שָׂכַל (H7919) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׂכַל

𐤔𐤊𐤋

sâkal

H7919 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׂכל to be prudent, to act with insight, to understand, to prosper

Definition

To act with insight, understanding, or skill; to comprehend a situation and respond appropriately and prudently. The term encompasses the capacity to achieve successful outcomes through perceptiveness, careful judgment, or competence. In causative forms, it extends to making someone understand, instructing, or enabling prudent behavior. The semantic range covers both intellectual insight and practical skill, often associated with success or prosperity derived from wise action.

Semantic Range

to be prudent, to act with insight or intelligence, to be skillful, to comprehend, to instruct or teach, to guide wisely, to achieve success or prosperity through prudent action, to make wise, to enable understanding

Root / Etymology

From the root שׂכל, which fundamentally expresses the capacity for insight, comprehension, prudence, and intelligence. The verb שָׂכַל in the qal stem typically means to be wise or act with insight; in the hiphil, it means 'to make wise,' 'to instruct,' or 'to prosper,' reflecting causative nuance. The root is attested in other Semitic languages with overlapping senses of discernment or skill, though specific usage varies.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, שָׂכַל and its derivatives are used to describe both cognitive abilities (wisdom, understanding) and the effective, often successful, execution of actions (especially in administrative, military, or practical contexts). While later English translations often render it as 'wisdom' or 'understanding,' the word frequently denotes the application of insight to achieve effective, skillful, or prosperous results. The meaning can shade toward moral, spiritual, or practical insight, depending on context. In Deuteronomistic texts, it often denotes success resulting from attentive observance of instruction. It is closely related to, but partially distinct from, חָכַם (H2450 'to be wise'), with חָכַם focusing on innate wisdom or general intellectual capability and שָׂכַל emphasizing applied insight and prudence that leads to success or prosperity. The hiphil stem widespread in post-exilic literature denotes making someone prudent or enabling success, with particular emphasis on didactic and instructional contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent; consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent(-ly), (give) skill(-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand(-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise(-ly), guide wittingly.

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Root Family

שׂכל (ś-k-l) — prudence, insight, understanding, skillful success

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4905	מַשְׂכִּיל	insight-imparting composition
H7920	שְׂכַל	conducting himself wisely
H7922	שֶׂכֶל	with insight
H7924	שׇׂכְלְתָנוּ	understanding

Word Forms

33 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H7919-15`	מַשְׂכִּ֑יל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	wise	one who makes wise	13
`H7919-32`	יַשְׂכִּ֔יל	yasekil	`HVhi3ms`	and prospered	he will make wise	5
`H7919-09`	הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ	hisekilu	`HVhp3cp`	they understood	they acted with insight	5
`H7919-20`	תַּשְׂכִּ֔יל	tasekil	`HVhi2ms`	you may prosper	you will act with insight	3
`H7919-05`	הַשְׂכֵּל֮	hasekel	`HVha`	of understanding	to make wise	3
`H7919-21`	תַּשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ	tasekilu	`HVhi2mp`	will you be wise	you will act with insight	2
`H7919-22`	וּ/לְ/הַשְׂכִּ֖יל	ulehasekil	`HC/R/Vhc`	and to give heed	and to make wise	2
`H7919-04`	הַ/מַּשְׂכִּילִ֣ים	hamasekilim	`HTd/Vhrmpa`	the wise	the ones who make wise	2
`H7919-28`	וְ/הַשְׂכֵּֽיל	vehasekeyl	`HC/Vha`	and-understanding	to make wise	2
`H7919-10`	לְ/הַשְׂכִּ֔יל	lehasekil	`HR/Vhc`	for making wise	to make wise	2
`H7919-26`	וְ/הַ֨/מַּשְׂכִּלִ֔ים	vehamasekilim	`HC/Td/Vhrmpa`	And those who have insight	the ones who make wise	2
`H7919-31`	וְ/יַשְׂכִּ֨ילוּ֙	veyasekilu	`HC/Vhi3mp`	and understand	they will act with insight	1
`H7919-23`	וּ/מַשְׂכִּ֣ילֵי	umasekiley	`HC/Vhrmpc`	and-the-wise	and those who make-wise of	1
`H7919-13`	לְ/מַשְׂכִּ֑יל	lemasekil	`HR/Vhrmsa`	for the wise	the one causing insight	1
`H7919-06`	הַשְׂכִּ֑ילוּ	hasekilu	`HVhv2mp`	be wise	Act with insight	1
`H7919-25`	וּ/בְ/הַשְׂכִּ֥יל	uvehasekil	`HC/R/Vhc`	and-when instructed	and in making wise	1
`H7919-33`	יַשְׂכִּ֣ילוּ	yasekilu	`HVhi3mp`	they would understand	they will make wise	1
`H7919-29`	וְ/הִשְׂכִּ֔יל	vehisekil	`HC/Vhq3ms`	and-shall-deal-wisely	and he made wise	1
`H7919-01`	אַשְׂכִּ֤ילָה	asekilah	`HVhh1cs`	I will give heed	Let me make wise	1
`H7919-08`	הִשְׂכִּ֑יל	hisekil	`HVhp3ms`	made wise	he made wise	1
`H7919-27`	וְ/הַשְׂכֵּ֖ל	vehasekel	`HC/Vha`	and-skill	and causing insight	1
`H7919-11`	לְ/הַשְׂכִּילָ֑/ם	lehasekilam	`HR/Vhc/Sp3mp`	to-make-them-wise	to make them act with insight	1
`H7919-02`	אַשְׂכִּֽילְ/ךָ֨	asekilekha	`HVhi1cs/Sp2ms`	I will instruct you	I will make you understand	1
`H7919-03`	הַ/מַּשְׂכִּ֛יל	hamasekil	`HTd/Vhrmsa`	the prudent	the one who makes wise	1
`H7919-14`	מַשְׂכָּֽלֶת	masekalet	`HVhrfsa`	prudent	she who makes wise	1
`H7919-17`	מֵ/הַשְׂכִּ֖יל	mehasekil	`HR/Vhc`	from understanding	from making wise	1
`H7919-07`	הִשְׂכַּ֑לְתִּי	hisekaleti	`HVhp1cs`	I have more understanding	I made wise	1
`H7919-30`	וְ/תַשְׂכֵּ֜ל	vetasekel	`HC/Vhi2ms`	and-consider	you will make wise	1
`H7919-16`	מַשְׁכִּ֔יל	mashekil	`HVhrmsa`	skilled	one who makes wise	1
`H7919-18`	שָׂכַ֤ל	sakhal	`HVqp3ms`	behaved wisely	he acted with insight	1
`H7919-24`	וּ/מַשְׂכִּילִ֣ים	umasekilim	`HC/Vhrmpa`	skillful	insight-givers	1
`H7919-19`	שִׂכֵּל֙	sikel	`HVpp3ms`	guided	he made wise	1
`H7919-12`	לְ/הַשְׂכִּילְ/ךָ֥	lehasekilekha	`HR/Vhc/Sp2ms`	to give you insight	to make you wise	1

Occurrences in Scripture

63 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H7919-10`	Genesis 3:6	לְ/הַשְׂכִּ֔יל	lehasekil	`HR/Vhc`	for making wise	to make wise
`H7919-19`	Genesis 48:14	שִׂכֵּל֙	sikel	`HVpp3ms`	guided	he made wise
`H7919-21`	Deuteronomy 29:8	תַּשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ	tasekilu	`HVhi2mp`	you-may-prosper	you will act with insight
`H7919-33`	Deuteronomy 32:29	יַשְׂכִּ֣ילוּ	yasekilu	`HVhi3mp`	they would understand	they will make wise
`H7919-20`	Joshua 1:7	תַּשְׂכִּ֔יל	tasekil	`HVhi2ms`	you prosper	you will act with insight
`H7919-20`	Joshua 1:8	תַּשְׂכִּֽיל	tasekil	`HVhi2ms`	you shall have success	you will act with insight
`H7919-32`	1 Samuel 18:5	יַשְׂכִּ֔יל	yasekil	`HVhi3ms`	and prospered	he will make wise
`H7919-15`	1 Samuel 18:14	מַשְׂכִּ֑יל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	prospering	one who makes wise
`H7919-15`	1 Samuel 18:15	מַשְׂכִּ֣יל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	was prospering	one who makes wise
`H7919-18`	1 Samuel 18:30	שָׂכַ֤ל	sakhal	`HVqp3ms`	behaved wisely	he acted with insight
`H7919-20`	1 Kings 2:3	תַּשְׂכִּ֗יל	tasekil	`HVhi2ms`	you may prosper	you will act with insight
`H7919-32`	2 Kings 18:7	יַשְׂכִּ֑יל	yasekil	`HVhi3ms`	he-prospered	he will make wise
`H7919-31`	Isaiah 41:20	וְ/יַשְׂכִּ֨ילוּ֙	veyasekilu	`HC/Vhi3mp`	and understand	they will act with insight
`H7919-17`	Isaiah 44:18	מֵ/הַשְׂכִּ֖יל	mehasekil	`HR/Vhc`	from understanding	from making wise
`H7919-32`	Isaiah 52:13	יַשְׂכִּ֖יל	yasekil	`HVhi3ms`	will prosper	he will make wise
`H7919-28`	Jeremiah 3:15	וְ/הַשְׂכֵּֽיל	vehasekeyl	`HC/Vha`	and-understanding	to make wise
`H7919-05`	Jeremiah 9:23	הַשְׂכֵּל֮	hasekel	`HVha`	understanding	to make wise
`H7919-09`	Jeremiah 10:21	הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ	hisekilu	`HVhp3cp`	prospered	they acted with insight
`H7919-09`	Jeremiah 20:11	הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ	hisekilu	`HVhp3cp`	they have acted wisely	they acted with insight
`H7919-29`	Jeremiah 23:5	וְ/הִשְׂכִּ֔יל	vehisekil	`HC/Vhq3ms`	and-shall-deal-wisely	and he made wise
`H7919-16`	Jeremiah 50:9	מַשְׁכִּ֔יל	mashekil	`HVhrmsa`	skilled	one who makes wise
`H7919-03`	Amos 5:13	הַ/מַּשְׂכִּ֛יל	hamasekil	`HTd/Vhrmsa`	the prudent	the one who makes wise
`H7919-06`	Psalms 2:10	הַשְׂכִּ֑ילוּ	hasekilu	`HVhv2mp`	be wise	Act with insight
`H7919-15`	Psalms 14:2	מַשְׂכִּ֑יל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	who understands	one who makes wise
`H7919-02`	Psalms 32:8	אַשְׂכִּֽילְ/ךָ֨	asekilekha	`HVhi1cs/Sp2ms`	I will instruct you	I will make you understand
`H7919-10`	Psalms 36:4	לְ/הַשְׂכִּ֣יל	lehasekil	`HR/Vhc`	to act wisely	to make wise
`H7919-15`	Psalms 41:2	מַשְׂכִּ֣יל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	is he who considers	one who makes wise
`H7919-15`	Psalms 47:8	מַשְׂכִּֽיל	masekil	`HNcmsa`	with understanding	one who makes wise
`H7919-15`	Psalms 53:3	מַשְׂכִּ֑יל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	any who understands	one who makes wise
`H7919-09`	Psalms 64:10	הִשְׂכִּֽילוּ	hisekilu	`HVhp3cp`	they considered	they acted with insight
`H7919-21`	Psalms 94:8	תַּשְׂכִּֽילוּ	tasekilu	`HVhi2mp`	will you be wise	you will act with insight
`H7919-01`	Psalms 101:2	אַשְׂכִּ֤ילָה	asekilah	`HVhh1cs`	I will give heed	Let me make wise
`H7919-09`	Psalms 106:7	הִשְׂכִּ֬ילוּ	hisekilu	`HVhp3cp`	they understood	they acted with insight
`H7919-07`	Psalms 119:99	הִשְׂכַּ֑לְתִּי	hisekaleti	`HVhp1cs`	I have more understanding	I made wise
`H7919-05`	Proverbs 1:3	הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל	hasekel	`HVha`	of wise behavior	to make wise
`H7919-15`	Proverbs 10:5	מַשְׂכִּ֑יל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	wise	one who makes wise
`H7919-15`	Proverbs 10:19	מַשְׂכִּֽיל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	is wise	one who makes wise
`H7919-15`	Proverbs 14:35	מַשְׂכִּ֑יל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	wise	one who makes wise
`H7919-13`	Proverbs 15:24	לְ/מַשְׂכִּ֑יל	lemasekil	`HR/Vhrmsa`	for the wise	the one causing insight
`H7919-15`	Proverbs 16:20	מַשְׂכִּ֣יל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	gives heed	one who makes wise
`H7919-32`	Proverbs 16:23	יַשְׂכִּ֣יל	yasekil	`HVhi3ms`	instructs	he will make wise
`H7919-15`	Proverbs 17:2	מַשְׂכִּ֗יל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	wise	one who makes wise
`H7919-32`	Proverbs 17:8	יַשְׂכִּֽיל	yasekil	`HVhi3ms`	he prospers	he will make wise
`H7919-14`	Proverbs 19:14	מַשְׂכָּֽלֶת	masekalet	`HVhrfsa`	prudent	she who makes wise
`H7919-25`	Proverbs 21:11	וּ/בְ/הַשְׂכִּ֥יל	uvehasekil	`HC/R/Vhc`	and-when instructed	and in making wise
`H7919-15`	Proverbs 21:12	מַשְׂכִּ֣יל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	considers	one who makes wise
`H7919-05`	Proverbs 21:16	הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל	hasekel	`HVha`	of understanding	to make wise
`H7919-15`	Job 22:2	מַשְׂכִּֽיל	masekil	`HVhrmsa`	the wise	one who makes wise
`H7919-09`	Job 34:27	הִשְׂכִּֽילוּ	hisekilu	`HVhp3cp`	they understood	they acted with insight
`H7919-28`	Job 34:35	בְ/הַשְׂכֵּֽיל	vehasekeyl	`HR/Vhc`	with insight	to make wise
`H7919-24`	Daniel 1:4	וּ/מַשְׂכִּילִ֣ים	umasekilim	`HC/Vhrmpa`	skillful	insight-givers
`H7919-27`	Daniel 1:17	וְ/הַשְׂכֵּ֖ל	vehasekel	`HC/Vha`	and-skill	and causing insight
`H7919-22`	Daniel 9:13	וּ/לְ/הַשְׂכִּ֖יל	ulehasekil	`HC/R/Vhc`	and to give heed	and to make wise
`H7919-12`	Daniel 9:22	לְ/הַשְׂכִּילְ/ךָ֥	lehasekilekha	`HR/Vhc/Sp2ms`	to give you insight	to make you wise
`H7919-30`	Daniel 9:25	וְ/תַשְׂכֵּ֜ל	vetasekel	`HC/Vhi2ms`	and-consider	you will make wise
`H7919-23`	Daniel 11:33	וּ/מַשְׂכִּ֣ילֵי	umasekiley	`HC/Vhrmpc`	and-the-wise	and those who make-wise of
`H7919-04`	Daniel 11:35	הַ/מַּשְׂכִּילִ֣ים	hamasekilim	`HTd/Vhrmpa`	the wise	the ones who make wise
`H7919-26`	Daniel 12:3	וְ/הַ֨/מַּשְׂכִּלִ֔ים	vehamasekilim	`HC/Td/Vhrmpa`	And those who have insight	the ones who make wise
`H7919-26`	Daniel 12:10	וְ/הַ/מַּשְׂכִּלִ֖ים	vehamasekilim	`HC/Td/Vhrmpa`	but the wise	the ones who make wise
`H7919-22`	Nehemiah 8:13	וּ/לְ/הַשְׂכִּ֖יל	ulehasekil	`HC/R/Vhc`	to understand	and to make wise
`H7919-11`	Nehemiah 9:20	לְ/הַשְׂכִּילָ֑/ם	lehasekilam	`HR/Vhc/Sp3mp`	to-make-them-wise	to make them act with insight
`H7919-08`	1 Chronicles 28:19	הִשְׂכִּ֑יל	hisekil	`HVhp3ms`	made wise	he made wise
`H7919-04`	2 Chronicles 30:22	הַ/מַּשְׂכִּילִ֥ים	hamasekilim	`HTd/Vhrmpa`	who showed good insight	the ones who make wise

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