שֹׁעַל
𐤔𐤏𐤋
shôʻal
H8168 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Shôʻal refers to the hollow or concave part of the hand, especially the palm when cupped or scooping, and by extension designates a handful, or the quantity that can be held in the cupped hand. In biblical usage, it most often describes the act of taking or measuring out a quantity (typically grain) using the hand as an informal measure.
Semantic Range
hollow of the hand, palm (when cupped), handful, scoop, capacity held in the palm
Root / Etymology
Derived from an unused root likely connected to the verbal sense 'to hollow out' or 'to scoop,' aligning with the impression of the cupped palm. Actual usage in the Hebrew Bible is nominal, not verbal, and the presumed root (שעל) is otherwise unattested in standard Hebrew.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שֹׁעַל appears in a small number of passages (e.g., 1 Kings 17:12) describing the act of gathering or measuring by hand, particularly when using formal measuring instruments was neither available nor necessary (e.g., in situations of scarcity or informality). Unlike other words for 'hand' (such as יָד, 'yad,' meaning hand in its entirety or כַּף, 'kaf,' meaning palm, flat of the hand), שֹׁעַל is more specifically the concave form used for scooping. The term is distinct from terms for fixed measures (e.g., עֹמֶר, 'omer'), with its focus on the physical gesture rather than an exact volume. Over time, the term remained limited and did not become a standard unit. Later Hebrew uses other forms for palm or handful (often kaf), making שֹׁעַל stylistically archaic even in the biblical corpus. English translations as 'handful' capture some but not all of the word's sense, as the physical action of scooping or holding in the hollowed hand is often central to the context. No theological or ritual connotation is attached; its denotation is practical and descriptive.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to hollow out; the palm; by extension, a handful; handful, hollow of the hand.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שעל (š-ʿ-l) — to hollow out, to scoop, to form a concavity
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8168-01 |
בְּ/שַׁעֲלֵ֣י | beshaaley | HR/Ncmpc |
for handfuls | in cupped handfuls of | 1 |
H8168-02 |
בְּ/שָׁעֳל֜/וֹ | beshaolo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in the hollow of his hand | in his cupped-palm | 1 |
H8168-03 |
לִ/שְׁעָלִ֕ים | lishealim | HR/Ncmpa |
for handfuls | cupped handfuls | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8168-03 |
1 Kings 20:10 | לִ/שְׁעָלִ֕ים | lishealim | HR/Ncmpa |
for handfuls | cupped handfuls |
H8168-02 |
Isaiah 40:12 | בְּ/שָׁעֳל֜/וֹ | beshaolo | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in the hollow of his hand | in his cupped-palm |
H8168-01 |
Ezekiel 13:19 | בְּ/שַׁעֲלֵ֣י | beshaaley | HR/Ncmpc |
for handfuls | in cupped handfuls of |