שָׁאַל (H7592) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁאַל

𐤔𐤀𐤋

shâʼal

H7592 verb

SILEX Entry

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "ask" 48 occurrences

'Ask' is the most natural, frequent, and flexible English verb that covers the primary senses of שָׁאַל (inquire, request, beg, request permission, ask of deity, and even request to borrow). It matches the majority of occurrences (asked/ask) and allows alternate senses (e.g., borrowing or greeting) to be expressed idiomatically with context or small modifiers ("ask to borrow," "ask about his welfare," "ask the LORD"). Using 'ask' ensures consistent, readable renderings across all forms.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):

"borrows" (1x) "living being requests" (1x)

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

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

Root Family

שאל (Sheol) — to ask, request, inquire

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

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H7585	שְׁאוֹל	in the underworld
H7587	שָׁאוּלִי	the Shaulite
H7593	שְׁאֵל	asking one
H7594	שְׁאָל	And-Asked-One
H7596	שְׁאֵלָה	in my petition
H7597	שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל	I have asked El
H7598	שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל	I-have-asked El
H847	אֶשְׁתָּאֹל	Eshtaol

Word Forms

62 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H7592-40`	וַ/יִּשְׁאַ֨ל	vayisheal	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he asked	and he asked	and he asked	23
`H7592-23`	שְׁאַ֖ל	sheal	`HVqv2ms`	Ask	ask	ask	13
`H7592-14`	שָׁאָֽל	shaal	`HVqp3ms`	he asked	he asked	he asked	11
`H7592-08`	לִ/שְׁא֥וֹל	lisheol	`HR/Vqc`	to ask	to ask	to ask	10
`H7592-16`	שָׁאַ֜לְתָּ	shaaleta	`HVqp2ms`	you have asked	you asked	you asked	10
`H7592-20`	שָֽׁאֲל֣וּ	shaalu	`HVqp3cp`	ask	they asked	they asked	10
`H7592-42`	וַ/יִּשְׁאֲלוּ	vayishealu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they asked	and they asked	and they asked	10
`H7592-29`	שֹׁאֵ֣ל	shoel	`HVqrmsa`	am asking	one who asks	one who asks	6
`H7592-07`	לִ/שְׁאָל	lisheal	`HR/Vqc`	to ask	to ask	to ask	4
`H7592-18`	שָׁאַ֖לְתִּי	shaaleti	`HVqp1cs`	I have asked	I asked	I asked	3
`H7592-19`	שַׁאֲלִ֣י	shaali	`HVqv2fs`	ask	Ask!	Ask!	3
`H7592-41`	וַ/יִּשְׁאָלֵ֧/הוּ	vayishealehu	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms`	and asked him	and he asked him	and he asked him	3
`H7592-57`	יִשְׁאַל	yisheal	`HVqi3ms`	asks	he will ask	a man would ask	3
`H7592-58`	יִשְׁאָלְ/ךָ֥	yishealekha	`HVqi3ms/Sp2ms`	they-ask-you	he will ask you	he will ask you	3
`H7592-03`	אֶ֝שְׁאָלְ/ךָ֗	eshealekha	`HVqi1cs/Sp2ms`	I will question you	I will ask you	I will ask you	2
`H7592-09`	ל֨/וֹ	lo	`HR/Sp3ms`	for him	not	him	2
`H7592-10`	ל/שאול	lshvl	`HR/Vqc`	to inquire	to ask	to ask	2
`H7592-11`	נִשְׁאַ֨ל	nisheal	`HVNp3ms`	permission	he was asked	he was asked	2
`H7592-13`	נִשְׁאֹל֩	nisheol	`HVNa`	asked	to be asked	to be asked	2
`H7592-15`	שָׁאָ֔לָה	shaalah	`HVqp3fs`	she-asked	she asked	she asked	2
`H7592-21`	שָׁאֹ֧ל	shaol	`HVqa`	ask	to ask	to ask	2
`H7592-22`	שָׁא֖וּל	shaul	`HVqsmsa`	is dedicated	asked-for one	asked-for one	2
`H7592-25`	שְׁאֶלְתֶּ֑ם	sheeletem	`HVqp2mp`	asked	you all asked	you all asked	2
`H7592-30`	שֹׁאֶ֣לֶת	shoelet	`HVqrfsa`	am asking	she who asks	are asking	2
`H7592-31`	תִּשְׁאַ֣ל	tisheal	`HVqi2ms`	do you ask	you ask	you ask	2
`H7592-46`	וְ/שָׁ֥אַל	veshaal	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and ask	and he asked	and he asks	2
`H7592-48`	וְ/שָׁאַ֧לְתָּ	veshaaleta	`HC/Vqp2ms`	and ask	and you asked	and you asked	2
`H7592-50`	וְ/שָׁאֲל֥וּ	veshaalu	`HC/Vqq3cp`	and ask	and they asked	and ask	2
`H7592-60`	יִשְׁאָל֨וּ/ן	yishealun	`HVqi3mp/Sn`	your children ask	they will ask	they will ask	2
`H7592-61`	יִשְׁאָל֨וּ/נִי֙	yishealuni	`HVqi3mp/Sp1cs`	ask me	they will ask me	they will ask me	2
`H7592-01`	אֶשְׁאַ֥ל	esheal	`HVqi1cs`	I will ask	I will ask	I will ask	1
`H7592-02`	אֶשְׁאֲלָ֤ה	eshealah	`HVqh1cs`	let me make a request	let me ask	let me ask	1
`H7592-04`	הֲ/שָׁאַ֥לְתִּי	hashaaleti	`HTi/Vqp1cs`	Did I ask	I asked	Did I ask	1
`H7592-05`	הַ/שֹּׁאֲלִ֥ים	hashoalim	`HTd/Vqrmpa`	asking	the asking-ones	the inquiring-ones	1
`H7592-06`	הִשְׁאִלְתִּ֨/הוּ֙	hisheiletihu	`HVhp1cs/Sp3ms`	have dedicated him	I lent him	I lent him	1
`H7592-12`	נִשְׁאַ֥לְתִּי	nishealeti	`HVNp1cs`	I asked	I was asked	I was asked	1
`H7592-17`	שָׁאַ֖לְתְּ	shaalete	`HVqp2fs`	you have asked	you asked	you asked	1
`H7592-24`	שְׁאָל֔וּ/נִי	shealuni	`HVqv2mp/Sp1cs`	Ask me	Ask me	Ask me	1
`H7592-26`	שְֽׁאֵל֪וּ/נוּ	sheelunu	`HVqp3cp/Sp1cp`	asked us	they asked us	they asked us	1
`H7592-27`	שְׁאִלְתִּ֨י/הוּ֙	sheiletihu	`HVqp1cs/Sp3ms`	I asked him	I asked him	I asked him	1
`H7592-28`	שְׁאִלְתִּֽי/ו	sheiletiv	`HVqp1cs/Sp3ms`	I have asked him	I asked him	I asked him	1
`H7592-32`	תִּֽשְׁאָלְ/ךָ֖	tishealekha	`HVqi3fs/Sp2ms`	asks of you	she will ask you	your living being requests	1
`H7592-33`	תִּשְׁאָלֵ֑/נִי	tishealeni	`HVqi2ms/Sp1cs`	do you ask me	you ask me	do you ask me	1
`H7592-34`	וּ/שְׁאֵלֵ֗/ךְ	usheelekhe	`HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3fs`	and asks you	and he asked you	and asks you	1
`H7592-35`	וּ/שְׁאֶלְתֶּם	usheeletem	`HC/Vqq2mp`	and ask	and you (masculine plural) asked	and you will ask	1
`H7592-36`	וָ/אֶשְׁאַ֣ל	vaesheal	`HC/Vqw1cs`	And I asked	and I asked	and I asked	1
`H7592-37`	וָ/אֶשְׁאָלֵ֞/ם	vaeshealem	`HC/Vqw1cs/Sp3mp`	and I asked them	and I asked them	and I asked them	1
`H7592-38`	וַ/תִּֽשְׁאַל	vatisheal	`HC/Vqw2ms`	but you asked	and you asked	and you asked	1
`H7592-39`	וַ/יַּשְׁאִל֑וּ/ם	vayasheilum	`HC/Vhw3mp/Sp3mp`	and they asked them	and they caused them to ask	and they caused them to ask	1
`H7592-43`	וְ֝/אֶשְׁאָלְ/ךָ֗	veeshealekha	`HC/Vqi1cs/Sp2ms`	and I will ask you	and I will ask you	and I will ask you	1
`H7592-44`	וְ/אֶשְׁאָלֵ֖/ם	veeshealem	`HC/Vqi1cs/Sp3mp`	and I ask them	and I will ask them	and I will ask them	1
`H7592-45`	וְ/נִשְׁאֲלָ֖ה	venishealah	`HC/Vqh1cp`	and ask	and let us ask	and let us ask	1
`H7592-47`	וְ/שָׁאֲלָ֨ה	veshaalah	`HC/Vqq3fs`	But each woman shall ask	and she asked	and she will ask	1
`H7592-49`	וְ/שַֽׁאֲלִי	veshaali	`HC/Vqv2fs`	ask for me	and ask (feminine singular)	and ask (feminine singular)	1
`H7592-51`	וְ/שָׁא֥וֹל	veshaol	`HC/Vqa`	and inquired	and to ask	and you inquired	1
`H7592-52`	וְ/שִׁאֵ֑לוּ	veshielu	`HC/Vpq3cp`	and beg	and they earnestly asked	and they begged	1
`H7592-53`	וְ/שֹׁאֵ֥ל	veshoel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	or a consulter	and one who asks	and one who asks	1
`H7592-54`	וְ/יִשְׁאֲל֞וּ	veyishealu	`HC/Vqj3mp`	and let them ask	and let them ask	and let them ask	1
`H7592-55`	וִ/שְׁאֵֽלְ/ךָ֙	visheelekha	`HC/Vqq3ms/Sp2ms`	and asks you	and he asked you	and he will ask you	1
`H7592-56`	יְשָׁאֲל֛וּ	yeshaalu	`HVpi3mp`	they would ask	they earnestly ask	they would ask	1
`H7592-59`	יִשְׁאָ֔לוּ	yishealu	`HVqi3mp`	they will ask	they will ask	they will ask	1
`H7592-62`	ישאל	yshl	`HVqi3ms`	he begs	he asks	he asks	1

Occurrences in Scripture

176 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H7592-36`	Genesis 24:47	וָ/אֶשְׁאַ֣ל	vaesheal	`HC/Vqw1cs`	And I asked	and I asked	and I asked
`H7592-45`	Genesis 24:57	וְ/נִשְׁאֲלָ֖ה	venishealah	`HC/Vqh1cp`	and ask	and let us ask	and let us ask
`H7592-42`	Genesis 26:7	וַֽ/יִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ	vayishealu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	asked	and they asked	and they asked
`H7592-55`	Genesis 32:18	וִ/שְׁאֵֽלְ/ךָ֙	visheelekha	`HC/Vqq3ms/Sp2ms`	and asks you	and he asked you	and he will ask you
`H7592-40`	Genesis 32:30	וַ/יִּשְׁאַ֣ל	vayisheal	`HC/Vqw3ms`	asked	and he asked	and he asked
`H7592-31`	Genesis 32:30	תִּשְׁאַ֣ל	tisheal	`HVqi2ms`	do you ask	you ask	do you ask
`H7592-41`	Genesis 37:15	וַ/יִּשְׁאָלֵ֧/הוּ	vayishealehu	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms`	and asked him	and he asked him	and he asked him
`H7592-40`	Genesis 38:21	וַ/יִּשְׁאַ֞ל	vayisheal	`HC/Vqw3ms`	he asked	and he asked	and he asked
`H7592-40`	Genesis 40:7	וַ/יִּשְׁאַ֞ל	vayisheal	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he asked	and he asked	and he asked
`H7592-21`	Genesis 43:7	שָׁא֣וֹל	shaol	`HVqa`	asked	to ask	to ask
`H7592-14`	Genesis 43:7	שָֽׁאַל	shaal	`HVqp3ms`	he asked	he asked	he asked
`H7592-40`	Genesis 43:27	וַ/יִּשְׁאַ֤ל	vayisheal	`HC/Vqw3ms`	and he asked	and he asked	and he asked
`H7592-14`	Genesis 44:19	שָׁאַ֔ל	shaal	`HVqp3ms`	asked	he asked	he asked
`H7592-47`	Exodus 3:22	וְ/שָׁאֲלָ֨ה	veshaalah	`HC/Vqq3fs`	But each woman shall ask	and she asked	and she will ask
`H7592-54`	Exodus 11:2	וְ/יִשְׁאֲל֞וּ	veyishealu	`HC/Vqj3mp`	and let them ask	and let them ask	and let them ask
`H7592-42`	Exodus 12:35	וַֽ/יִּשְׁאֲלוּ֙	vayishealu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they asked	and they asked	and they asked
`H7592-39`	Exodus 12:36	וַ/יַּשְׁאִל֑וּ/ם	vayasheilum	`HC/Vhw3mp/Sp3mp`	and they asked them	and they caused them to ask	and they caused them to ask
`H7592-58`	Exodus 13:14	יִשְׁאָלְ/ךָ֥	yishealekha	`HVqi3ms/Sp2ms`	your son asks you	he will ask you	he will ask you
`H7592-42`	Exodus 18:7	וַ/יִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ	vayishealu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they asked	and they asked	and they asked
`H7592-57`	Exodus 22:13	יִשְׁאַ֥ל	yisheal	`HVqi3ms`	he borrows	he will ask	he borrows
`H7592-46`	Numbers 27:21	וְ/שָׁ֥אַל	veshaal	`HC/Vqq3ms`	and ask	and he asked	and he will ask
`H7592-23`	Deuteronomy 4:32	שְׁאַל	sheal	`HVqv2ms`	ask	ask	ask
`H7592-58`	Deuteronomy 6:20	יִשְׁאָלְ/ךָ֥	yishealekha	`HVqi3ms/Sp2ms`	your son asks	he will ask you	he will ask you
`H7592-29`	Deuteronomy 10:12	שֹׁאֵ֖ל	shoel	`HVqrmsa`	asks	one who asks	asks
`H7592-48`	Deuteronomy 13:15	וְ/שָׁאַלְתָּ֖	veshaaleta	`HC/Vqq2ms`	and ask	and you asked	and you asked
`H7592-32`	Deuteronomy 14:26	תִּֽשְׁאָלְ/ךָ֖	tishealekha	`HVqi3fs/Sp2ms`	asks of you	she will ask you	your living being requests
`H7592-53`	Deuteronomy 18:11	וְ/שֹׁאֵ֥ל	veshoel	`HC/Vqrmsa`	or a consulter	and one who asks	and one who asks
`H7592-16`	Deuteronomy 18:16	שָׁאַ֜לְתָּ	shaaleta	`HVqp2ms`	you asked	you asked	you asked
`H7592-23`	Deuteronomy 32:7	שְׁאַ֤ל	sheal	`HVqv2ms`	ask	ask	ask
`H7592-60`	Joshua 4:6	יִשְׁאָל֨וּ/ן	yishealun	`HVqi3mp/Sn`	your children ask	they will ask	they will ask
`H7592-60`	Joshua 4:21	יִשְׁאָל֨וּ/ן	yishealun	`HVqi3mp/Sn`	your children ask	they will ask	they will ask
`H7592-20`	Joshua 9:14	שָׁאָֽלוּ	shaalu	`HVqp3cp`	asked	they asked	they asked
`H7592-08`	Joshua 15:18	לִ/שְׁא֤וֹל	lisheol	`HR/Vqc`	to ask	to ask	to ask
`H7592-14`	Joshua 19:50	שָׁאָ֔ל	shaal	`HVqp3ms`	he asked	he asked	he asked
`H7592-42`	Judges 1:1	וַֽ/יִּשְׁאֲלוּ֙	vayishealu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and asked	and they asked	and they asked
`H7592-08`	Judges 1:14	לִ/שְׁא֤וֹל	lisheol	`HR/Vqc`	to ask	to ask	to ask
`H7592-34`	Judges 4:20	וּ/שְׁאֵלֵ֗/ךְ	usheelekhe	`HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3fs`	and asks you	and he asked you	and asks you
`H7592-14`	Judges 5:25	שָׁאַ֖ל	shaal	`HVqp3ms`	he asked	he asked	he asked
`H7592-41`	Judges 8:14	וַ/יִּשְׁאָלֵ֑/הוּ	vayishealehu	`HC/Vqw3ms/Sp3ms`	and questioned him	and he asked him	and he asked him
`H7592-02`	Judges 8:24	אֶשְׁאֲלָ֤ה	eshealah	`HVqh1cs`	let me make a request	let me ask	let me ask
`H7592-14`	Judges 8:26	שָׁאָ֔ל	shaal	`HVqp3ms`	he requested	he asked	he asked
`H7592-27`	Judges 13:6	שְׁאִלְתִּ֨י/הוּ֙	sheiletihu	`HVqp1cs/Sp3ms`	I asked him	I asked him	I asked him
`H7592-31`	Judges 13:18	תִּשְׁאַ֣ל	tisheal	`HVqi2ms`	do you ask	you ask	you ask
`H7592-23`	Judges 18:5	שְׁאַל	sheal	`HVqv2ms`	Inquire	ask	ask
`H7592-42`	Judges 18:15	וַ/יִּשְׁאֲלוּ	vayishealu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they asked	and they asked	and they asked
`H7592-42`	Judges 20:18	וַ/יִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ	vayishealu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and inquired	and they asked	and they asked
`H7592-42`	Judges 20:23	וַ/יִּשְׁאֲל֤וּ	vayishealu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and they inquired	and they asked	and they asked
`H7592-42`	Judges 20:27	וַ/יִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ	vayishealu	`HC/Vqw3mp`	and inquired	and they asked	and they asked
`H7592-17`	1 Samuel 1:17	שָׁאַ֖לְתְּ	shaalete	`HVqp2fs`	you have asked	you asked	you asked
`H7592-28`	1 Samuel 1:20	שְׁאִלְתִּֽי/ו	sheiletiv	`HVqp1cs/Sp3ms`	I have asked him	I asked him	I asked him

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