Lexical Summary shakol or shakal: To be bereaved, to miscarry, to lose children Original Word: שָׁכֹל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bereave of children, barren, cast calf fruit, make childless, deprive, destroy A primitive root; properly, to miscarry, i.e. Suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or figuratively) -- bereave (of children), barren, cast calf (fruit, young), be (make) childless, deprive, destroy, X expect, lose children, miscarry, rob of children, spoil. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be bereaved NASB Translation abort (1), been (1), bereave (2), bereave them of children (2), bereave you of your children (1), bereave you of children (1), bereave your of children (1), bereaved (2), bereaved me of my children (1), bereaved of my children (1), bereaved your of children (1), cast (1), childless (1), depopulated (1), made...childless (1), miscarried (1), miscarrying (2), slays (1), unfruitful (1), unfruitfulness (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׁכֹל, שָׁכַל LagBN 26] verb be bereaved (= Arabic Qal Perfect1singular כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁכֹלְתִּי שָׁכָ֑לְתִּי Genesis 43:14 (E) if I am bereaved, I am bereaved (of father, expressing resignation; on כָ֑לְ see Ges§ 29u); Imperfect1singular אֶשְׁכַּל Genesis 27:45 (E), with accusative of person be bereaved of you both (of mother); 3 feminine singular תִּשְׁכַּל מִנָּשִׁים אִמֶּ֑ךָ 1 Samuel 15:33 thy mother shall be bereaved above (more than) women. Pi`el Perfect3feminine singular שִׁכְּלָה 1 Samuel 15:33 +, suffix וְשִׁכְּלָ֑תָּה Ezekiel 14:15, etc.; Imperfect3feminine singular תְּשַׁכֵּל Deuteronomy 32:25 +, 2 feminine singular תְּשַׁכְּלִי Ezekiel 36:14 Qr (see כָּשַׁל Pi`el); Infinitive construct suffix לְשַׁכְּלָם Ezekiel 36:12; Participle מְשַׁכֵּלָה Exodus 23:26, כֶּ֫לֶת- Ezekiel 36:13, כָּ֫לֶת#NAME? 2 Kings 2:19,21; — 1 make childless, accusative of father Genesis 42:36 (E), of mothers 1 Samuel 15:33 (subject חֶרֶב), compare Ezekiel 5:17 (subject famine and beasts), and Ezekiel 14:15 (id.; object land); accusative of people Hosea 9:12 (מֵאָדָם), Jeremiah 15:7 (+ אִבַּתְִּי), Ezekiel 36:12, compare Ezekiel 36:13; Ezekiel 36:14 (see above); object omitted (subject חֶרֶב) Deuteronomy 22:25; Lamentations 1:20; Ezekiel 21:19 (Co, for תִּכָּפֵל, see כָּפַל; otherwise Toy Krae). 2. a. cause barrenness, or abortion, ׳הָאָרֶץ מְשַׁכְּ 2 Kings 2:19, compare 2 Kings 2:21 (Thes otherwise, see ׳מְשׁ infra). b. shew barrenness, or abortion, (1) of any female Exodus 23:26 (E; + עֲקָרָה), animals Genesis 31:38 (E) Job 21:10; (2) of vine Malachi 3:11. Hiph`il Participle רֶהֶם (וְשָׁדַיִם צֹמְקִים) מַשְׁכִּיל Hosea 9:14 miscarrying womb. — Jeremiah 50:9 read מַשְׂכִּיל successful, ᵐ5 ᵑ6 Heb Manuscripts Ew Hi Gf Gie. מְשַׁכֶּ֫לֶת according to. Thes noun feminine abstract barrenness, 2 Kings 2:21 ("" מָוֶת); if so, read < כֹּלֶת- Klo Kit; but probably Pi`el Participle as 2 Kings 2:19, compare Bur. שׁכם (√ of following, meaning unknown; Late Hebrew Hiph`il = Biblical Hebrew; Ethiopic has denominative Topical Lexicon Overview of Meaning and Scope The root שָׁכֹל (shakol) paints the vivid picture of being “bereaved, deprived, or made childless.” Scripture applies it to human families, livestock, crops, and even entire cities, weaving a consistent thread: the cutting off of fruitfulness is either a warning of covenant judgment or a sign of covenant blessing when removed. Occurrences in Scripture • Patriarchal narratives: Genesis 27:45; 31:38; 42:36; 43:14 Bereavement in Family Narratives Jacob’s account showcases personal anguish and intercessory hope. Fearing Benjamin’s loss, he cries, “You would take my sons from me! Joseph is gone and Simeon is gone, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!” (Genesis 42:36). Yet he ultimately entrusts his children to God: “May God Almighty grant you mercy... As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved” (Genesis 43:14). In these scenes shakol underscores the raw emotions of parental loss while also displaying faith that rests in divine sovereignty. Association with Divine Judgment 1. Covenant sanctions: “I will send wild animals among you, and they will bereave you of your children” (Leviticus 26:22). Agricultural Loss and National Calamity Shakol stretches beyond human offspring to the land itself. Malachi 3:11 promises, “I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field will not fail to bear.” Likewise, barren water in Jericho “makes the land unfruitful” (2 Kings 2:19). Thus, fruitless vines, miscarrying herds (Job 21:10), and unproductive soil become parables of spiritual sterility. Prophetic Hope and Reversal The same word that carries judgment turns into an anthem of restoration: Miraculous Intervention Elisha’s purification of Jericho’s water (2 Kings 2:21) breaks the chain of unfruitfulness: “Thus says the LORD, ‘I have healed this water; no longer will death or bereavement result from it.’” The miracle foreshadows the Messianic age when creation itself will be liberated from futility. Practical and Pastoral Applications 1. Compassionate ministry: The repeated biblical attention to bereaved parents calls believers to comfort “those who mourn” with genuine empathy and the hope of resurrection. Christological and Eschatological Considerations The ultimate bereavement fell on the Father who “did not spare His own Son” (Romans 8:32). Through that loss, believers receive adoption and inheritance. Revelation’s vision of the New Jerusalem—where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4)—completes the shakol storyline: eternal fruitfulness replaces every loss. Summary Shakol forms a theological bridge between the pain of childlessness and the promise of overflowing progeny, between covenant curse and covenant blessing, between barren soil and abundant harvest. Tracing its 23 occurrences reveals God’s justice, compassion, and ultimate purpose to turn every bereavement into rejoicing for those who trust in Him. Forms and Transliterations אֶשְׁכַּ֛ל אשכל וְשִׁכְּלָ֑תָּה וְשִׁכְּלָ֣ה וְשִׁכְּלֻ֔ךְ וְשִׁכַּלְתִּ֖ים וּמְשַׁכֶּ֥לֶת וּמְשַׁכָּֽלֶת׃ ומשכלת ומשכלת׃ ושכלה ושכלך ושכלתה ושכלתים לְשַׁכְּלָֽם׃ לשכלם׃ מְשַׁכֵּלָ֥ה מְשַׁכָּֽלֶת׃ מַשְׁכִּ֔יל משכיל משכלה משכלת׃ שְׁכוּלָ֖ה שִׁכְּלָ֤ה שִׁכְּלָה־ שִׁכֵּ֑לוּ שִׁכַּ֤לְתִּי שִׁכַּלְתֶּ֑ם שָׁכָֽלְתִּי׃ שָׁכֹ֖לְתִּי שכולה שכלה שכלה־ שכלו שכלתי שכלתי׃ שכלתם תְּשַׁכֶּל־ תְשַׁכֵּ֨ל תְשַׁכֵּֽל׃ תִּשְׁכַּ֥ל תשכל תשכל־ תשכל׃ ’eš·kal ’eškal eshKal lə·šak·kə·lām ləšakkəlām leshakkeLam maš·kîl mashKil maškîl mə·šak·kā·leṯ mə·šak·kê·lāh məšakkāleṯ məšakkêlāh meshakKalet meshakkeLah šā·ḵā·lə·tî šā·ḵō·lə·tî šāḵālətî šāḵōlətî šə·ḵū·lāh šəḵūlāh shaChalti shaCholeti shechuLah shikkalTem shikKalti shikkeLah shikKelu šik·kal·tem šik·kal·tî šik·kə·lāh šik·kə·lāh- šik·kê·lū šikkaltem šikkaltî šikkəlāh šikkəlāh- šikkêlū ṯə·šak·kêl tə·šak·kel- ṯəšakkêl təšakkel- teshakkel tiš·kal tishKal tiškal ū·mə·šak·kā·leṯ ū·mə·šak·ke·leṯ ūməšakkāleṯ ūməšakkeleṯ umeshakKalet umeshakKelet veshikkalTim veshikkeLah veshikkeLattah veshikkeLuch wə·šik·kal·tîm wə·šik·kə·lāh wə·šik·kə·lāt·tāh wə·šik·kə·luḵ wəšikkaltîm wəšikkəlāh wəšikkəlāttāh wəšikkəluḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 27:45 HEB: מִשָּׁ֑ם לָמָ֥ה אֶשְׁכַּ֛ל גַּם־ שְׁנֵיכֶ֖ם NAS: Why should I be bereaved of you both KJV: thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both INT: there Why I be bereaved again both Genesis 31:38 Genesis 42:36 Genesis 43:14 Genesis 43:14 Exodus 23:26 Leviticus 26:22 Deuteronomy 32:25 1 Samuel 15:33 1 Samuel 15:33 2 Kings 2:19 2 Kings 2:21 Job 21:10 Isaiah 49:21 Jeremiah 15:7 Lamentations 1:20 Ezekiel 5:17 Ezekiel 14:15 Ezekiel 36:12 Ezekiel 36:13 Hosea 9:12 Hosea 9:14 Malachi 3:11 23 Occurrences |