What does שָׂכַל (šākal) mean in the Bible?
שָׂכַל (šākal): Prudent awareness combining careful observation with wise action; intelligence grounded in circumspection rather than mere knowledge
Hebrew · H7919
שָׂכַל
To be (causatively, make or act ) circumspect and hence, intelligent
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שָׂכַל H7919
Pronunciation šākal
What does שָׂכַל (šākal) mean in the Bible?
שָׂכַל (šākal): Prudent awareness combining careful observation with wise action; intelligence grounded in circumspection rather than mere knowledge
Full entry for שָׂכַל (H7919) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7919?
The BSB source-word alignment has 62 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include you may prosper (3), a wise (2), and understanding (2), understand (2), . . . (1).
Where does שָׂכַל (šākal) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 3:6. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (13), Psalms (11), Daniel (9), Jeremiah (6).
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 you may prosper 3× Deuteronomy 29:9, Joshua 1:7, 1 Kings 2:3
a wise 2× Proverbs 14:35, Proverbs 17:2
and understanding 2× Jeremiah 3:15, Daniel 1:17
understand 2× Psalms 14:2, Psalms 53:2
. . . 1× 2 Chronicles 30:22
[and] prospered 1× 1 Samuel 18:5
[is] a wise 1× Proverbs 10:5
[is] the one who cares 1× Psalms 41:1
a wise man 1× Job 22:2
and crossing 1× Genesis 48:14
and giving attention 1× Daniel 9:13
and he prospered 1× 2 Kings 18:7
and succeed 1× Joshua 1:8
and understand 1× Isaiah 41:20
and understand this 1× Daniel 9:25
be wise 1× Psalms 2:10
but a prudent 1× Proverbs 19:14
but the wise 1× Daniel 12:10
considers 1× Proverbs 21:12
for obtaining wisdom 1× Genesis 3:6
for the wise 1× Proverbs 15:24
gifted 1× Daniel 1:4
grasp 1× Psalms 106:7
has made clear to me 1× 1 Chronicles 28:19
he succeeds 1× Proverbs 17:8
I have more insight 1× Psalms 119:99
I will instruct you 1× Psalms 32:8
I will ponder 1× Psalms 101:2
in wise living 1× Proverbs 1:3
insight 1× Job 34:35
instructs 1× Proverbs 16:23
is instructed 1× Proverbs 21:11
is wise 1× Proverbs 10:19
of understanding 1× Proverbs 21:16
prospered 1× Jeremiah 10:21
regard 1× Job 34:27
so they cannot understand 1× Isaiah 44:18
so they will ponder 1× Psalms 64:9
succeeded 1× Jeremiah 20:11
successful 1× 1 Samuel 18:15
that he understands 1× Jeremiah 9:24
the prudent 1× Amos 5:13
the wise 1× Daniel 11:35
Then the wise 1× Daniel 12:3
they would understand 1× Deuteronomy 32:29
Those with insight 1× Daniel 11:33
to be wise 1× Psalms 36:3
to give you insight 1× Daniel 9:22
to instruct them 1× Nehemiah 9:20
to prosper 1× 1 Samuel 18:14
to study 1× Nehemiah 8:13
was more successful 1× 1 Samuel 18:30
Whoever heeds 1× Proverbs 16:20
will be like skilled 1× Jeremiah 50:9
will prosper 1× Isaiah 52:13
will you be wise 1× Psalms 94:8
wisely 1× Jeremiah 23:5
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 3:6 לְהַשְׂכִּ֔יל to for obtaining wisdom Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Genesis 48:14 שִׂכֵּל֙ to and crossing Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Deuteronomy 29:9 תַּשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ to you may prosper Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Deuteronomy 32:29 יַשְׂכִּ֣ילוּ to they would understand Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Joshua 1:7 תַּשְׂכִּ֔יל to you may prosper Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Joshua 1:8 תַּשְׂכִּֽיל׃ to and succeed Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 1 Samuel 18:5 יַשְׂכִּ֔יל to [and] prospered Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 18:14 מַשְׂכִּ֑יל to to prosper Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular 1 Samuel 18:15 מַשְׂכִּ֣יל to successful Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular 1 Samuel 18:30 שָׂכַ֤ל to was more successful Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 3:6
Aligned rows 62
Books represented 16
Genesis 2 Deuteronomy 2 Joshua 2 1 Samuel 4 1 Kings 1 2 Kings 1 1 Chronicles 1 2 Chronicles 1 Nehemiah 2 Job 3 Psalms 11 Proverbs 13 Isaiah 3 Jeremiah 6 Daniel 9 Amos 1
Source forms
מַשְׂכִּ֑יל 5x maś·kîl 1 Samuel 18:14, Psalms 14:2, Psalms 53:2, Proverbs 10:5
מַשְׂכִּ֣יל 4x maś·kîl 1 Samuel 18:15, Psalms 41:1, Proverbs 16:20, Proverbs 21:12
הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ 2x hiś·kî·lū Jeremiah 10:21, Jeremiah 20:11
הִשְׂכִּֽילוּ׃ 2x hiś·kî·lū Job 34:27, Psalms 64:9
הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל 2x haś·kêl Proverbs 1:3, Proverbs 21:16
וּלְהַשְׂכִּ֖יל 2x ū·lə·haś·kîl Nehemiah 8:13, Daniel 9:13
מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃ 2x maś·kîl Job 22:2, Proverbs 10:19
אַשְׂכִּ֤ילָה׀ 1x ’aś·kî·lāh Psalms 101:2
Parsing patterns
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular 13x 1 Samuel 18:14, 1 Samuel 18:15, Job 22:2, Psalms 14:2
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 5x 1 Samuel 18:5, 2 Kings 18:7, Proverbs 16:23, Proverbs 17:8
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural 5x Job 34:27, Psalms 64:9, Psalms 106:7, Jeremiah 10:21
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 3x Joshua 1:7, Joshua 1:8, 1 Kings 2:3
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute 3x Proverbs 1:3, Proverbs 21:16, Jeremiah 9:24
Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural 2x 2 Chronicles 30:22, Daniel 11:35
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute 2x Jeremiah 3:15, Daniel 1:17
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural 2x Daniel 12:3, Daniel 12:10
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Prudent awareness combining careful observation with wise action; intelligence grounded in circumspection rather than mere knowledge
Strong's H7919
Lexical occurrences 63 verses Word forms 3 forms 40 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Proverbs 16:20 Source Gloss
to be (causatively, make or act ) circumspect and hence, intelligent
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Prudent awareness combining careful observation with wise action; intelligence grounded in circumspection rather than mere knowledge
to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent BDB: be prudent Usage: consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent(-ly), (give) skill(-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand(-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise(-ly), guide wittingly.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 3 Aligned forms 40
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 37×
Participle active 1Sam 18:14 · 1Sam 18:15 · Jer 50:9 · Job 22:2 · Prov 10:5 · Prov 10:19 · Prov 14:35 · Prov 16:20 · Prov 17:2 · Prov 19:14 · Prov 21:12 · Ps 14:2 · Ps 41:2 · Ps 53:3 14×
Imperfect 1Sam 18:5 · 2Kgs 18:7 · Isa 52:13 · Prov 16:23 · Prov 17:8 · 1Kgs 2:3 · Josh 1:7 · Josh 1:8 · Deut 29:8 · Ps 94:8 · Deut 32:29 11×
Perfect Jer 10:21 · Jer 20:11 · Job 34:27 · Ps 64:10 · Ps 106:7 · 1Chr 28:19 · Ps 119:99 7×
Infinitive absolute Jer 9:23 · Prov 1:3 · Prov 21:16 3×
Sequential imperfect Ps 2:10 1×
Cohortative Ps 101:2 1×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 1×
Perfect 1Sam 18:30 1×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 1×
Perfect Gen 48:14 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
one who acts with circumspection and understanding prospers
a slave who acts intelligently and circumspectly rules over sons
the wise person gains knowledge through observation and instruction
the wise heart makes the mouth persuasive and adds learning to lips
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 63 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שָׂכַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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.
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