שׁוּעָל

Shual, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine

Definition

Shual is a proper noun used in the Old Testament to refer to both a person and a geographical region. As a person, Shual is listed as a descendant of Asher in 1 Chronicles 7:36. As a place, the 'land of Shual' is mentioned in 1 Samuel 13:17 as one of the areas raided by a Philistine marauding party during the reign of King Saul. The name itself means 'fox' or 'jackal,' derived from the common noun שׁוּעָל (shûʻāl, H7776). This shared etymology suggests the place may have been known for its terrain or wildlife associated with these animals.

Biblical Usage

The word is used only twice in the Old Testament, each time as a proper noun. In 1 Samuel 13:17, it designates a geographical region ('the land of Shual') within the territory threatened by the Philistines. In 1 Chronicles 7:36, it is used as the name of an individual within a genealogical list of the tribe of Asher. There is no narrative connection between these two uses; they are distinct references sharing only the name.

Etymology

The name Shual (שׁוּעָל) is identical to the common Hebrew noun for 'fox' or 'jackal' (H7776). It is a primary noun, not derived from a verbal root. As a place name, it follows a common ancient Near Eastern practice of naming locations after local fauna, likely describing an area where such animals were prevalent.

Semantic Range

Naming a location after a fox or jackal (Shual) likely reflected the observable characteristics of the area. In the ancient Israelite worldview, foxes/jackals were associated with desolate, rocky places (as in Lamentations 5:18 and Song of Solomon 2:15). Therefore, the 'land of Shual' might have been perceived as a rugged or sparsely inhabited frontier region, which fits the context of it being a target for a destructive Philistine raid in 1 Samuel 13:17.

שׁוּעָל (shûʻāl, H7776) — This is the common noun for 'fox' or 'jackal,' from which the proper noun Shual is directly derived.

Word Details

Scripture References