What does שָׁכַן (šākan) mean in the Bible?
שָׁכַן (šākan): Dwelling that establishes presence; God's šākan signifies covenantal residence, not mere temporary occupation.
Hebrew · H7931
שָׁכַן
To reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
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שָׁכַן H7931
Pronunciation šākan
What does שָׁכַן (šākan) mean in the Bible?
שָׁכַן (šākan): Dwelling that establishes presence; God's šākan signifies covenantal residence, not mere temporary occupation.
Full entry for שָׁכַן (H7931) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7931?
The BSB source-word alignment has 129 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include as a dwelling (7), dwell (6), will dwell (6), settled (4), to dwell (4).
Where does שָׁכַן (šākan) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 3:24. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (23), Isaiah (13), Jeremiah (13), Deuteronomy (12).
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 as a dwelling 7× Deuteronomy 12:5, Deuteronomy 14:23, Deuteronomy 16:2, Deuteronomy 16:6
dwell 6× Numbers 5:3, Numbers 35:34, Psalms 37:3, Psalms 68:6
will dwell 6× Psalms 16:9, Isaiah 13:21, Isaiah 33:16, Isaiah 34:11
settled 4× Exodus 24:16, Numbers 9:17, Numbers 10:12, Isaiah 13:20
to dwell 4× Job 11:14, Psalms 65:4, Zechariah 2:10, Zechariah 8:8
remained 3× Numbers 9:18, Numbers 9:22, Judges 5:17
and dwell 2× Psalms 37:29, Zechariah 8:3
And I will dwell 2× 1 Kings 6:13, Ezekiel 43:9
dwells 2× Deuteronomy 33:28, Joel 3:21
He dwells 2× Job 39:28, Isaiah 33:5
he will dwell 2× Job 15:28, Jeremiah 17:6
I will dwell 2× Ezekiel 43:7, Zechariah 2:11
may dwell 2× Psalms 15:1, Psalms 85:9
O dwellers 2× Jeremiah 49:16, Obadiah 1:3
Settle 2× Genesis 26:2, Job 3:5
so that they may dwell in 2× 2 Samuel 7:10, 1 Chronicles 17:9
that He would dwell 2× 1 Kings 8:12, 2 Chronicles 6:1
they live 2× Jeremiah 49:31, Micah 7:14
was living 2× Genesis 14:13, Genesis 35:22
who dwells 2× Isaiah 8:18, Joel 3:17
will dwell securely 2× Psalms 102:28, Jeremiah 33:16
will inhabit 2× Proverbs 2:21, Isaiah 32:16
you who dwell 2× Isaiah 26:19, Jeremiah 51:13
[Egypt] will be inhabited 1× Jeremiah 46:26
[Ishmael’s descendants] settled 1× Genesis 25:18
{will} dwell 1× Proverbs 1:33
a dwelling 1× Deuteronomy 12:11
and camp 1× Micah 4:10
and dwellers 1× Isaiah 18:3
and find rest 1× Psalms 55:6
and has come to dwell 1× 1 Chronicles 23:25
and I will let you live 1× Jeremiah 7:3
and leave 1× Psalms 7:5
and remained 1× Judges 5:17
and set up 1× Joshua 18:1
and settle 1× Jeremiah 48:28
and those who dwell in them 1× Job 26:5
by way of the caravan 1× Judges 8:11
dwell together 1× Proverbs 8:12
dwelling 1× Numbers 23:9
dwelt 1× Psalms 120:6
encamped 1× Numbers 24:2
had settled 1× Exodus 40:35
have dwelt in the abode 1× Psalms 94:17
He had pitched 1× Psalms 78:60
He lies down 1× Deuteronomy 33:20
he rests 1× Deuteronomy 33:12
He settled 1× Psalms 78:55
He who dwells 1× Psalms 135:21
he will live 1× Genesis 16:12
I dwell 1× Isaiah 57:15
if I settle 1× Psalms 139:9
inhabit 1× Proverbs 10:30
made a dwelling 1× Jeremiah 7:12
may dwell [there] 1× Psalms 68:18
may he dwell 1× Genesis 9:27
nest 1× Psalms 104:12
nested 1× Ezekiel 31:13
of Him who dwelt 1× Deuteronomy 33:16
or lived in 1× Jeremiah 50:39
remain 1× Proverbs 7:11
resides 1× Job 18:15
rest 1× Deuteronomy 33:12
shall dwell 1× Genesis 49:13
sleep 1× Nahum 3:18
So I dwelt 1× Job 29:25
so that I may dwell 1× Exodus 25:8
so that I might dwell 1× Exodus 29:46
so that they lived 1× Job 30:6
so that you will abide 1× Psalms 37:27
stands 1× Joshua 22:19
stationed 1× Genesis 3:24
taking shelter 1× Ezekiel 17:23
that I live 1× Psalms 120:5
Then I will dwell 1× Exodus 29:45
then I will let you live 1× Jeremiah 7:7
they settle down 1× Job 37:8
they will dwell 1× Isaiah 34:17
those who dwell 1× Job 4:19
to settle 1× Ezekiel 32:4
to settle you 1× Numbers 14:30
to the home 1× Job 38:19
where You dwell 1× Psalms 74:2
which abides 1× Leviticus 16:16
who dwell 1× Jeremiah 25:24
who inhabits 1× Isaiah 57:15
will nest 1× Ezekiel 17:23
will settle 1× Psalms 69:36
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 3:24 וַיַּשְׁכֵּן֩ to stationed Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 9:27 וְיִשְׁכֹּ֖ן to may he dwell Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 14:13 שֹׁכֵ֨ן to was living Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Genesis 16:12 יִשְׁכֹּֽן׃ to he will live Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 25:18 וַיִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ to [Ishmael’s descendants] settled Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Genesis 26:2 שְׁכֹ֣ן to Settle Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Genesis 35:22 בִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן to was living Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Genesis 49:13 יִשְׁכֹּ֑ן to shall dwell Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Exodus 24:16 וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֤ן to settled Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Exodus 25:8 וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י to so that I may dwell Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 3:24
Aligned rows 129
Books represented 23
Genesis 8 Exodus 5 Leviticus 1 Numbers 10 Deuteronomy 12 Joshua 2 Judges 3 2 Samuel 1 1 Kings 2 1 Chronicles 2 2 Chronicles 1 Nehemiah 1 Job 11 Psalms 23 Proverbs 5 Isaiah 13 Jeremiah 13 Ezekiel 6 Joel 2 Obadiah 1 Micah 2 Nahum 1 Zechariah 4
Source forms
יִשְׁכְּנוּ־ 5x yiš·kə·nū- Psalms 69:36, Proverbs 10:30, Isaiah 34:11, Isaiah 34:17
לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן 5x lə·šak·kên Numbers 14:30, Deuteronomy 16:2, Deuteronomy 16:11, Deuteronomy 26:2
יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן 3x yiš·kōn Deuteronomy 33:12, Psalms 16:9, Psalms 68:16
יִשְׁכָּן־ 3x yiš·kān- Numbers 9:17, Job 38:19, Proverbs 1:33
שֹׁכֵ֥ן 3x šō·ḵên Numbers 5:3, Isaiah 57:15, Joel 3:21
שֹׁכֵ֖ן 3x šō·ḵên Numbers 24:2, Isaiah 33:5, Joel 3:17
וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן 2x way·yiš·kōn Numbers 10:12, 1 Chronicles 23:25
וְשָׁכַ֣ן 2x wə·šā·ḵan 2 Samuel 7:10, 1 Chronicles 17:9
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 17x Genesis 16:12, Genesis 49:13, Numbers 9:17, Numbers 9:18
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural 11x Psalms 69:36, Psalms 102:28, Proverbs 2:21, Proverbs 7:11
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 10x Genesis 14:13, Numbers 5:3, Numbers 24:2, Numbers 35:34
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct 8x Numbers 14:30, Deuteronomy 12:11, Deuteronomy 14:23, Deuteronomy 16:2
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular 7x Exodus 25:8, Exodus 29:45, 1 Kings 6:13, Ezekiel 43:9
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 7x Job 3:5, Job 18:15, Job 37:8, Isaiah 13:20
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct 6x Numbers 9:22, 1 Kings 8:12, 2 Chronicles 6:1, Job 30:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 5x Exodus 24:16, Numbers 10:12, Deuteronomy 33:28, 1 Chronicles 23:25
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Dwelling that establishes presence; God's šākan signifies covenantal residence, not mere temporary occupation.
Strong's H7931
Lexical occurrences 129 verses Word forms 3 forms 74 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Proverbs 10:30 Source Gloss
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Dwelling that establishes presence; God's šākan signifies covenantal residence, not mere temporary occupation.
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively) BDB: settle down Usage: abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up).
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 74
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 70×
Imperfect Deut 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 68:17 38×
Participle active Deut 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 135:21 18×
Perfect Deut 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 74:2 11×
Sequential imperfect Gen 26:2 · Ps 37:3 2×
Cohortative Ps 139:9 1×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 2×
Perfect Jer 7:12 · Ps 78:60 2×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 2×
Jussive Job 11:14 · Ps 7:6 2×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
righteous person's permanent, stable residence or abiding state
Showing 1 selected witness from 129 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שָׁכַן is built from these roots:
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