What does שְׁחֵלֶת (šĕḥēlet) mean in the Bible?
שְׁחֵלֶת (šĕḥēlet): Aromatic mollusk shell used as incense ingredient in sacred perfume; rare luxury item signaling covenant worship.
Hebrew · H7827
שְׁחֵלֶת
A scale or shell, i.e. the aromatic mussel .
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
שְׁחֵלֶת H7827
Pronunciation šĕḥēlet
What does שְׁחֵלֶת (šĕḥēlet) mean in the Bible?
שְׁחֵלֶת (šĕḥēlet): Aromatic mollusk shell used as incense ingredient in sacred perfume; rare luxury item signaling covenant worship.
Full entry for שְׁחֵלֶת (H7827) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7827?
The BSB source-word alignment has 1 aligned row for this entry. Common renderings include onycha (1).
Where does שְׁחֵלֶת (šĕḥēlet) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 30:34. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It onycha 1× Exodus 30:34
Show sample aligned rows
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 30:34
Aligned rows 1
Books represented 1
Exodus 1
Source forms
וּשְׁחֵ֙לֶת֙ 1x ū·šə·ḥê·leṯ Exodus 30:34
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular 1x Exodus 30:34
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Aromatic mollusk shell used as incense ingredient in sacred perfume; rare luxury item signaling covenant worship.
Source Gloss
a scale or shell, i.e. the aromatic mussel .
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Aromatic mollusk shell used as incense ingredient in sacred perfume; rare luxury item signaling covenant worship.
a scale or shell, i.e. the aromatic mussel. Usage: onycha.
Word Origins
שְׁחֵלֶת is built from this root:
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain