שָׁפַךְ

𐤔𐤐𐤊

shâphak

H8210 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שפך to pour, spill, shed

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

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Root 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