שְׁאָל
𐤔𐤀𐤋
Sheal
H7594 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper name designating an Israelite individual named Sheal; derived from the verb meaning 'to ask' or 'to request.' While as a proper noun it functions specifically as a personal name, its base meaning retains the nuance of 'request' or 'petition.'
Semantic Range
personal name (Sheal); (by root) to ask, to request, to inquire
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁאַל (sha'al), meaning 'to ask, request, inquire.' The name שְׁאָל likely signifies 'asked' or 'requested (of God),' following a pattern seen in other Hebrew personal names.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שְׁאָל appears as a personal name in the list of post-exilic returnees (1 Chronicles 5:8). The name fits within a broader tradition of theophoric or meaningful naming typical of Israelite culture, where names often encapsulate a circumstance of birth or a parental hope. The construction is analogous to names like שְׁמוּאֵל (Samuel, 'God has heard'), though שְׁאָל lacks the theophoric element. English translations render this strictly as a personal name—'Sheal'—but the underlying Hebrew carries the nuance of 'one requested' or 'asked for.' Unlike more theologically developed names, שְׁאָל simply preserves the verbal root and does not directly ascribe a relationship to God, making its significance slightly more opaque than similar names. No evidence suggests a shift in meaning across periods; it appears as a singular designation for one individual in the genealogical record, with no broader use in narrative or cultic contexts. Distinct from common nouns or verbs; strictly a personal name in biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁאַל; request; Sheal, an Israelite; Sheal.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
שאל (Sheol) — to ask, request, inquire
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7585 | שְׁאוֹל | in the underworld |
| H7587 | שָׁאוּלִי | the Shaulite |
| H7592 | שָׁאַל | I will ask |
| H7593 | שְׁאֵל | asking one |
| H7596 | שְׁאֵלָה | in my petition |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7594-01 |
וּ/שְׁאָ֥ל | usheal | HC/Np |
and-Sheal | And-Asked-One | and Sheal | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7594-01 |
Ezra 10:29 | וּ/שְׁאָ֥ל | usheal | HC/Np |
and-Sheal | And-Asked-One | and Sheal |