What does סֻכָּה (sukkah) mean in the Bible?
סֻכָּה (sukkah): Temporary shelter embodying covenant memory; moves from literal booth to metaphor for divine protection and presence
Hebrew · H5521
סֻכָּה
A hut or lair
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סֻכָּהH5521
Pronunciationsukkah
What does סֻכָּה (sukkah) mean in the Bible?
סֻכָּה (sukkah): Temporary shelter embodying covenant memory; moves from literal booth to metaphor for divine protection and presence
Full entry for סֻכָּה (H5521) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5521?
The BSB source-word alignment has 31 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include of Tabernacles (9), in booths (4), booths (3), a canopy (2), a shelter (2).
Where does סֻכָּה (sukkah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 33:17. Its strongest book concentrations include Nehemiah (5), Leviticus (4), Deuteronomy (3), Job (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itof Tabernacles9×Leviticus 23:34, Deuteronomy 16:13, Deuteronomy 16:16, Deuteronomy 31:10
in booths4×Leviticus 23:42, Leviticus 23:43, Nehemiah 8:14
booths3×Nehemiah 8:15, Nehemiah 8:16, Nehemiah 8:17
a canopy2×2 Samuel 22:12, Psalms 18:11
a shelter2×Isaiah 4:6, Jonah 4:5
and shelters1×Genesis 33:17
from His pavilion1×Job 36:29
in tents1×2 Samuel 11:11
in the thicket1×Job 38:40
in their tents1×1 Kings 20:12
in them1×Nehemiah 8:17
in Your shelter1×Psalms 31:20
like a hut1×Job 27:18
like a shelter1×Isaiah 1:8
tent1×Amos 9:11
were in their tents1×1 Kings 20:16
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 33:17סֻכֹּ֔תtoand sheltersNoun - feminine pluralLeviticus 23:34הַסֻּכּ֛וֹתtoof TabernaclesArticle | Noun - feminine pluralLeviticus 23:42בַּסֻּכֹּ֥תtoin boothsPreposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine pluralLeviticus 23:42בַּסֻּכֹּֽת׃toin boothsPreposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine pluralLeviticus 23:43בַסֻּכּ֗וֹתtoin boothsPreposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine pluralDeuteronomy 16:13הַסֻּכֹּ֛תtoof TabernaclesArticle | Noun - feminine pluralDeuteronomy 16:16הַסֻּכּ֑וֹתtoof TabernaclesArticle | Noun - feminine pluralDeuteronomy 31:10הַסֻּכּֽוֹת׃toof TabernaclesArticle | Noun - feminine plural2 Samuel 11:11בַּסֻּכּ֗וֹתtoin tentsPreposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural2 Samuel 22:12סֻכּ֑וֹתtoa canopyNoun - feminine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 33:17
Aligned rows31
Books represented14
Genesis1Leviticus4Deuteronomy32 Samuel21 Kings22 Chronicles1Ezra1Nehemiah5Job3Psalms2Isaiah2Amos1Jonah1Zechariah3
Source forms
הַסֻּכּֽוֹת׃5xhas·suk·kō·wṯDeuteronomy 31:10, 2 Chronicles 8:13, Zechariah 14:16, Zechariah 14:18
בַּסֻּכּ֗וֹת2xbas·suk·kō·wṯ2 Samuel 11:11, 1 Kings 20:16
בְּסֻכָּ֗ה1xbə·suk·kāhPsalms 31:20
בַסֻּכָּ֣ה1xḇas·suk·kāhJob 38:40
בַסֻּכּ֗וֹת1xḇas·suk·kō·wṯLeviticus 23:43
בַסֻּכּוֹת֒1xḇas·suk·kō·wṯNehemiah 8:17
בַּסֻּכּ֑וֹת1xbas·suk·kō·wṯ1 Kings 20:12
בַּסֻּכּ֛וֹת1xbas·suk·kō·wṯNehemiah 8:14
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - feminine plural9xLeviticus 23:34, Deuteronomy 16:13, Deuteronomy 16:16, Deuteronomy 31:10
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural8xLeviticus 23:42, Leviticus 23:43, 2 Samuel 11:11, 1 Kings 20:12
Noun - feminine plural5xGenesis 33:17, 2 Samuel 22:12, Nehemiah 8:15, Nehemiah 8:16
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular2xJob 36:29, Psalms 18:11
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular1xIsaiah 4:6
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular1xJob 27:18
Noun - feminine singular1xJonah 4:5
Noun - feminine singular construct1xAmos 9:11
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Temporary shelter embodying covenant memory; moves from literal booth to metaphor for divine protection and presence
Source Gloss
a hut or lair
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Temporary shelter embodying covenant memory; moves from literal booth to metaphor for divine protection and presence
a hut or lair BDB: thicket Usage: booth, cottage, covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Temporary shelter used during the Feast of Booths.
In a pavilion; in a booth; a temporary and protective structure that offers sanctuary
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 31 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
סֻכָּה is built from this root:
סֹךְH5520
Why This Word Matters
The sukkah symbolizes dependence on God’s provision and reminds the community of their pilgrim history.Nehemiah 8:13-18
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.