What does שָׁקַל mean in the Bible?
שָׁקַל is a Hebrew word meaning "to suspend or poise (especially in trade)".
Hebrew · H8254
שָׁקַל
To suspend or poise (especially in trade)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
שָׁקַל H8254
What does שָׁקַל mean in the Bible?
שָׁקַל is a Hebrew word meaning "to suspend or poise (especially in trade)".
Full entry for שָׁקַל (H8254) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8254?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and I weighed out (2), to pay (2), . . . (1), [the man] still must pay (1), and weigh out (1).
Where does שָׁקַל appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 23:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezra (4), Isaiah (4), Job (4), 2 Samuel (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 It and I weighed out 2× Ezra 8:25, Jeremiah 32:9
to pay 2× Esther 3:9, Esther 4:7
. . . 1× Job 6:2
[the man] still must pay 1× Exodus 22:17
and weigh out 1× Isaiah 46:6
and weighed out 1× Jeremiah 32:10
be weighed out 1× Job 28:15
could be weighed 1× Job 6:2
he would weigh 1× 2 Samuel 14:26
I weighed out 1× Ezra 8:26
is he who weighs 1× Isaiah 33:18
let God weigh me 1× Job 31:6
or weighed 1× Isaiah 40:12
So they weighed out 1× Zechariah 11:12
spend 1× Isaiah 55:2
we weighed out 1× Ezra 8:33
weighed out 1× Genesis 23:16
were weighed out 1× 2 Samuel 18:12
you weigh them out 1× Ezra 8:29
you will weigh out 1× 1 Kings 20:39
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 23:16 וַיִּשְׁקֹ֤ל to weighed out Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Exodus 22:17 יִשְׁקֹ֔ל to [the man] still must pay Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 2 Samuel 14:26 וְשָׁקַל֙ to he would weigh Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 2 Samuel 18:12 שֹׁקֵ֤ל to were weighed out Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 1 Kings 20:39 תִּשְׁקֽוֹל׃ to you will weigh out Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Ezra 8:25 וָאֶשְׁקוֹלָה to and I weighed out Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular Ezra 8:26 וָאֶשְׁקֲלָ֨ה to I weighed out Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular Ezra 8:29 תִּשְׁקְל֡וּ to you weigh them out Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Ezra 8:33 נִשְׁקַ֣ל to we weighed out Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Esther 3:9 אֶשְׁקוֹל֙ to to pay Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 23:16
Aligned rows 22
Books represented 10
Genesis 1 Exodus 1 2 Samuel 2 1 Kings 1 Ezra 4 Esther 2 Job 4 Isaiah 4 Jeremiah 2 Zechariah 1
Source forms
אֶשְׁקוֹל֙ 1x ’eš·qō·wl Esther 3:9
וָאֶשְׁקוֹלָה 1x wå̄·ʾɛš·qō·lå̄h Ezra 8:25
וָאֶשְׁקֹ֥ל 1x wā·’eš·qōl Jeremiah 32:10
וָאֶשְׁקֲלָ֨ה 1x wā·’eš·qă·lāh Ezra 8:26
וָֽאֶשְׁקֲלָה־ 1x wā·’eš·qă·lāh- Jeremiah 32:9
וַיִּשְׁקֹ֤ל 1x way·yiš·qōl Genesis 23:16
וַיִּשְׁקְל֥וּ 1x way·yiš·qə·lū Zechariah 11:12
וְשָׁקַל֙ 1x wə·šā·qal 2 Samuel 14:26
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular 3x Ezra 8:25, Ezra 8:26, Jeremiah 32:9
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular 2x 2 Samuel 14:26, Isaiah 40:12
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Job 6:2, Job 28:15
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural 2x Ezra 8:29, Isaiah 55:2
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular 2x 2 Samuel 18:12, Isaiah 33:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular 1x Jeremiah 32:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 1x Zechariah 11:12
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x Genesis 23:16
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to suspend or poise (especially in trade)
Source Gloss
to suspend or poise (especially in trade)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to suspend or poise (especially in trade) BDB: weigh Usage: pay, receive(-r), spend, × throughly, weigh.
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 2 Aligned forms 12
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 9×
Imperfect Ezra 8:29 · Isa 55:2 · 1Kgs 20:39 · Esth 3:9 · Exod 22:16 · Isa 46:6 6×
Participle active 2Sam 18:12 · Isa 33:18 2×
Infinitive absolute Job 6:2 1×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 3×
Imperfect Job 6:2 · Job 28:15 2×
Perfect Ezra 8:33 1×
Word Origins
שָׁקַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.
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