וַ/יַּשְׁקֵ֣ף

𐤅/𐤉𐤔𐤒𐤐

shâqaph

And looked down

To look out or down from a high vantage, often with the nuance of observing or surveying below; by extension, to gaze, peer out, or look forth from a position of elevation. Frequently connotes intentional or attentive looking from a window, wall, or elevated location. The verb can also describe divine observation of human activity from an exalted perspective.

H8259

2 Samuel 24:20 · Word #1

Lexicon H8259

Lemmaשָׁקַף
Lemma (Paleo)𐤔𐤒𐤐
Transliterationshâqaph
Strong'sH8259
DefinitionTo look out or down from a high vantage, often with the nuance of observing or surveying below; by extension, to gaze, peer out, or look forth from a position of elevation. Frequently connotes intentional or attentive looking from a window, wall, or elevated location. The verb can also describe divine observation of human activity from an exalted perspective.

Morphology HC/Vhw3ms All morphology codes

Part of Speech V — Verb — An action or state
Binyan h — Hiphil — Causative active
Conjugation w — Sequential Imperfect — Imperfect with waw-consecutive, narrating past events
Person 3 — 3rd person — Third person ("he/she/they")
Gender m — Masculine — Masculine
Number s — Singular — Singular

Common Translation

PhraseAnd looked down

SIBI-P1 Translation H8259-09

and he looked down from above

Morphological NotesVerb, Hiphil stem, sequential imperfect (vav-consecutive), 3rd person masculine singular.
Rendering RationaleThe rendering reflects the root idea of leaning or inclining outward from a high place in order to observe below. The Hiphil sequential imperfect (3ms) conveys a completed narrative action, expressed in English as "and he looked down," with the elevated vantage made explicit to preserve the root nuance.

View full lexicon entry for H8259 →

SILEX v2

SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)

and he looked down from above

Same as P1Yes
RationaleP1 accurately reflects the context, preserving the idea of looking out or down from a height as indicated by the verb and definition.