What does שָׁקַף (hišqîp̄) mean in the Bible?
שָׁקַף (hišqîp̄): Leaning out to look: physical vantage point that enables seeing or being observed from above
Hebrew · H8259
שָׁקַף
Properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle )
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שָׁקַףH8259
Pronunciationhišqîp̄
What does שָׁקַף (hišqîp̄) mean in the Bible?
שָׁקַף (hišqîp̄): Leaning out to look: physical vantage point that enables seeing or being observed from above
Full entry for שָׁקַף (H8259) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8259?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include looked down (5), looks down (4), looked out (2), and looked down (1), He looked (1).
Where does שָׁקַף (hišqîp̄) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 18:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (4), Genesis (3), 2 Kings (2), 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 Itlooked down5×Genesis 26:8, Exodus 14:24, 2 Samuel 6:16, 2 Kings 9:32
looks down4×Psalms 14:2, Psalms 53:2, Psalms 85:11, Lamentations 3:50
looked out2×Genesis 18:16, 2 Samuel 24:20
and looked down1×2 Kings 9:30
He looked1×Genesis 19:28
He looked down1×Psalms 102:19
I looked1×Proverbs 7:6
Look down1×Deuteronomy 26:15
looked1×Judges 5:28
looms1×Jeremiah 6:1
overlooking1×1 Samuel 13:18
overlooks1×Numbers 21:20
which overlooks1×Numbers 23:28
who shines1×Song Of Solomon 6:10
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 18:16וַיַּשְׁקִ֖פוּtolooked outConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralGenesis 19:28וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ףtoHe lookedConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 26:8וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ףtolooked downConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 14:24וַיַּשְׁקֵ֤ףtolooked downConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 21:20וְנִשְׁקָ֖פָהtooverlooksConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularNumbers 23:28הַנִּשְׁקָ֖ףtowhich overlooksArticle | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularDeuteronomy 26:15הַשְׁקִיפָה֩toLook downVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularJudges 5:28נִשְׁקְפָ֧הtolookedVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular1 Samuel 13:18הַנִּשְׁקָ֛ףtooverlookingArticle | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular2 Samuel 6:16נִשְׁקְפָ֣ה׀tolooked downVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 18:16
Aligned rows22
Books represented14
Genesis3Exodus1Numbers2Deuteronomy1Judges11 Samuel12 Samuel22 Kings21 Chronicles1Psalms4Proverbs1Song Of Solomon1Jeremiah1Lamentations1
Source forms
הִשְׁקִ֪יף2xhiš·qîp̄Psalms 14:2, Psalms 53:2
וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף2xway·yaš·qêp̄Genesis 19:28, Genesis 26:8
נִשְׁקְפָ֣ה׀2xniš·qə·p̄āh2 Samuel 6:16, 1 Chronicles 15:29
הַנִּשְׁקָ֖ף1xhan·niš·qāp̄Numbers 23:28
הַנִּשְׁקָ֛ף1xhan·niš·qāp̄1 Samuel 13:18
הַנִּשְׁקָפָ֖ה1xhan·niš·qā·p̄āhSong Of Solomon 6:10
הִ֭שְׁקִיף1xhiš·qîp̄Psalms 102:19
הַשְׁקִיפָה֩1xhaš·qî·p̄āhDeuteronomy 26:15
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular4xGenesis 19:28, Genesis 26:8, Exodus 14:24, 2 Samuel 24:20
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular4xJudges 5:28, 2 Samuel 6:16, 1 Chronicles 15:29, Jeremiah 6:1
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular3xPsalms 14:2, Psalms 53:2, Psalms 102:19
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular2xNumbers 23:28, 1 Samuel 13:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural2xGenesis 18:16, 2 Kings 9:32
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular1xSong Of Solomon 6:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular1x2 Kings 9:30
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular1xNumbers 21:20
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Leaning out to look: physical vantage point that enables seeing or being observed from above
Strong'sH8259
Lexical occurrences22 versesWord forms2 forms10 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkPsalms 14:1–3Source Gloss
properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle )
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Leaning out to look: physical vantage point that enables seeing or being observed from above
properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle) BDB: overhang Usage: appear, look (down, forth, out).
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 groups2Aligned forms10
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action6×
Perfect1Chr 15:29 · 2Sam 6:16 · Jer 6:1 · Judg 5:28 · Prov 7:6 · Ps 85:126×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action4×
PerfectPs 14:2 · Ps 53:3 · Ps 102:203×
ImperfectLam 3:501×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Looked down; peered intently; leaned over to observe carefully
Showing 1 selected witness from 22 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
שָׁקַף is a primitive root - no further derivation.