שַׁכּוּל
bereaved
Definition
The Hebrew noun שַׁכּוּל (shakkûwl) primarily describes a state of being bereaved, specifically having lost one's children. It conveys the profound grief of a parent deprived of offspring, whether through death or other circumstances. In some poetic contexts, like Song of Solomon 4:2 and 6:6, it is used metaphorically to describe teeth that are 'not bereaved'—meaning none are missing, all are present and perfect. The word can also imply a resulting state of barrenness or being robbed of progeny, as seen in its use for a bear robbed of her cubs (Hosea 13:8) or in the dire consequences pronounced in Jeremiah 18:21.
Biblical Usage
This word is used six times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative, wisdom, prophetic, and poetic books. It describes literal bereavement of children in 2 Samuel 17:8 (comparing David's men to a 'bereaved' bear) and Proverbs 17:12 (a fool's folly). It is used metaphorically for completeness in Song of Solomon 4:2 and 6:6. In prophetic judgment contexts, it describes the devastating consequence of losing one's children, as in Jeremiah 18:21 and Hosea 13:8.
Etymology
Derived from the root שָׁכֹל (shākōl, H7921), a verb meaning 'to be bereaved,' 'to lose children,' or 'to make childless.' The noun form שַׁכּוּל is a passive participle, literally meaning 'one who has been bereaved.' This root is also related to the concept of barrenness and the tragic loss of progeny, deeply connected to family and lineage in Hebrew thought.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it touches on profound themes of loss, divine judgment, and covenant blessing. Bereavement of children is portrayed as one of the most severe curses for covenant disobedience (Jeremiah 18:21, Hosea 13:8). Conversely, its metaphorical use for wholeness in Song of Solomon points to ideals of beauty and completeness. Understanding this term enriches reading by highlighting the deep cultural and covenantal weight of having—or losing—offspring, which was central to identity, legacy, and God's promises in ancient Israel.
In ancient Israelite culture, children were essential for economic survival, carrying on the family name, and fulfilling God's covenant promises to Abraham. To be שַׁכּוּל was therefore a catastrophic personal and social tragedy, implying a broken future and a kind of social death. The metaphor in Song of Solomon equating complete teeth with not being bereaved reflects this cultural value, where wholeness and lack of loss were ideals of perfection.
עָקָר (ʿāqār, H6135) — emphasizes barrenness or infertility, a state of being unable to bear children, whereas שַׁכּוּל focuses on the loss of children already born. אַלְמָנָה (ʾalmānâ, H490) — means 'widow,' a woman bereaved of her husband, contrasting with שַׁכּוּל which is bereavement of offspring.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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