סִכּוּת

סִכּוּת

an (idolatrous) booth

Definition

The Hebrew word סִכּוּת refers to a specific type of booth or tabernacle, but one used for idolatrous worship. It is not a general term for a shelter but denotes a portable shrine or cultic booth associated with a foreign deity. The term appears only once in the Old Testament, in Amos 5:26, where it is used in a prophetic condemnation of Israel's idolatry. There, it is paired with the name of a pagan god, 'Sakkuth your king,' indicating its function as a shrine for carrying an idol.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only in Amos 5:26. The context is a prophetic oracle where God, through Amos, confronts the northern kingdom of Israel for their syncretistic worship and idolatry, even as they maintained the outward forms of Yahweh worship. The word is used specifically to name the portable shrine for the Mesopotamian god Sakkuth (possibly associated with the planet Saturn), which the Israelites were carrying during their wilderness wanderings or in their cultic processions.

Etymology

סִכּוּת (çikkûwth) is a feminine noun derived from the root סָךְ (sāk, H5519), which means 'to cover' or 'to screen.' This root is also the basis for the common word for a 'booth' or 'hut' (סֻכָּה, sukkah), such as those used in the Feast of Tabernacles. The derivation suggests a covered structure. The specific form סִכּוּת, however, became a proper name for this idolatrous object, showing how a neutral term for a shelter could be co-opted for a specific pagan cultic item.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as a stark symbol of covenant betrayal. Its single use in Amos highlights the grave sin of idolatry—mixing the worship of Yahweh with foreign gods. Understanding that this 'booth' was not just any shelter but a dedicated shrine for a pagan deity deepens the reader's grasp of the prophetic accusation. It illustrates how God's people had fundamentally corrupted their worship, replacing the portable Tabernacle of Yahweh with a portable shrine for a star-god, violating the first commandment. In the ancient Near East, portable shrines for deities were common, especially for military campaigns or processions, as it was believed the god traveled with the army or people. The reference in Amos 5:26 suggests the Israelites had adopted this pagan cultural practice, likely from Assyrian or Babylonian influence. The 'booth' of Sakkuth would have been a small, covered structure housing an image or symbol of the god, fundamentally different in purpose from the Israelite סֻכָּה (sukkah), which commemorated God's provision. סֻכָּה (sukkâh, H5521) — A neutral or positive term for a booth, hut, or temporary shelter; most famously the booths used in the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:42). מִשְׁכָּן (mishkān, H4908) — The Tabernacle, the sacred dwelling place of Yahweh among Israel. אֹהֶל (ʼohel, H168) — A general term for a tent, often used for a dwelling or for the Tent of Meeting.

Word Details