שִׁכְמָה
the shoulderbone
Definition
The Hebrew noun שִׁכְמָה (shikmâh) refers specifically to the shoulder blade or shoulder bone. It is a feminine form derived from the more common masculine noun שְׁכֶם (shekem, H7926), which broadly means 'shoulder' or 'back' and can refer to the entire shoulder region. In its single biblical occurrence in Job 31:22, the word denotes the literal anatomical part, used in a vivid image of physical violence. There are no other attested biblical senses or metaphorical uses for this specific term.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in the book of Job. It appears in Job 31:22 within Job's oath of innocence, where he declares, 'then let my shoulder blade (שִׁכְמָה) fall from my shoulder.' The context is a self-imprecation, using the image of a dislocated or severed shoulder blade as a graphic consequence for hypothetical wrongdoing, specifically violence against the fatherless. Its usage is purely literal and poetic, emphasizing the severity of the crime.
Etymology
שִׁכְמָה (shikmâh) is the feminine form of the masculine noun שְׁכֶם (shekem, H7926), meaning 'shoulder,' 'back,' or 'ridge.' The root שׁ־כ־ם is associated with bearing a burden or load, as the shoulder is the part of the body used for carrying. The feminine form here likely specifies the specific bone of the shoulder, making it a more precise anatomical term than its masculine counterpart.
Semantic Range
In the ancient Near Eastern context, the shoulder was a symbol of strength, labor, and bearing responsibility. A severe injury to the shoulder, such as the dislocation or removal of the shoulder blade described in Job 31:22, would render a person incapable of physical work or defense, representing a complete loss of power and utility. This makes Job's oath particularly potent, as he invokes a curse of total physical incapacitation for himself if he is guilty of the abuse he denies.
שְׁכֶם (shekem, H7926) — The broader term for 'shoulder' or 'back,' often used for bearing burdens or in the context of authority (e.g., Isaiah 9:6). כָּתֵף (kateph, H3802) — Another common word for 'shoulder' or 'side,' frequently used for carrying objects (e.g., Exodus 12:34) or describing geographical features like a mountain slope.
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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