7921. shakol or shakal
Lexical Summary
shakol or shakal: To be bereaved, to miscarry, to lose children

Original Word: שָׁכֹל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shakol
Pronunciation: shah-KOHL or shah-KAHL
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-kole')
KJV: bereave (of children), barren, cast calf (fruit, young), be (make) childless, deprive, destroy, X expect, lose children, miscarry, rob of children, spoil
NASB: bereave, bereave them of children, bereaved, miscarrying, abort, been, bereave you of children
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion
2. by analogy, to bereave (literally or figuratively)

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 Origin
a 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 ᵑ7 תְּכוֺל, תְּכֵל; compare Syriac loss of children); —

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 : carry on the shoulder; Arabic , is take short steps, from weakness (†am Frey)).

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
• National covenant passages: Exodus 23:26; Leviticus 26:22; Deuteronomy 32:25
• Early monarchy: 1 Samuel 15:33 (twice)
• Prophetic miracle: 2 Kings 2:19, 21
• Wisdom literature: Job 21:10
• Major and minor prophets: Isaiah 49:21; Jeremiah 15:7; Lamentations 1:20; Ezekiel 5:17; 14:15; 36:12, 13; Hosea 9:12, 14; Malachi 3:11

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).
2. Military disaster: “Outside the sword bereaves...” (Deuteronomy 32:25).
3. Prophetic warnings: “I will bereave them of children, I will destroy My people” (Jeremiah 15:7).
4. Priestly confrontation: Samuel’s sentence on Agag, “Just as your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women” (1 Samuel 15:33), illustrates lex talionis—divine justice mirroring the sin committed.

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:
Isaiah 49:21 pictures astonished Zion: “Who has borne me these? … I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. So who reared these?” God’s answer is multiplied sons.
Ezekiel 36:12–13 reverses the taunt, “You devour men and bereave your nation,” assuring Israel, “You will never again bereave them of children.”
• Hosea pleads for mercy: “Give them, O LORD—what will You give? Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that dry up” (Hosea 9:14). The prophet’s lament exposes the horror of sin while anticipating redemption beyond exile.

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.
2. Covenant faithfulness: Passages like Exodus 23:26—“None will miscarry or be barren”—anchor prayer for fruitful families and ministries, linking obedience with blessing.
3. Spiritual fruitfulness: Malachi 3:11 encourages stewardship and tithing by promising protection against spiritual and material “devourers.”
4. Intercession for nations: Ezekiel’s reversals invite prayer that lands plagued by war or famine might be healed and made fruitful again.

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 wəšikkəluḵ
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Englishman'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
HEB: וְעִזֶּ֖יךָ לֹ֣א שִׁכֵּ֑לוּ וְאֵילֵ֥י צֹאנְךָ֖
NAS: and your female goats have not miscarried, nor
KJV: and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams
INT: and your female nor miscarried the rams of your flocks

Genesis 42:36
HEB: אֲבִיהֶ֔ם אֹתִ֖י שִׁכַּלְתֶּ֑ם יוֹסֵ֤ף אֵינֶ֙נּוּ֙
NAS: said to them, You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph
KJV: said unto them, Me have ye bereaved [of my children]: Joseph
INT: Jacob their father have bereaved Joseph is no

Genesis 43:14
HEB: וַאֲנִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁכֹ֖לְתִּי שָׁכָֽלְתִּי׃
NAS: And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
KJV: If I be bereaved [of my children], I am bereaved.
INT: I if I am bereaved of my children

Genesis 43:14
HEB: כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁכֹ֖לְתִּי שָׁכָֽלְתִּי׃
NAS: I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.
KJV: I be bereaved [of my children], I am bereaved.
INT: if I am bereaved of my children

Exodus 23:26
HEB: לֹ֥א תִהְיֶ֛ה מְשַׁכֵּלָ֥ה וַעֲקָרָ֖ה בְּאַרְצֶ֑ךָ
NAS: There shall be no one miscarrying or barren
KJV: There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren,
INT: shall be no become miscarrying barren your land

Leviticus 26:22
HEB: חַיַּ֤ת הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְשִׁכְּלָ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְהִכְרִ֙יתָה֙
NAS: of the field, which will bereave you of your children and destroy
KJV: beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy
INT: beasts of the field will bereave and destroy your cattle

Deuteronomy 32:25
HEB: מִחוּץ֙ תְּשַׁכֶּל־ חֶ֔רֶב וּמֵחֲדָרִ֖ים
NAS: the sword will bereave, And inside
KJV: within, shall destroy both the young man
INT: without will bereave the sword within

1 Samuel 15:33
HEB: שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר שִׁכְּלָ֤ה נָשִׁים֙ חַרְבֶּ֔ךָ
NAS: As your sword has made women
KJV: hath made women childless, so shall thy mother
INT: Samuel after made women your sword

1 Samuel 15:33
HEB: חַרְבֶּ֔ךָ כֵּן־ תִּשְׁכַּ֥ל מִנָּשִׁ֖ים אִמֶּ֑ךָ
NAS: women childless, so
KJV: so shall thy mother be childless among women.
INT: your sword so childless women shall your mother

2 Kings 2:19
HEB: רָעִ֖ים וְהָאָ֥רֶץ מְשַׁכָּֽלֶת׃
NAS: is bad and the land is unfruitful.
KJV: [is] naught, and the ground barren.
INT: is bad and the land is unfruitful

2 Kings 2:21
HEB: ע֖וֹד מָ֥וֶת וּמְשַׁכָּֽלֶת׃
NAS: death or unfruitfulness any longer.'
KJV: there shall not be from thence any more death or barren [land].
INT: any death unfruitfulness

Job 21:10
HEB: פָּ֝רָת֗וֹ וְלֹ֣א תְשַׁכֵּֽל׃
NAS: His cow calves and does not abort.
KJV: calveth, and casteth not her calf.
INT: his cow without abort

Isaiah 49:21
HEB: אֵ֔לֶּה וַאֲנִ֥י שְׁכוּלָ֖ה וְגַלְמוּדָ֑ה גֹּלָ֣ה ׀
NAS: these for me, Since I have been bereaved of my children
KJV: Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate,
INT: these I have been barren captive

Jeremiah 15:7
HEB: בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ שִׁכַּ֤לְתִּי אִבַּ֙דְתִּי֙ אֶת־
NAS: of the land; I will bereave [them] of children, I will destroy
KJV: of the land; I will bereave [them] of children, I will destroy
INT: the gates of the land will bereave will destroy my people

Lamentations 1:20
HEB: מָרִ֑יתִי מִח֥וּץ שִׁכְּלָה־ חֶ֖רֶב בַּבַּ֥יִת
NAS: the sword slays; In the house
KJV: the sword bereaveth, at home
INT: rebellious the street slays the sword the house

Ezekiel 5:17
HEB: וְחַיָּ֤ה רָעָה֙ וְשִׁכְּלֻ֔ךְ וְדֶ֥בֶר וָדָ֖ם
NAS: beasts, and they will bereave you of children; plague
KJV: beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence
INT: beasts and wild will bereave plague and bloodshed

Ezekiel 14:15
HEB: אַעֲבִ֥יר בָּאָ֖רֶץ וְשִׁכְּלָ֑תָּה וְהָיְתָ֤ה שְׁמָמָה֙
NAS: through the land and they depopulated it, and it became
KJV: the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate,
INT: to pass the land depopulated became desolate

Ezekiel 36:12
HEB: תוֹסִ֥ף ע֖וֹד לְשַׁכְּלָֽם׃ ס
NAS: again bereave them of children.'
KJV: and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them [of men].
INT: again again bereave

Ezekiel 36:13
HEB: (אָ֑תְּ ק) וּמְשַׁכֶּ֥לֶת [גֹּויֵךְ כ]
NAS: of men and have bereaved your nation
KJV: men, and hast bereaved thy nations;
INT: of men you bereaved Gentile become

Hosea 9:12
HEB: אֶת־ בְּנֵיהֶ֔ם וְשִׁכַּלְתִּ֖ים מֵֽאָדָ֑ם כִּֽי־
NAS: up their children, Yet I will bereave them until not a man
KJV: their children, yet will I bereave them, [that there shall] not [be] a man
INT: bring their children will bereave A man Yes

Hosea 9:14
HEB: לָהֶם֙ רֶ֣חֶם מַשְׁכִּ֔יל וְשָׁדַ֖יִם צֹמְקִֽים׃
NAS: Give them a miscarrying womb
KJV: give them a miscarrying womb
INT: Give womb A miscarrying breasts and dry

Malachi 3:11
HEB: הָאֲדָמָ֑ה וְלֹא־ תְשַׁכֵּ֨ל לָכֶ֤ם הַגֶּ֙פֶן֙
NAS: in the field cast [its grapes], says
KJV: neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field,
INT: of the ground nor cast will your vine the field

23 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7921
23 Occurrences


’eš·kal — 1 Occ.
lə·šak·kə·lām — 1 Occ.
maš·kîl — 1 Occ.
mə·šak·kā·leṯ — 1 Occ.
mə·šak·kê·lāh — 1 Occ.
šā·ḵā·lə·tî — 1 Occ.
šā·ḵō·lə·tî — 1 Occ.
šə·ḵū·lāh — 1 Occ.
šik·kal·tem — 1 Occ.
šik·kal·tî — 1 Occ.
šik·kə·lāh — 2 Occ.
šik·kê·lū — 1 Occ.
tə·šak·kel- — 3 Occ.
tiš·kal — 1 Occ.
ū·mə·šak·kā·leṯ — 1 Occ.
ū·mə·šak·ke·leṯ — 1 Occ.
wə·šik·kal·tîm — 1 Occ.
wə·šik·kə·lāh — 1 Occ.
wə·šik·kə·lāt·tāh — 1 Occ.
wə·šik·kə·luḵ — 1 Occ.

7920
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