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שָׁאַל

𐤔𐤀𐤋

shâʼal

H7592 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שאל to ask, to request, to inquire, to borrow

Definition

To ask, inquire, or request something of another, often with the expectation of receiving a response or item. The verb שָׁאַל denotes a basic act of seeking information or favor, whether by verbal inquiry, request for an object, request for permission, or demand. Its usage ranges from formal questioning and consultation (such as seeking divine counsel), to personal requests, to acts of borrowing or lending objects, to various forms of greeting or salutation that imply an act of asking after someone's well-being.

Semantic Range

to ask, to inquire (of persons or deity), to request, to beg, to demand, to seek counsel, to borrow (request to use), to obtain by asking, to greet (ask after welfare), to request permission, to pray; in legal/cultic context, to inquire of deity

Root / Etymology

Root: שׁ־א־ל. Derives from a common Semitic root meaning 'to ask' or 'to request.' The form שָׁאַל is the basic verbal stem (qal), with derived forms (niphal, piel, etc.) indicating reciprocal or intensive meaning. Related cognates are found in other Semitic languages, such as Akkadian 'ša'alu,' Aramaic 'שְׁאֵל,' and Arabic 'sa'ala,' all carrying the basic sense of asking or inquiring.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, שָׁאַל functions as both a neutral verb (to ask, to inquire) and a verb of more intense action (to demand). It is most often used in both formal and informal settings: petitioning a person of authority, seeking information or guidance, and requesting material objects (e.g., borrowing). In cultic and legal contexts, it often means seeking divine guidance (e.g., by inquiring of YHWH or at a sanctuary). The sense of 'to borrow' emerges in everyday transactions, where the act of asking is directed at requesting to use an item temporarily, with the expectation of return. The nuance can range from polite request to urgent demand, determined by context and vocalized form. The verb is distinct from verbs meaning to command or decree (e.g., צוה 'to command') and overlaps only partly with verbs of seeking (e.g., דור 'to seek'). English translations may obscure the range of its uses, especially where 'borrow' or 'lend' masks the underlying act of asking. In greeting formulae (e.g., 'to ask about the peace/welfare of'), the sense is not merely to inquire but to express concern for another's wellbeing.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or שָׁאֵל; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand; ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, [idiom] earnestly, enquire, [phrase] greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, [phrase] salute, [idiom] straitly, [idiom] surely, wish.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שאל (š-ʾ-l) — to ask, to request, to inquire, to borrow

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4861 מִשְׁאָל Asking-town
H4862 מִשְׁאָלָה petitions of
H7585 שְׁאוֹל in the underworld
H7586 שָׁאוּל to Shaul
H7587 שָׁאוּלִי the Shaulite

Word Forms

62 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7592-40 וַ/יִּשְׁאַ֣ל vayisheal HC/Vqw3ms and he asked and he asked 23
H7592-23 שְׁאַל sheal HVqv2ms Ask ask 13
H7592-14 שָֽׁאַל shaal HVqp3ms he asked he asked 11
H7592-16 שָׁאַ֜לְתָּ shaaleta HVqp2ms you have asked you asked 10
H7592-42 וַֽ/יִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ vayishealu HC/Vqw3mp and they asked and they asked 10
H7592-08 לִ/שְׁא֤וֹל lisheol HR/Vqc to ask to ask 10
H7592-20 שָׁאָֽלוּ shaalu HVqp3cp ask they asked 10
H7592-29 שֹׁאֵ֖ל shoel HVqrmsa am asking one who asks 6
H7592-07 לִ/שְׁאָל lisheal HR/Vqc to ask to ask 4
H7592-18 שָׁאַ֖לְתִּי shaaleti HVqp1cs I have asked I asked 3

Occurrences in Scripture

176 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7592-36 Genesis 24:47 וָ/אֶשְׁאַ֣ל vaesheal HC/Vqw1cs And I asked and I asked
H7592-45 Genesis 24:57 וְ/נִשְׁאֲלָ֖ה venishealah HC/Vqh1cp and ask and let us ask
H7592-42 Genesis 26:7 וַֽ/יִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ vayishealu HC/Vqw3mp asked and they asked
H7592-55 Genesis 32:18 וִ/שְׁאֵֽלְ/ךָ֙ visheelekha HC/Vqq3ms/Sp2ms and asks you and he asked you
H7592-40 Genesis 32:30 וַ/יִּשְׁאַ֣ל vayisheal HC/Vqw3ms asked and he asked
H7592-31 Genesis 32:30 תִּשְׁאַ֣ל tisheal HVqi2ms do you ask you ask
H7592-41 Genesis 37:15 וַ/יִּשְׁאָלֵ֧/הוּ vayishealehu HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms and asked him and he asked him
H7592-40 Genesis 38:21 וַ/יִּשְׁאַ֞ל vayisheal HC/Vqw3ms he asked and he asked
H7592-40 Genesis 40:7 וַ/יִּשְׁאַ֞ל vayisheal HC/Vqw3ms and he asked and he asked
H7592-21 Genesis 43:7 שָׁא֣וֹל shaol HVqa asked to ask
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