Original Word: סָכַךְ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: cakak
Pronunciation: sah-KAHK
Phonetic Spelling: (saw-kak')
KJV: cover, defence, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to entwine as a screen
2. (by implication) to fence in, cover over
3. (figuratively) to protect

cover, defense, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up

Or sakak (Exod. 33:22) {saw-kak'}; a primitive root; properly, to entwine as a screen; by implication, to fence in, cover over, (figuratively) protect -- cover, defence, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up.

II. [סוּךְ, סִיךְ] verb hedge, or fence about, shut in ("" form of שׂוךְ probably not connected with Arabic Ethiopic thorns; possibly compare Syr, finish, Pa`el finish, conclude, comprehend, and Arabic close, close up, stop, stop up, lock up Lane¹³⁸⁶); —

Qal (al.

Hiph`il, but compare שׂוּךְ) Imperfect3masculine singular וַ֫יָּסֶךְ אֱלוֺהַּ בַּעֲדוֺ Job 3:23, with accusative + בְּ instrumental וַיָּ֫סֶךְ בִּדְלָתַיִם יָ֑ם Job 38:8 and (who) shut in the sea with doors ? (Bi Bu וּמִי סָךְ, Me מִי סָךְ).

I. [סָכַךְ] verb overshadow, screen, cover ("" √ to I. שׂכך (which is probably original, compare Arabic , and Frä⁹⁰); Late Hebrew הֵסֵיךְ cover, and perhaps סִכֵּךְ roof over); —

Qal Perfect only 2 masculine singular סַכֹּ֫תָ Exodus 40:3, סַכֹּ֫תָה Lamentations 3:43,44, סַכּ֫וֺתָה Psalm 140:8; Imperfect3masculine plural וַיָּסֹ֫כּוּ 1 Kings 8:7, suffix יְסֻכֻּ֫הוּ Job 40:22; Participle active סוֺכֵךְ Ezekiel 28:14,16, plural סֹכֲבִים Exodus 25:20 2t.; —

1 screen, cover, usually co. עַלֿ of thing covered, 1 Kings 8:7; 1 Chronicles 28:18; + accusative of covering Exodus 40:3 (P); + בְּ of covering Exodus 25:20; Exodus 37:9 (both P); with לְ of thing covered Psalm 140:8; so (+ בְּ instrumental) בֶּעָנָן לָךְ ׳ס Lamentations 3:44 thou hast screened thyself with the clouds; with accusative Job 40:22 lotus-trees, as its shade, screen it; absolute Ezekiel 28:14,16 (difficult, text probably corrupt, Co Toy strike out as gloss).

2 reflexive cover oneself בָאַף ׳ס Lamentations 3:43 thou hast covered (clothed, panoplied) thyself with anger (si vera lectio; compare Lamentations 3:44 above.).

Hiph`il Imperfect. 3 masculine singular יָ֫סֶךְ לָךְ Psalm 91:4, וַיָּ֫סֶךְ Exodus 40:1 2t.; 2 masculine singular תָּסֵךְ Psalm 5:12; Infinitive construct. הָסֵךְ 1 Samuel 24:4; Participle מֵסִיךְ Judges 3:24 (Ges^{§ 67v}); — screen, cover,

1 specifically with אֶתרַֿגְלָיו, i.e. with long garments, euphemism for evacuating the bowels, from posture assumed, so infinitive Judges 3:24, participle 1 Samuel 24:4 (compare Late Hebrew הֵסֵיךְ, and see GFM, HPS).

2 elsewhere Imperfect, as

Qal (explained as Qal Ba^{ZMG xliii (1889), 178}), with עַלֿ Exodus 40:21, of protection Psalm 5:12; with לְ person + בְּ instrumental Psalm 91:4 (of protection).

Pilpel סִכְסֵךְ, denominative, see below

IV. שׂבך.

II. [סָכַךְ] verb weave together ("" form of II. שָׂבַךְ; Late Hebrew Hiph`il הֵסֵיךְ weave, סוּבָּה, booth,); —

Qal Perfect2masculine singular suffix תְּסֻכֵּנִי Psalm 139:13 thou didst weave me together in my mother's womb.

סֹכֵךְ noun [masculine] protector; — technical term of structure shielding stormers of city (Latin testudo) ׳הַסּ Nahum 2:6; ᵐ5 τὰς προφνλακὰς αὐτῶν.

I. [שָׂכַךְ] verb cover, lay over, so as to screen (compare "" √ I. סכן); —

Qal Perfect1singular וְשַׂכֹּתִי כַמִּי עָלֶיךָ Exodus 33:22 (JE).

II. [שָׂכַךְ] verb weave (compare "" √ II. סכך);

Po`lel Imperfect2masculine singular suffix תְּשׂכְכֵנִי Job 10:11 with bones and sinews thou weavest me together..

III. שׂכך (√ of following; compare I. שׂוך. II. סוך).

IV. [שָׂכַךְ] Pilpel prick or spur on (compare Arabic pierce (perhaps denominative from) thorn, point of spear, etc.; Ethiopic thorn); — prick or spur on, accusative of person: Perfect1singular וְסִכְסַכְתִּ֫י Isaiah 19:2 (+ ב against); Imperfect3masculine singular יְסַכְסֵךְ Isaiah 9:10.

Semantic Range and Core Idea

סָכַךְ portrays the act of spreading over, screening, or hedging in. The gesture may be gentle (as a bird draws its wings), architectural (a curtain or winged cherubim), military (a defensive shield), or judicial (a dark cloud of wrath). Across its twenty-four occurrences the verb signals either (1) benevolent shelter or (2) restrictive concealment, both administered under God’s sovereign hand.

Cultic and Sanctuary Contexts

1. Cherubim over the Ark – Exodus 25:20; 37:9; 40:3, 21; 1 Kings 8:7; 1 Chronicles 28:18.

“The cherubim are to have wings spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat” (Exodus 25:20). Here סָכַךְ defines the secure locale of atonement where holy presence meets sinful humanity. The verb thus anchors the theology of propitiation: God’s glory is both veiled and made accessible through an appointed covering.
2. The Veil – Exodus 40:3, 21. The veil “screened” the Ark, illustrating the necessary mediation later fulfilled in Jesus Christ, “whom God presented as an atoning sacrifice” (Romans 3:25).
3. The “Covering Cherub” – Ezekiel 28:14, 16. The guardian of Eden “walked among the fiery stones” until pride perverted his protective commission. סָכַךְ therefore contributes to the Biblical doctrine of angelic stewardship and fall.

Personal and Creational Protection

1. Job 10:11; Psalm 139:13. “For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). The verb frames the miracle of prenatal life: God “weaves” bones and sinews as a secret canopy.
2. Avian Metaphor – Psalm 91:4. “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.” Divine refuge is intimate, warm, and immediate—contrasting with pagan deities who remain distant.
3. Military Shield – Psalm 5:11; 140:7. “Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You” (Psalm 5:11). Prayer appropriates סָכַךְ as present-tense defense for the righteous.

Judgment and Concealment

1. Isaiah 9:11; 19:2. God “strengthens the adversaries” or sets Egyptians against Egyptians, a dark covering of providence that restrains light.
2. Lamentations 3:43-44. “You covered Yourself with anger and pursued us… You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can get through.” The same verb that shelters the penitent can shroud the unrepentant in unrelieved wrath.
3. Nahum 2:5. Armies “cover” their commanders—imagery of chaotic mustering before Nineveh’s fall.

Narrative Snapshots

• Judges 3:24 – Palace attendants suppose the king is “relieving himself in the cool room,” literally “covering his feet,” an idiom of privacy.
• 1 Samuel 24:3 – Saul enters the cave to “cover his feet,” allowing David the opportunity to demonstrate mercy. In both scenes the verb reinforces the motif of hiddenness within God’s unfolding providence.
• Job 38:8 – At creation the sea is born when God “shut it in with doors when it burst forth from the womb,” a cosmic act of covering.

Theological Synthesis

סָכַךְ binds together sanctuary, creation, providence, and eschatology. The motion of divine wings over the mercy seat prefigures the incarnate Son who “tabernacled” among us (John 1:14). The womb imagery validates the sacredness of life from conception. The defensive sense urges believers to seek refuge in God alone (Psalm 91), while the judicial sense warns that the same God can place an impenetrable cloud between Himself and obstinate sinners (Lamentations 3).

Pastoral and Devotional Applications

1. Assurance: Believers can claim the promise, “He will cover you with His feathers,” in intercession for family, church, and nation.
2. Worship: The cherubic covering calls for reverent awe in corporate liturgy; songs and prayers should celebrate both God’s nearness and holiness.
3. Sanctity of Life: Psalm 139:13 equips the church to defend unborn life as divinely “covered” workmanship.
4. Spiritual Warfare: Psalm 140:7 invites petition for God’s shielding in temptation and persecution.
5. Evangelism: Lamentations 3 warns of a day when the opportunity for prayer may be barricaded; now is the acceptable time to preach reconciliation.

Eschatological Horizon

Isaiah saw a future when a “canopy” (the cognate סֻכָּה) will cover Mount Zion with glory (Isaiah 4:5-6). The consummation will transform the provisional coverings of the wilderness and temple into an everlasting shelter in the New Jerusalem, where “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Revelation 21:22). Until then, every occurrence of סָכַךְ points to the One who cried, “O Jerusalem… how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” (Matthew 23:37).

הַסֹּכֵ֔ךְ הַסֹּכֵֽךְ׃ הַסּוֹכֵ֑ךְ הסוכך הסכך הסכך׃ וְסִכְסַכְתִּ֤י וְסַכֹּתָ֥ וְסֹכְכִ֖ים וְשַׂכֹּתִ֥י וְתָסֵ֣ךְ וַיָּ֕סֶךְ וַיָּ֖סֶךְ וַיָּ֣סֶךְ וַיָּסֹ֧כּוּ ויסך ויסכו וסככים וסכסכתי וסכת ושכתי ותסך יְסַכְסֵֽךְ׃ יְסֻכֻּ֣הוּ יָ֣סֶךְ יסך יסכהו יסכסך׃ לְהָסֵ֣ךְ להסך מֵסִ֥יךְ מסיך סַכֹּ֤תָה סַכֹּ֥תָה סַכּ֤וֹתָה סֹֽכְכִ֤ים סֹכְכִ֤ים סכותה סככים סכתה תְּ֝סֻכֵּ֗נִי תְּסֹכְכֵֽנִי׃ תסככני׃ תסכני has·sō·ḵêḵ has·sō·w·ḵêḵ hassoChech hassōḵêḵ hassōwḵêḵ lə·hā·sêḵ lehaSech ləhāsêḵ mê·sîḵ meSich mêsîḵ sak·kō·ṯāh sak·kō·w·ṯāh sakKotah sakkōṯāh sakkōwṯāh sō·ḵə·ḵîm socheChim sōḵəḵîm tə·sō·ḵə·ḵê·nî tə·suk·kê·nî tesocheCheni təsōḵəḵênî tesukKeni təsukkênî vaiYasech vaiyaSokku vesakkoTa vesakkoTi vesichsachTi vesocheChim vetaSech way·yā·seḵ way·yā·sōk·kū wayyāseḵ wayyāsōkkū wə·sak·kō·ṯā wə·śak·kō·ṯî wə·siḵ·saḵ·tî wə·sō·ḵə·ḵîm wə·ṯā·sêḵ wəsakkōṯā wəśakkōṯî wəsiḵsaḵtî wəsōḵəḵîm wəṯāsêḵ yā·seḵ Yasech yāseḵ yə·saḵ·sêḵ yə·suk·ku·hū yesachSech yəsaḵsêḵ yesukKuhu yəsukkuhūInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts