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 )
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.
שָׁקַף H8259
Pronunciation hišqîp̄
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 It looked down 5× Genesis 26:8, Exodus 14:24, 2 Samuel 6:16, 2 Kings 9:32
looks down 4× Psalms 14:2, Psalms 53:2, Psalms 85:11, Lamentations 3:50
looked out 2× Genesis 18:16, 2 Samuel 24:20
and looked down 1× 2 Kings 9:30
He looked 1× Genesis 19:28
He looked down 1× Psalms 102:19
I looked 1× Proverbs 7:6
Look down 1× Deuteronomy 26:15
looked 1× Judges 5:28
looms 1× Jeremiah 6:1
overlooking 1× 1 Samuel 13:18
overlooks 1× Numbers 21:20
which overlooks 1× Numbers 23:28
who shines 1× Song Of Solomon 6:10
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 18:16 וַיַּשְׁקִ֖פוּ to looked out Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Genesis 19:28 וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף to He looked Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 26:8 וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף to looked down Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Exodus 14:24 וַיַּשְׁקֵ֤ף to looked down Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Numbers 21:20 וְנִשְׁקָ֖פָה to overlooks Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular Numbers 23:28 הַנִּשְׁקָ֖ף to which overlooks Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular Deuteronomy 26:15 הַשְׁקִיפָה֩ to Look down Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular Judges 5:28 נִשְׁקְפָ֧ה to looked Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular 1 Samuel 13:18 הַנִּשְׁקָ֛ף to overlooking Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular 2 Samuel 6:16 נִשְׁקְפָ֣ה׀ to looked down Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 18:16
Aligned rows 22
Books represented 14
Genesis 3 Exodus 1 Numbers 2 Deuteronomy 1 Judges 1 1 Samuel 1 2 Samuel 2 2 Kings 2 1 Chronicles 1 Psalms 4 Proverbs 1 Song Of Solomon 1 Jeremiah 1 Lamentations 1
Source forms
הִשְׁקִ֪יף 2x hiš·qîp̄ Psalms 14:2, Psalms 53:2
וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף 2x way·yaš·qêp̄ Genesis 19:28, Genesis 26:8
נִשְׁקְפָ֣ה׀ 2x niš·qə·p̄āh 2 Samuel 6:16, 1 Chronicles 15:29
הַנִּשְׁקָ֖ף 1x han·niš·qāp̄ Numbers 23:28
הַנִּשְׁקָ֛ף 1x han·niš·qāp̄ 1 Samuel 13:18
הַנִּשְׁקָפָ֖ה 1x han·niš·qā·p̄āh Song Of Solomon 6:10
הִ֭שְׁקִיף 1x hiš·qîp̄ Psalms 102:19
הַשְׁקִיפָה֩ 1x haš·qî·p̄āh Deuteronomy 26:15
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 4x Genesis 19:28, Genesis 26:8, Exodus 14:24, 2 Samuel 24:20
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular 4x Judges 5:28, 2 Samuel 6:16, 1 Chronicles 15:29, Jeremiah 6:1
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular 3x Psalms 14:2, Psalms 53:2, Psalms 102:19
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular 2x Numbers 23:28, 1 Samuel 13:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural 2x Genesis 18:16, 2 Kings 9:32
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular 1x Song Of Solomon 6:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular 1x 2 Kings 9:30
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular 1x Numbers 21:20
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Leaning out to look: physical vantage point that enables seeing or being observed from above
Strong's H8259
Lexical occurrences 22 verses Word forms 2 forms 10 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Psalms 14:1–3 Source Gloss
properly, to lean out (of a window), i.e. (by implication) peep or gaze (passively, be a spectacle )
Extended definition Source: 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 groups 2 Aligned forms 10
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 6×
Perfect 1Chr 15:29 · 2Sam 6:16 · Jer 6:1 · Judg 5:28 · Prov 7:6 · Ps 85:12 6×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 4×
Perfect Ps 14:2 · Ps 53:3 · Ps 102:20 3×
Imperfect Lam 3:50 1×
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.
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