שָׁפַךְ
𐤔𐤐𐤊
shâphak
H8210 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To pour out, spill, or shed—primarily of liquids (such as water, blood, oil) but also extending by metaphor to non-physical outpouring, such as emotions or actions. In its basic sense, the verb denotes the act of causing something to flow from a container or source (e.g., to pour water), but it is used extensively for the shedding of blood (as in violence or sacrifice) and the outpouring of other substances (wine libations, molten metal). The term also appears metaphorically to indicate expending energy or life, or the release of emotion, such as pouring out one's soul or anger. Occasionally, in the intensive stem, it denotes casting up or piling up (as with earth), or causing something to be poured out completely, even to excess.
Semantic Range
to pour out (liquid), to spill, to shed (blood), to pour out (libation), to pour (molten metal), to expend (life, soul, energy, complaint), to sprawl or cast (earth), to gush out; metaphorically: to express or exhaust oneself (emotion, complaint, soul), to pour out (divine wrath or judgment), to cause to be poured in abundance
Root / Etymology
Root/etymology: שׁ-פ-ךְ (שָׁפַךְ) is a common Semitic root meaning 'to pour' or 'to spill.' The root conveys the core idea of the act of causing a liquid to flow out or to be emptied; the verb שָׁפַךְ directly derives from this root as a basic stem verb (qal) and is used in various binyanim (verbal stems) for intensified or causative meanings.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb שָׁפַךְ occurs across nearly all biblical periods and genres. In the early narrative and legal corpora (e.g., Torah, Former Prophets), it commonly refers to shedding blood, frequently in legal contexts (forbidden murder, bloodguilt, capital punishment), reflecting ancient Israelite social and ritual concerns about the value and sanctity of life. The shedding of innocent blood is a critical concern, tied to issues of communal impurity and divine justice (e.g., Deuteronomy 19:10, 21:7). In cultic and ritual texts, שָׁפַךְ is used for pouring libations (wine/oil) on altars or at sacred sites, indicating ritual communication with YHWH. The term is extended to portray the pouring out of divine wrath or compassion, and is sometimes used metaphorically for the expression of inner states, such as the pouring out of one's soul (Psalm 42:5), grief, or complaint. In poetic and prophetic literature, the metaphor of 'pouring out' or 'shedding' is often employed for divine judgment, disaster, or wrath (e.g., Ezekiel 7:8; Joel 2:28). The causative or intensive stems occasionally extend the basic meaning to piling up earth (e.g., for siegeworks in warfare). English translations such as 'shed,' 'pour out,' or 'spill' capture much but not all of the semantic range; 'shed' is particularly associated in English with blood, but in Hebrew שָׁפַךְ is also the regular term for more mundane acts of pouring or spilling. In Rabbinic Hebrew, the term retains similar meanings but becomes more abstract in certain contexts, such as 'to waste' or 'to squander.'
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc.); intensively, to sprawl out; cast (up), gush out, pour (out), shed(-der, out), slip.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שפך (š-p-k) — to pour, spill, shed
Word Forms
54 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8210-54 |
יִשְׁפֹּךְ֙ | yishepokhe | HVqi3ms |
he shall pour | he pours out | 9 |
H8210-09 |
לִ/שְׁפֹּ֖ךְ | lishepokhe | HR/Vqc |
to pour out | to pour out | 7 |
H8210-12 |
שָׁפָ֔ךְ | shafakhe | HVqp3ms |
shed | he poured out | 6 |
H8210-04 |
אֶשְׁפּ֤וֹךְ | eshepokhe | HVqi1cs |
I will pour out | I will pour out | 5 |
H8210-47 |
וְ/שָׁפַכְתִּ֥י | veshafakheti | HC/Vqq1cs |
And I will pour out | and I poured out | 5 |
H8210-18 |
שְׁפָךְ | shefakhe | HVqc |
shedding | to pour out | 5 |
H8210-24 |
שֹׁפֵךְ֙ | shofekhe | HVqrmsc |
a shedder | pourer of | 4 |
H8210-19 |
שְׁפ֑וֹךְ | shefokhe | HVqv2ms |
Pour out | Pour out! | 4 |
H8210-16 |
שָֽׁפְכוּ֙ | shafekhu | HVqp3cp |
they had shed | they poured out | 4 |
H8210-40 |
וַֽ/יִּשְׁפְּכ֣וּ | vayishepekhu | HC/Vqw3mp |
and poured it out | and they poured out | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
117 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8210-24 |
Genesis 9:6 | שֹׁפֵךְ֙ | shofekhe | HVqrmsc |
sheds | pourer of |
H8210-53 |
Genesis 9:6 | יִשָּׁפֵ֑ךְ | yishafekhe | HVNi3ms |
shall be shed | he will be poured out |
H8210-31 |
Genesis 37:22 | תִּשְׁפְּכוּ | tishepekhu | HVqi2mp |
shed | you will pour out |
H8210-46 |
Exodus 4:9 | וְ/שָׁפַכְתָּ֖ | veshafakheta | HC/Vqq2ms |
and pour it | and you poured out |
H8210-32 |
Exodus 29:12 | תִּשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ | tishepokhe | HVqi2ms |
you shall pour | you will pour out |
H8210-54 |
Leviticus 4:7 | יִשְׁפֹּךְ֙ | yishepokhe | HVqi3ms |
he shall pour | he pours out |
H8210-54 |
Leviticus 4:18 | יִשְׁפֹּךְ֙ | yishepokhe | HVqi3ms |
he shall pour | he pours out |
H8210-54 |
Leviticus 4:25 | יִשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ | yishepokhe | HVqi3ms |
he shall pour | he pours out |
H8210-54 |
Leviticus 4:30 | יִשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ | yishepokhe | HVqi3ms |
he shall pour | he pours out |
H8210-54 |
Leviticus 4:34 | יִשְׁפֹּ֔ךְ | yishepokhe | HVqi3ms |
he shall pour | he pours out |