שָׁכֹל
properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or figuratively)
Definition
The Hebrew word שָׁכֹל (shâkôl) is a verb meaning 'to be bereaved' or 'to lose children.' Its core sense is the tragic loss of offspring, whether through miscarriage (Exodus 23:26), premature death (Deuteronomy 32:25), or violent bereavement (1 Samuel 15:33). By extension, it describes being made childless or stripped of one's future generation, as when Jacob fears he will be 'bereaved' of his sons (Genesis 42:36). Figuratively, it can depict being deprived or robbed of anything vital, conveying a profound sense of loss and devastation.
Biblical Usage
שָׁכֹל is used 21 times, primarily in narrative and prophetic contexts of loss and judgment. It appears in patriarchal stories expressing parental grief (Genesis 27:45, 43:14) and in legal/prophetic texts as a covenant curse for disobedience, where God warns Israel of bereavement (Leviticus 26:22). Its usage peaks in contexts of divine judgment or deep personal tragedy, emphasizing the severest form of loss in an ancient family-based society.
Etymology
A primitive root, its basic meaning is 'to be bereaved' or 'to lose children.' Cognates in related Semitic languages also point to concepts of bereavement and loss. The root conveys the idea of being stripped or made destitute, particularly regarding progeny.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it touches on themes of covenant blessing and curse. The promise of not suffering miscarriage (Exodus 23:26) is part of God's blessing for obedience, while bereavement is a covenant curse for disobedience (Leviticus 26:22, Deuteronomy 32:25). It reveals God's sovereignty over life and death within the framework of His justice and the profound value placed on children and lineage in God's redemptive plan. Understanding this Hebrew term deepens the emotional and theological weight of passages dealing with loss and divine judgment.
In ancient Israelite culture, children were essential for economic stability, family lineage, and social security. Bereavement was not only a personal tragedy but a threat to the family's survival and legacy. The loss of children, whether by miscarriage, illness, or violence, was considered one of the ultimate calamities, a context that amplifies the word's severe use in prophetic warnings of national judgment.
אָבַל (ʼâbal, H56) — to mourn, lament; focuses on the act of grieving rather than the event of loss itself. יָתוֹם (yâthôm, H3490) — orphan; describes the state of being parentless, while שָׁכֹל describes the state of being childless.
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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