שְׁאֵל (H7593) — Hebrew Lexicon

שְׁאֵל

𐤔𐤀𐤋

shᵉʼêl

H7593 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שאל to ask, to inquire, to request, to demand

Definition

To ask, inquire, request, or demand; used primarily for seeking information or making a petition. This verb encompasses a range of speech acts that include requesting something from a person or authority, inquiring for information, or more assertively demanding. It may express polite inquiry, general questioning, or insistent requests depending on context.

Semantic Range

to ask a question, to inquire information, to request (politely), to make a petition, to demand, to require

Root / Etymology

From the Hebrew root שׁ־א־ל (שׁאל), meaning 'to ask, inquire.' The Aramaic form שְׁאֵל carries the same semantic range but is inflected according to Aramaic verbal morphology.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שְׁאֵל is the Aramaic equivalent to the Hebrew verb שָׁאַל, both appearing in their respective languages wherever formal requests, demands, or questions are made—toward humans or the divine. In biblical Aramaic (e.g., in Daniel and Ezra), it is the standard verb for asking, whether in the sense of simple inquiry (e.g., requesting information or clarification), formal petition (e.g., to a king or an official), or authoritative demand. The range and nuance are set by context, spanning from courteous entreaty to insistence. While English translations may render this as 'ask,' 'request,' or 'demand,' the Aramaic verb covers all these nuances depending on the scenario. The cognate Hebrew verb appears widely in dialogue, legal, and ritual contexts, and the Aramaic is used similarly in post-exilic biblical texts. The English 'ask' does not always capture the strength or formality of the term, particularly where official requests or legal petitions are involved.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁאַל; {to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand}; ask, demand, require.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

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

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
H7592	שָׁאַל	I will ask
H7594	שְׁאָל	And-Asked-One
H7595	שְׁאֵלָא	the formal petition
H7596	שְׁאֵלָה	in my petition
H7597	שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל	I have asked El
H7598	שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵל	I-have-asked El
H7956	שֵׁלָה	to Shelah
H847	אֶשְׁתָּאֹל	Eshtaol

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H7593-01`	שָׁאֵל֙	shael	`AVqrmsa`	asks	asking one	2
`H7593-03`	שְׁאֵ֨לְנָא֙	sheelena	`AVqp1cp`	we asked	we asked	2
`H7593-04`	יִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְ/כוֹן	yishealenekhon	`AVqi3ms/Sp2mp`	you-may-ask	he will ask you all	1
`H7593-02`	שְׁאֵ֔ל	sheel	`AVqp3ms`	has asked	request of	1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H7593-02`	Daniel 2:10	שְׁאֵ֔ל	sheel	`AVqp3ms`	has asked	request of
`H7593-01`	Daniel 2:11	שָׁאֵל֙	shael	`AVqrmsa`	asks	asking one
`H7593-01`	Daniel 2:27	שָׁאֵ֔ל	shael	`AVqrmsa`	has asked	asking one
`H7593-03`	Ezra 5:9	שְׁאֵ֨לְנָא֙	sheelena	`AVqp1cp`	we-asked	we asked
`H7593-03`	Ezra 5:10	שְׁאֵ֥לְנָא	sheelena	`AVqp1cp`	we asked	we asked
`H7593-04`	Ezra 7:21	יִ֠שְׁאֲלֶנְ/כוֹן	yishealenekhon	`AVqi3ms/Sp2mp`	you-may-ask	he will ask you all

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