שְׁכֹבֶת
a (sexual) lying with
Definition
The noun שְׁכֹבֶת (shᵉkôbeth) specifically denotes the act of sexual intercourse, with a strong connotation of illicit or forbidden sexual relations. It is derived from the verb 'to lie down' (שָׁכַב), which in certain contexts euphemistically refers to sexual activity. In the Bible, this term is used exclusively in legal contexts within the Holiness Code (Leviticus 18, 20) and the law concerning jealousy (Numbers 5) to describe prohibited sexual unions. For example, it refers to adultery with a neighbor's wife (Leviticus 18:20), bestiality (Leviticus 18:23, 20:15), and suspected marital unfaithfulness (Numbers 5:20).
Biblical Usage
This word appears only four times in the Old Testament, all within legal sections of the Torah. It is used in Leviticus 18 and 20 to define specific sexual sins that defile the land and the people, and in Numbers 5:20 within the ritual for a woman suspected of adultery. Its usage is strictly technical and legal, describing the prohibited act itself within the framework of Israel's covenant law.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb שָׁכַב (shakhav, H7901), meaning 'to lie down, to rest.' In a specialized sense, this root developed the euphemistic meaning 'to have sexual intercourse.' The noun form שְׁכֹבֶת is a feminine noun built from this root, concretizing the abstract act of 'lying with' into a specific term for sexual relations, particularly of an illicit nature.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it defines key boundaries of sexual morality within Israel's covenant relationship with God. Its use in the Holiness Code (Leviticus 18-20) underscores that sexual sin is not merely a private matter but a violation of holiness that defiles both the individual and the community (Leviticus 18:24-28). Understanding this Hebrew term highlights the seriousness with which the Torah views the integrity of marriage and the created order, connecting sexual ethics directly to Israel's identity as a holy nation.
In ancient Israelite culture, sexual acts were understood within a strong framework of covenant loyalty, purity, and social order. The specific prohibitions associated with שְׁכֹבֶת—against adultery and bestiality—were distinct from surrounding Canaanite practices and were central to maintaining the community's separation and holiness before Yahweh. The term's legal and negative connotation differs from a modern, neutral description of intercourse, reflecting its exclusive use for forbidden relations.
שְׁכָבָה (shᵉkhavah, H4904) — A more general term for a 'lying down' or 'act of lying,' sometimes used euphemistically for intercourse but with a broader semantic range that includes sleep or rest. תַּשְׁמֵת (tashmeth, H8392) — Refers to a 'discharge' or emission, often in ritual impurity laws (Leviticus 15), related to but distinct from the specific act denoted by שְׁכֹבֶת.
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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