What does שָׁכַן · עָפָר mean in the Bible?
שָׁכַן · עָפָר is a Hebrew phrase meaning "those dwelling in dust".
Hebrew · H7931, H6083
שֹׁכְנֵי עָפָר
To reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively) · dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay , earth , mud
Reading a lexicon entry
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
שָׁכַןH7931to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
Pronunciationšākan
Dwelling that establishes presence; God's šākan signifies covenantal residence, not mere temporary occupation.
Open lexicon entry →עָפָרH6083dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay , earth , mud
Pronunciationkə‘āp̄ār
Dust as humanity's material origin and mortality; earth from which humans are formed and to which they return.
Open lexicon entry →What does שֹׁכְנֵי עָפָר (šōḵnê ʿāphār) mean in the Bible?
שָׁכַן · עָפָר is a Hebrew phrase meaning "those dwelling in dust".
Full entry for שֹׁכְנֵי עָפָר (H7931, H6083) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H7931, H6083?
H7931, H6083 is connected to 239 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. those dwelling in dust
Source Gloss
those dwelling in dust
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 groups3Aligned forms74
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense70×
ImperfectDeut 33:12 · Gen 16:12 · Gen 49:13 · Isa 33:16 · Jer 23:6 · Job 38:19 · Job 39:28 · Judg 5:17 · Num 9:17 · Num 9:18 · Num 23:9 · Prov 1:33 · Ps 15:1 · Ps 16:9 · Ps 65:5 · Ps 68:1738×
Participle activeDeut 33:16 · Gen 14:13 · Isa 26:19 · Isa 33:5 · Isa 57:15 · Jer 49:16 · Jer 51:13 · Job 4:19 · Joel 4:17 · Joel 4:21 · Mic 7:14 · Num 5:3 · Num 24:2 · Num 35:34 · Obad 1:3 · Ps 135:2118×
PerfectDeut 33:12 · Deut 33:20 · Exod 40:35 · Josh 22:19 · Judg 5:17 · Prov 8:12 · Ps 120:5 · Ps 94:17 · Ps 120:6 · Ps 68:7 · Ps 74:211×
Sequential imperfectGen 26:2 · Ps 37:32×
CohortativePs 139:91×
Pielintensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action2×
PerfectJer 7:12 · Ps 78:602×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action2×
JussiveJob 11:14 · Ps 7:62×
Word Origins
שֹׁכְנֵי עָפָר is built from these roots: