שָׁק
𐤔𐤒
shâq
H8243 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Lower leg, limb extending from knee to ankle, especially the shin or calf area; sometimes referring generally to a limb or shank, particularly of humans, but by extension used for animals in sacrificial contexts. The term primarily denotes the physical leg but can designate a cut or portion of the leg (such as a shank or thigh portion) especially in ritual prescription or inventory.
Semantic Range
lower leg, shin, calf, shank, limb, portion of leg, cut of leg meat, anatomical leg (human or animal), sacrificial or ritual portion
Root / Etymology
Root: שׁו״ק (שׁוק), meaning 'to run, rush, or move quickly' or associated with the shank or leg, but etymology not entirely certain. This form שָׁק is the Aramaic cognate, paralleling the Hebrew שׁוֹק (shoq), which refers to the thigh or lower leg.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term שָׁק (shâq) occurs as an Aramaic loanword in portions of Daniel and Ezra written in Aramaic, where it corresponds to the Hebrew שׁוֹק (shoq). In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁק has a much more restricted and specific use, and is almost always limited to Aramaic narrative or official context. The word refers to the anatomical lower leg, especially between the knee and ankle, but in ritual and temple contexts (such as inventories or sacrificial procedures) may denote a portion or cut of meat from this area, important in priestly allocations (see comparison with Hebrew זְרוֹעַ, 'upper arm/shoulder'). English translations often render both שָׁק and שׁוֹק as 'leg' or 'thigh,' but the precise anatomical referent varies contextually. The term does not carry theological or symbolic meanings but serves a descriptive, sometimes technical, anatomical function.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to שׁוֹק; the leg; leg.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שוק (sh-w-q) — to rush, to run, lower leg, shank
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7783 | שׁוּק | they caused to overflow |
| H7784 | שׁוּק | in public thoroughfares |
| H7785 | שׁוֹק | the lower leg |
| H8669 | תְּשׁוּקָה | your longing |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8243-01 |
שָׁק֖וֹ/הִי | shaqohi | ANcfpc/Sp3ms |
its legs | his lower legs | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8243-01 |
Daniel 2:33 | שָׁק֖וֹ/הִי | shaqohi | ANcfpc/Sp3ms |
its legs | his lower legs |