שְׂכִיָּה
𐤔𐤊𐤉𐤄
sᵉkîyâh
H7914 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A representation or figure, typically a carved, sculpted, or painted image intended as a visible sign or object of attention, often set in a prominent location. The term denotes a physical object created to be seen, such as a statue, engraving, or pictorial depiction.
Semantic Range
representation, figure, pictured image, conspicuous or public object, cult statute or visible idol, pictorial stone
Root / Etymology
From the root שׂכה (likely from the verbal stem signifying 'to look attentively, gaze, be conspicuous'), with the feminine ending -יה indicating an abstract or concrete noun. The precise root meaning is 'to view, observe' but the noun refers to the object which attracts or receives gazes: a visible representation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שְׂכִיָּה (sekîyâh) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (Numbers 33:52), where Israelites are commanded to destroy 'all their stone images' (כָּל־שִׂכִיֹּת מַסֵּכֹתָם). The term is used in a negative context, referring to prominent cultic images belonging to resident peoples of Canaan. It describes any man-made image meant for public display, especially those associated with worship or veneration, emphasizing their visual conspicuousness rather than specific idolatrous function per se. It is distinct from other terms for 'idol' or 'image,' such as פֶּסֶל (pesel, 'carved image, idol') and מַסֵּכָה (massekah, 'molten image, cast figure'), in that שְׂכִיָּה highlights the object's visibility and display. English translations often render it 'figured stone' or 'pictorial stone,' but both the material and design are less in focus than its observable nature. Later Jewish interpretive tradition sometimes limits the sense to images on stone, but biblical usage allows a broader scope. The term is rare and context-dependent.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine from the same as שֵׂכוּ; a conspicuous object; picture.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׂכה (ś-k-h) — to gaze, to look attentively, to be conspicuous
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4906 | מַשְׂכִּית | in carved images of |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7914-01 |
שְׂכִיּ֥וֹת | sekhiot | HNcfpc |
beautiful craft | gaze-drawing representations of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7914-01 |
Isaiah 2:16 | שְׂכִיּ֥וֹת | sekhiot | HNcfpc |
beautiful craft | gaze-drawing representations of |