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סָכַךְ

𐤎𐤊𐤊

çâkak

H5526 verb

SILEX Entry

Root סכך to weave, interlace, cover, construct shelter

Definition

To cover, enclose, or shield by forming an overlying or surrounding layer; to provide protection from above or around, whether literally (such as forming a covering, enclosure, or canopy) or metaphorically (to shield, shelter, or protect from danger or harm). Usage extends to both physical actions (covering, screening, fencing in with branches or woven material) and metaphorical uses (God protecting, overshadowing).

Semantic Range

to cover (with a shelter or protective layer), to encircle or fence in, to overshadow, to shield or protect (both literally and figuratively), to construct a shelter or canopy, to shut in or enclose

Root / Etymology

From the root סכך (samekh, kaph, kaph), meaning 'to weave, entwine, cover.' The verb סָכַךְ likely derives from the basic sense of weaving or interlacing branches or material to form a sheltering or screening structure; from this arises both the literal meaning of covering or constructing a shelter, and by extension, the figurative sense of protecting or shielding. The alternate spelling with ש (Exod 33:22) reflects orthographic variation rather than root difference.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb סָכַךְ is used throughout the Hebrew Bible to describe several forms of covering or protection. In the wilderness traditions, it is employed to depict God 'covering' or 'overshadowing' the Israelites, often using imagery of divine protection associated with the tabernacle or sanctuary (e.g., Exodus 33:22; Psalms 5:12). The physical sense of making a woven cover is closely related to the noun סֻכָּה (sukkah, 'booth'), a temporary shelter made from interwoven branches. The verb can describe both human actions (making a shelter or canopy) and divine actions (providing supernatural protection). Throughout different periods (patriarchal, monarchic, and exilic), the sense of both physical and metaphoric protection remains consistent. Later English translations often use terms like 'cover,' 'protect,' 'defend,' or 'overshadow,' but such terms can miss the concrete, constructive connotation of forming a shelter by weaving or layering. The vocabulary is distinct from covering words like כָּסָה (kasah, 'to cover' with a single surface/layer), highlighting an emphasis on constructing a multidimensional, entwined shelter or barrier.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שָׂכַךְ; (Exodus 33:22), a primitive root; properly, to entwine as ascreen; by implication, to fence in, cover over, (figuratively) protect; cover, defence, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

סכך (s-k-k) — weaving, interlacing, covering, sheltering, shielding

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4329 מֵיסָךְ sheltering portico of
H4537 מָסַךְ screening curtain
H4539 מָסָךְ the screening-curtain
H4540 מְסֻכָּה your shelter
H5519 סָךְ dense throng

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5526-01 הַ/סּוֹכֵ֑ךְ hasokhekhe HTd/Vqrmsa the-covered-way the sheltering-one 3
H5526-08 וַ/יָּ֕סֶךְ vayasekhe HC/Vhw3ms and covered and he provided covering 3
H5526-04 סַכֹּ֥תָה sakotah HVqp2ms you have covered you covered over 3
H5526-05 סֹכְכִ֤ים sokhekhim HVqrmpa overshadowing sheltering ones 2
H5526-06 תְּסֹכְכֵֽ/נִי tesokhekheni HVmi2ms/Sp1cs you-knit-me you weave-cover me 1
H5526-10 וְ/סַכֹּתָ֥ vesakota HC/Vqq2ms and you shall screen and you covered over 1
H5526-13 וְ/סֹכְכִ֖ים vesokhekhim HC/Vqrmpa and-covering and sheltering ones 1
H5526-15 יָ֣סֶךְ yasekhe HVhi3ms he will cover he will shelter 1
H5526-12 וְ/סִכְסַכְתִּ֤י vesikhesakheti HC/Vlq1cs and I will stir up and I will closely enclose 1
H5526-02 לְ/הָסֵ֣ךְ lehasekhe HR/Vhc to cover to cause to shelter 1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5526-05 Exodus 25:20 סֹכְכִ֤ים sokhekhim HVqrmpa overshadowing sheltering ones
H5526-11 Exodus 33:22 וְ/שַׂכֹּתִ֥י vesakoti HC/Vqq1cs and I will cover and I covered over
H5526-05 Exodus 37:9 סֹֽכְכִ֤ים sokhekhim HVqrmpa overshadowing sheltering ones
H5526-10 Exodus 40:3 וְ/סַכֹּתָ֥ vesakota HC/Vqq2ms and you shall screen and you covered over
H5526-08 Exodus 40:21 וַ/יָּ֕סֶךְ vayasekhe HC/Vhw3ms and covered and he provided covering
H5526-03 Judges 3:24 מֵסִ֥יךְ mesikhe HVhrmsa covering the one causing to shelter
H5526-02 1 Samuel 24:4 לְ/הָסֵ֣ךְ lehasekhe HR/Vhc to cover to cause to shelter
H5526-09 1 Kings 8:7 וַ/יָּסֹ֧כּוּ vayasoku HC/Vqw3mp and covered and they covered over
H5526-16 Isaiah 9:10 יְסַכְסֵֽךְ yesakhesekhe HVli3ms he incites he will tightly shield
H5526-12 Isaiah 19:2 וְ/סִכְסַכְתִּ֤י vesikhesakheti HC/Vlq1cs and I will stir up and I will closely enclose
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