Bible Word Study
שׁוּל
shûwl · a skirt; by implication, a bottom edge
שׁוּל
a skirt; by implication, a bottom edge
Definition
The Hebrew noun שׁוּל (shûwl) primarily refers to the 'skirt' or 'hem' of a garment, specifically the lower edge or border that hangs down. In the priestly garments of Exodus 28:33-34 and Exodus 39:24-26, it describes the decorative hem of the high priest's robe, adorned with pomegranates and bells. In a more majestic context, it denotes the 'train' of a royal robe, as seen in Isaiah 6:1, where the train of the Lord's robe fills the temple. The word can also be used metaphorically for the 'skirts' of a garment in contexts of shame or exposure, as in Jeremiah 13:22, 26.
Biblical Usage
This word is used ten times in the Old Testament, primarily in two contexts. First, it appears in detailed descriptions of the high priest's ceremonial garments in Exodus 28 and 39, specifying the hem of the robe. Second, it is used in prophetic literature: in Isaiah 6:1 for the Lord's majestic train, and in Jeremiah 13:22, 26 metaphorically for the 'skirts' being uncovered as an image of Jerusalem's humiliation and shame. The usage shifts from a literal, ritual object to a powerful symbolic image.
Etymology
Derived from an unused root meaning 'to hang down,' שׁוּל directly relates to the part of a garment that hangs loose. It is a concrete noun focused on the lower, dangling edge of clothing.
Semantic Range
This word enriches understanding of biblical imagery related to holiness, majesty, and judgment. The hem of the high priest's robe (Exodus 28) signifies sacred order and the mediation of holiness. The train of the Lord in Isaiah 6:1 visually communicates His overwhelming glory and kingship. In Jeremiah, the exposure of the 'skirts' is a stark metaphor for spiritual adultery and the resulting public shame, connecting garment imagery to covenant faithfulness and consequences. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the hem or fringe of a garment was often a significant marker. For priests, it could denote their sacred office. For others, the hem could carry legal or identity significance, sometimes even serving as a personal seal. The 'train' of a robe was a specific indicator of extreme royalty and high status, as only the very wealthy or powerful could afford the extra fabric and had the space to move without soiling it. כָּנָף (kānāph, H3671) — often 'wing' or 'extremity,' but can also mean the corner or edge of a garment, like the tassels Israelites were to wear (Numbers 15:38). פֵּאָה (pē'âh, H6285) — a 'corner' or 'edge,' commonly used for the corners of the beard or altar, and sometimes for garment borders.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]