Hebrew · H7901, H929 · unreviewed

שֹׁכֵב עִם־בְּהֵמָה

To lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose) · properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

שָׁכַב H7901 to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

Pronunciation šākab

Foundational posture encompassing rest, vulnerability, intimacy, and death—the horizontal position of human dependence.

Open lexicon entry →

בְּהֵמָה H929 properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)

Pronunciation bĕhēmāh

Designates non-rational livestock or animals, emphasizing muteness and instinctual nature contrasting with human rational speech and moral agency.

Open lexicon entry →

What does שֹׁכֵב עִם־בְּהֵמָה (shokhev im-behemah) mean in the Bible?

שָׁכַב · בְּהֵמָה is a Hebrew word meaning "to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)".

Full entry for שֹׁכֵב עִם־בְּהֵמָה (H7901, H929) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 91×

Imperfect Exod 22:26 · Gen 30:15 · Job 27:19 · Job 40:21 · Lev 15:4 · Lev 15:18 · Lev 15:24 · Lev 15:33 · Lev 19:20 · Lev 20:11 · Lev 20:12 · Lev 20:13 · Lev 20:18 · Lev 20:20 · Num 23:24 · Ruth 3:4 35×

Participle active 1Sam 3:2 · 1Sam 3:3 · 1Sam 26:5 · 1Sam 26:7 · 2Kgs 9:16 · 2Sam 4:5 · 2Sam 4:7 · 2Sam 13:8 · Deut 22:22 · Deut 27:20 · Deut 27:21 · Deut 27:22 · Deut 27:23 · Deut 31:16 · Exod 22:18 · Ezek 4:9 21×

Perfect 1Kgs 11:21 · 1Sam 26:5 · Deut 22:25 · Eccl 2:23 · Gen 26:10 · Job 14:12 · Judg 5:27 · Num 5:19 · Num 24:9 · Ps 41:9 · Ezek 23:8 · Ezek 32:21 · Isa 14:18 · Isa 51:20 · Lam 2:21 · Gen 19:34 21×

Sequential imperfect 1Sam 3:5 · 1Sam 3:6 · 1Sam 3:9 · 2Sam 13:5 · Ezek 4:4 · 2Sam 13:11 · Gen 19:34 · Ruth 3:13 8×

Cohortative Ps 4:9 · Ps 57:5 · Jer 3:25 3×

Infinitive construct 2Chr 26:2 · 2Kgs 14:22 2×

Infinitive absolute Lev 15:24 1×

Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 2×

Imperfect Isa 13:16 · Zech 14:2 2×

Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 3×

Perfect 1Kgs 3:20 1×

Infinitive absolute 2Sam 8:2 1×

Imperfect Job 38:37 1×

Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action 1×

Participle passive 2Kgs 4:32 1×

Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 1×

Perfect Jer 3:2 1×

Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 98 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form

Imperfect 38 Perfect 23 Participle 21 Imperative 8 Cohortative 3 Infinitive construct 2 Infinitive absolute 2 Participle passive 1

Stem

Qal 91 Hiphil 3 Niphal 2 Hophal 1 Pual 1

Mood

Indicative/jussive 37 Indicative 23 Imperative 8 Indicative/cohortative 1

OT Occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

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

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details