mentioned in relation to trade, conquest, prophecy against Philistia, and military actions (e.g., Judges 1:18; 1 Samuel 6:17; 2 Samuel 1:20; Jeremiah 47:5, Zephaniah 2:4). Its identification with the modern archaeological site along the coast is well-established. In the biblical context, Ashkelon is always described as a non-Israelite (initially Canaanite, later Philistine) city and occasionally as an object of prophetic judgment. English translations use the transliterated form 'Ashkelon,' which is accurate for biblical reference. Later usage ('Ascalon' in Greek and Latin sources) refers to the same city in Hellenistic and Roman periods. The term does not denote ethnic identity but identifies a place and, occasionally, its inhabitants. It should not be confused with the term 'Palestine,' which is anachronistic for much of the biblical period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from שָׁקַל in the sense of weighing-place (i.e. mart); Ashkelon, a place in Palestine; Ashkelon, Askalon.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שקל (sh-q-l) — to weigh, to weigh out, to trade

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4946 מִשְׁקוֹל by weight-measure
H4948 מִשְׁקָל by the weight
H4949 מִשְׁקֶלֶת plumb-weight
H8254 שָׁקַל I will weigh out
H8255 שֶׁקֶל by a sheqel-weight

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H831-01 אַשְׁקְל֖וֹן asheqelon HNp Ashkelon Ashkelon the Weighing-Place 8
H831-04 וְ/אַשְׁקְל֖וֹן veasheqelon HC/Np and Ashkelon and Ashkelon 2
H831-03 מֵֽ/אַשְׁקְל֑וֹן measheqelon HR/Np from Ashkelon from Weighing-Place Ashkelon 1
H831-02 לְ/אַשְׁקְל֣וֹן leasheqelon HR/Np for Ashkelon to Ashkelon 1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H831-01 Judges 1:18 אַשְׁקְל֖וֹן asheqelon HNp Ashkelon Ashkelon the Weighing-Place
H831-01 Judges 14:19 אַשְׁקְל֜וֹן asheqelon HNp to Ashkelon Ashkelon the Weighing-Place
H831-02 1 Samuel 6:17 לְ/אַשְׁקְל֣וֹן leasheqelon HR/Np for Ashkelon to Ashkelon
H831-01 2 Samuel 1:20 אַשְׁקְל֑וֹן asheqelon HNp Ashkelon Ashkelon the Weighing-Place
H831-01 Jeremiah 25:20 אַשְׁקְל֤וֹן asheqelon HNp Ashkelon Ashkelon the Weighing-Place
H831-01 Jeremiah 47:5 אַשְׁקְל֖וֹן asheqelon HNp Ashkelon Ashkelon the Weighing-Place
H831-01 Jeremiah 47:7 אַשְׁקְל֛וֹן asheqelon HNp Ashkelon Ashkelon the Weighing-Place
H831-03 Amos 1:8 מֵֽ/אַשְׁקְל֑וֹן measheqelon HR/Np from Ashkelon from Weighing-Place Ashkelon
H831-04 Zephaniah 2:4 וְ/אַשְׁקְל֖וֹן veasheqelon HC/Np and-Ashkelon and Ashkelon
H831-01 Zephaniah 2:7 אַשְׁקְל֗וֹן asheqelon HNp of Ashkelon Ashkelon the Weighing-Place
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