← H7585 H7587 →

שָׁאוּל

𐤔𐤀𐤅𐤋

Shaul

H7586 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שׁאל to ask, inquire, request, demand

Definition

Proper name, typically masculine: Shaul. In narrative contexts, refers primarily to: (1) Saul, the first king of Israel; (2) an Edomite chief listed in Genesis; (3) a son of Simeon; (4) a Benjamite ancestor. The name is derived from the idea of 'asked for, requested', reflecting the broader root sense of a request or demand, but as a personal name functions simply as a designation rather than bearing continual lexical sense. In post-biblical contexts, the name is preserved in later tradition as Saul.

Semantic Range

(personal name) Saul, Shaul; 'asked for, requested'; name of first king of Israel; name of an Edomite chief; name of a Simeonite; name of a Benjamite

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁאל (shaʼal), meaning 'to ask, inquire, request.' שָׁאוּל is a passive participle form, 'asked for' or 'requested.' Used as a personal name, the participial sense is often backgrounded or simply functions as a proper noun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, שָׁאוּל appears as the name of significant individuals in distinct episodes: notably Saul, first king over all the tribes of Israel (1 Samuel), whose selection is directly related to the people's request for a king (cf. 1 Samuel 8:5-22), aligning the semantic force of the root with the narrative. The name occurs also as a chief among the Edomites (Genesis 36:37-38), a Simeonite clan ancestor (Genesis 46:10), and a descendant of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:30). The English rendering 'Saul' reflects later Greek and Latin tradition; in Hebrew contexts, transliteration as 'Shaul' better preserves the name's original pronunciation. While later Jewish, Christian, and other traditions have invested various layers of interpretation on Saul’s character, the lexical data support primarily its role as a personal name derived from the notion of being 'asked for.' Distinction must be made between this name and adjectives or verbs from the same root, which bear different semantic force depending on form and context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

passive participle of שָׁאַל; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Saul, Shaul.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

שׁאל (sh-ʾ-l) — ask, inquire, request, demand

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7956 שֵׁלָה and Shelah

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7586-03 שָׁא֖וּל shaul HNp Saul Shaul 353
H7586-05 וְ/שָׁא֖וּל veshaul HC/Np and Saul and Shaul 25
H7586-01 לְ/שָׁא֕וּל leshaul HR/Np to Saul to Shaul 25
H7586-04 וּ/לְ/שָׁא֣וּל uleshaul HC/R/Np and-to-Saul and to Shaul 2
H7586-02 מִ/שָּׁא֖וּל mishaul HR/Np from Saul from Shaul 1

Occurrences in Scripture

406 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7586-03 Genesis 36:37 שָׁא֖וּל shaul HNp Shaul Shaul
H7586-03 Genesis 36:38 שָׁא֑וּל shaul HNp Shaul Shaul
H7586-05 Genesis 46:10 וְ/שָׁא֖וּל veshaul HC/Np and Shaul and Shaul
H7586-05 Exodus 6:15 וְ/שָׁא֖וּל veshaul HC/Np and Shaul and Shaul
H7586-01 Numbers 26:13 לְ/שָׁא֕וּל leshaul HR/Np to Shaul to Shaul
H7586-03 1 Samuel 9:2 שָׁאוּל֙ shaul HNp Saul Shaul
H7586-03 1 Samuel 9:3 שָׁא֑וּל shaul HNp of Saul Shaul
H7586-03 1 Samuel 9:3 שָׁא֣וּל shaul-2 HNp Saul Shaul
H7586-05 1 Samuel 9:5 וְ/שָׁא֥וּל veshaul HC/Np and Saul and Shaul
H7586-03 1 Samuel 9:7 שָׁא֜וּל shaul HNp Saul Shaul
← H7585 Hebrew Lexicon H7587 →