What does שָׁקַע (šāqaʿ) mean in the Bible?
שָׁקַע (šāqaʿ): Downward descent movement: literal sinking or submersion, extending figuratively to cessation, defeat, and subduing of opposition.
Hebrew · H8257
שָׁקַע
To subside ; by implication, to be overflowed , cease ; causatively, to abate , subdue
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.
שָׁקַע H8257
Pronunciation šāqaʿ
What does שָׁקַע (šāqaʿ) mean in the Bible?
שָׁקַע (šāqaʿ): Downward descent movement: literal sinking or submersion, extending figuratively to cessation, defeat, and subduing of opposition.
Full entry for שָׁקַע (H8257) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8257?
The BSB source-word alignment has 5 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (1), died down (1), settle (1), then sinks (1), will sink (1).
Where does שָׁקַע (šāqaʿ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Numbers 11:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Amos (1), Ezekiel (1), Jeremiah (1), Job (1).
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 . . . 1× Job 41:1
died down 1× Numbers 11:2
settle 1× Ezekiel 32:14
then sinks 1× Amos 9:5
will sink 1× Jeremiah 51:64
Show sample aligned rows
Numbers 11:2 וַתִּשְׁקַ֖ע to died down Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular Job 41:1 תַּשְׁקִ֥יעַ to . . . Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Jeremiah 51:64 תִּשְׁקַ֨ע to will sink Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Ezekiel 32:14 אַשְׁקִ֣יעַ to settle Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular Amos 9:5 וְשָׁקְעָ֖ה to then sinks Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Numbers 11:2
Aligned rows 5
Books represented 5
Numbers 1 Job 1 Jeremiah 1 Ezekiel 1 Amos 1
Source forms
אַשְׁקִ֣יעַ 1x ’aš·qî·a‘ Ezekiel 32:14
וְשָׁקְעָ֖ה 1x wə·šā·qə·‘āh Amos 9:5
וַתִּשְׁקַ֖ע 1x wat·tiš·qa‘ Numbers 11:2
תַּשְׁקִ֥יעַ 1x taš·qî·a‘ Job 41:1
תִּשְׁקַ֨ע 1x tiš·qa‘ Jeremiah 51:64
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular 1x Amos 9:5
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular 1x Numbers 11:2
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular 1x Ezekiel 32:14
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular 1x Job 41:1
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular 1x Jeremiah 51:64
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Downward descent movement: literal sinking or submersion, extending figuratively to cessation, defeat, and subduing of opposition.
Source Gloss
to subside ; by implication, to be overflowed , cease ; causatively, to abate , subdue
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Downward descent movement: literal sinking or submersion, extending figuratively to cessation, defeat, and subduing of opposition.
to subside; by implication, to be overflowed, cease; causatively, to abate, subdue BDB: sink Usage: make deep, let down, drown, quench, sink.
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 3
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 2×
Imperfect Ezek 32:14 · Job 40:25 2×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 1×
Imperfect Jer 51:64 1×
Word Origins
שָׁקַע 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