What does שְׁכֶם (šĕkem) mean in the Bible?
שְׁכֶם (šĕkem): Neck/shoulder as the physical locus of burden-bearing, extending figuratively to landscape features that bear weight
Hebrew · H7926
שְׁכֶם
The neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of a hill
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שְׁכֶםH7926
Pronunciationšĕkem
What does שְׁכֶם (šĕkem) mean in the Bible?
שְׁכֶם (šĕkem): Neck/shoulder as the physical locus of burden-bearing, extending figuratively to landscape features that bear weight
Full entry for שְׁכֶם (H7926) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7926?
The BSB source-word alignment has 21 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include his shoulder (5), their shoulders (4), . . . (2), her shoulder (2), a head (1).
Where does שְׁכֶם (šĕkem) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 9:23. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (6), Isaiah (5), 1 Samuel (3), Psalms (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithis shoulder5×Genesis 49:15, Joshua 4:5, Judges 9:48, Psalms 81:6
their shoulders4×Genesis 9:23, Exodus 12:34, Isaiah 9:4, Isaiah 14:25
. . .2×1 Samuel 10:9, Psalms 21:12
her shoulder2×Genesis 24:15, Genesis 24:45
a head1×1 Samuel 9:2
he was a head1×1 Samuel 10:23
His shoulders1×Isaiah 9:6
my shoulder1×Job 31:36
ridge of land1×Genesis 48:22
shoulder1×Zephaniah 3:9
shoulders1×Genesis 21:14
your shoulders1×Isaiah 10:27
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 9:23שְׁכֶ֣םtotheir shouldersNoun - masculine singular constructGenesis 21:14שִׁכְמָ֛הּtoshouldersNoun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularGenesis 24:15שִׁכְמָֽהּ׃toher shoulderNoun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularGenesis 24:45שִׁכְמָ֔הּtoher shoulderNoun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularGenesis 48:22שְׁכֶ֥םtoridge of landNoun - masculine singularGenesis 49:15שִׁכְמוֹ֙tohis shoulderNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularExodus 12:34שִׁכְמָֽם׃totheir shouldersNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralJoshua 4:5שִׁכְמ֔וֹtohis shoulderNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularJudges 9:48שִׁכְמ֑וֹtohis shoulderNoun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular1 Samuel 9:2מִשִּׁכְמ֣וֹtoa headPreposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 9:23
Aligned rows21
Books represented9
Genesis6Exodus1Joshua1Judges11 Samuel3Job1Psalms2Isaiah5Zephaniah1
Source forms
שִׁכְמ֑וֹ4xšiḵ·mōwJudges 9:48, Psalms 81:6, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 22:22
שְׁכֶ֥ם2xšə·ḵemGenesis 48:22, Zephaniah 3:9
שִׁכְמוֹ֙2xšiḵ·mōwGenesis 49:15, 1 Samuel 10:9
שִׁכְמ֔וֹ2xšiḵ·mōwJoshua 4:5, Isaiah 9:4
מִשִּׁכְמ֣וֹ1xmiš·šiḵ·mōw1 Samuel 9:2
מִשִּׁכְמ֖וֹ1xmiš·šiḵ·mōw1 Samuel 10:23
שְׁכֶ֣ם1xšə·ḵemGenesis 9:23
שֶׁ֑כֶם1xše·ḵemPsalms 21:12
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular9xGenesis 49:15, Joshua 4:5, Judges 9:48, 1 Samuel 10:9
Noun - masculine singular3xGenesis 48:22, Psalms 21:12, Zephaniah 3:9
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular3xGenesis 21:14, Genesis 24:15, Genesis 24:45
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular2x1 Samuel 9:2, 1 Samuel 10:23
Noun - masculine singular construct1xGenesis 9:23
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular1xJob 31:36
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular1xIsaiah 10:27
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural1xExodus 12:34
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Neck/shoulder as the physical locus of burden-bearing, extending figuratively to landscape features that bear weight
Source Gloss
the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of a hill
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Neck/shoulder as the physical locus of burden-bearing, extending figuratively to landscape features that bear weight
the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of a hill BDB: shoulder Usage: back, × consent, portion, shoulder.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Authority and responsibility placed upon one as burden or office
Showing 1 selected witness from 21 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שְׁכֶם is built from this root:
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.