Original Word: שִׁכְּרוֹן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Shikkrown
Pronunciation: shik-kaw-rone'
Phonetic Spelling: (shik-ker-one')
KJV: Shicron
NASB: Shikkeron
Word Origin: [for H7943 (שִׁכָּרוֹן - drunkenness)]

1. drunkenness, Shikkeron, a place in Israel

Shicron

For shikkarown; drunkenness, Shikkeron, a place in Palestine -- Shicron.

see HEBREW shikkarown

Word Origin
from shakar
Definition
a city on N.W. border of Judah
NASB Translation
Shikkeron (1).

[שִׁכְּרוֺן] proper name, of a location on northwest border of Judah, with ה locative וֺנָה- Joshua 15:11, Σοκχωθ, ᵐ5^L Σαχαρωνα.

II. שׁכר (√ of following; meaning unknown).

Geographical Setting and Identification

Shikkeron is listed among the western border landmarks of the tribe of Judah. Joshua 15:11 records, “The boundary went from Ekron to the north, turned toward Shikkeron, continued to Mount Baalah, proceeded to Jabneel, and ended at the sea” (Berean Standard Bible). The sequence of sites—Ekron, Shikkeron, Mount Baalah (perhaps modern Jebel el-Muntar), and Jabneel—places Shikkeron on the maritime plain of Philistia, somewhere between the well-attested site of Ekron (modern Tel Miqne) and the coast. Archaeological proposals have ranged from Khirbet Sakran to Tell es-Sakhar, but no identification is considered final. Its position on the frontier between Philistine and Israelite spheres highlights the settlement’s significance as a border sentinel for Judah.

Role in Judah’s Tribal Inheritance

The Judahite inheritance in Joshua 15 is detailed with meticulous precision, underlining both the covenant faithfulness of God and the historical rootedness of Israel. Shikkeron, though mentioned only once, serves as a legal marker of that allotment. Every point on the boundary line functioned as an enduring testimony to Yahweh’s promise first spoken to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21) and reiterated through Moses (Deuteronomy 11:24). By placing Shikkeron on the map, Scripture affirms that even seemingly insignificant places are folded into God’s redemptive geography.

Strategic and Theological Implications

1. Military Significance: Situated near the Philistine stronghold of Ekron, Shikkeron would have shared in the centuries-long tension between Israel and Philistia (1 Samuel 4; 2 Samuel 5:17-25). A fortified village or watchpost here would protect Judah’s access to the Mediterranean trade routes and guard against incursions.
2. Covenant Boundaries: In biblical theology, boundaries are more than political demarcations; they symbolize ordered life under divine authority (Numbers 34; Acts 17:26). Shikkeron thus represents the tangible outworking of a spiritual reality: Israel living within divinely appointed limits.
3. Prophetic Anticipation: Later prophets envisioned Judah and the surrounding nations streaming to Zion (Isaiah 2:2-4; Zechariah 14:16-19). Border towns like Shikkeron foreshadow the inclusion of the nations by marking points where Israel’s account touched the Gentile world.

Lessons for Contemporary Ministry

• God values places and people that human records may overlook. Shikkeron reminds believers that no ministry outpost is too small for divine notice.
• Accurate remembrance of God’s works—including “boundary stones” in personal or congregational history—strengthens faith (Joshua 4:6-7).
• Living within God-drawn boundaries fosters security and witness. Just as Shikkeron stood guard on Judah’s edge, Christians are called to stand firm at cultural frontiers, holding the line of truth with grace (Ephesians 6:13-17).

Summary

Though Shikkeron appears only once in Scripture, it anchors a crucial segment of Judah’s western frontier. Its presence in the biblical record affirms the meticulous faithfulness of God, the historical authenticity of Israel’s inheritance, and enduring principles of covenant boundaries and frontline faithfulness.

שִׁכְּר֔וֹנָה שכרונה shikkeRonah šik·kə·rō·w·nāh šikkərōwnāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts