שָׁקַע (H8257) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁקַע

𐤔𐤒𐤏

shâqaʻ

H8257 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שׁקע to sink, to subside, to grow quiet or still, to bring down

Definition

To sink, subside, or collapse from an elevated state to a lower or more settled position; by extension, to be overwhelmed or engulfed (as by water), or to become still, abate, or subdue. The verb is used both with literal reference to physical descent (such as water receding or an object sinking) and with figurative nuances (such as pride subsiding or a calamity abating).

Semantic Range

to sink (physically), to subside (of water, land, or tumult), to abate (of forces or emotions), to be overwhelmed or engulfed, to be subdued or diminished, to let down, to make deep (causative), to quench or drown

Root / Etymology

Root: שָׁקַע. The root carries the fundamental idea of sinking or subsiding downward. The verb form expresses the process of an object, substance, or metaphorical quality lowering or settling, often due to weight, recession, or abatement. The sense of subduing or quenching arises idiomatically from the act of causing something to lose force or height, thus being brought low or diminished.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׁקַע appears primarily in poetic and prophetic passages, often describing inundation, subsiding of waters, or abatement of tumult. For example, Amos 8:8 and 9:5 employ the word in reference to the land 'sinking' (figuratively) under judgment, while Exodus 15:10 uses the causative to describe Egyptians being 'submerged' in the sea. The verb is sometimes paired with images of flooding or sinking beneath the surface, but may also refer to the cessation or diminishing of non-physical forces (e.g., wrath, pride). In later biblical Hebrew and post-biblical usage, the root retains the sense of 'sinking' or 'subsiding.' שָׁקַע is distinct from נָפַל (to fall) in that it emphasizes a slow settling or descent, often beneath a surface or into a medium (like water or mire), rather than a sudden drop. English translations sometimes render it 'sink,' 'subside,' or 'be overwhelmed,' but these may not always capture the full metaphorical range. Usage is consistent across periods but is more frequent in poetic or elevated prose.

Translation Consistency

primary "sink" 4 occurrences

שָׁקַע most commonly denotes physical descent or subsiding (of water, land, an object) and naturally extends to figurative senses (tumult or pride subsiding; being overwhelmed or engulfed). "Sink" is the natural, flexible English verb that covers both intransitive and transitive uses (to sink; to sink something/make something sink) and reads idiomatically in phrases like “sink down,” “sink in,” or “sink into,” so it best preserves the typical semantic range while remaining consistent and natural.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):

"fire subsided" (1x) "sank" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(abbreviated Amos 8:8); a primitive root; to subside; by implication, to be overflowed, cease; causatively, to abate, subdue; make deep, let down, drown, quench, sink.

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Root Family

שׁקע (sh-q-ʿ) — to sink, to subside, to grow quiet or still, to bring down

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4950	מִשְׁקָע	and settling-basin of
H8258	שְׁקַעְרוּרָה	sunken recesses

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H8257-03`	תִּשְׁקַ֨ע	tisheqa	`HVqi3fs`	shall-sink	she will sink	it will sink	1
`H8257-06`	וְ/שָׁקְעָ֖ה	veshaqeah	`HC/Vqp3fs`	and sinks	and she sank	and it sank	1
`H8257-02`	תַּשְׁקִ֥יעַ	tasheqia	`HVhi2ms`	press down	you will cause to sink	will you cause to sink	1
`H8257-04`	וַ/תִּשְׁקַ֖ע	vatisheqa	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and subsided	and she sank	and the fire subsided	1
`H8257-01`	אַשְׁקִ֣יעַ	asheqia	`HVhi1cs`	I will make settle	I will cause to sink	I will cause to sink	1
`H8257-05`	וְ/נִשְׁקְעָ֖ה	venisheqeah	`HC/VNq3fs`	and sink	and she sank down	and it will sink down	1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H8257-04`	Numbers 11:2	וַ/תִּשְׁקַ֖ע	vatisheqa	`HC/Vqw3fs`	and subsided	and she sank	and the fire subsided
`H8257-03`	Jeremiah 51:64	תִּשְׁקַ֨ע	tisheqa	`HVqi3fs`	shall-sink	she will sink	it will sink
`H8257-01`	Ezekiel 32:14	אַשְׁקִ֣יעַ	asheqia	`HVhi1cs`	I will make settle	I will cause to sink	I will cause to sink
`H8257-05`	Amos 8:8	וְ/נִשְׁקְעָ֖ה	venisheqeah	`HC/VNq3fs`	and sink	and she sank down	and it will sink down
`H8257-06`	Amos 9:5	וְ/שָׁקְעָ֖ה	veshaqeah	`HC/Vqp3fs`	and sinks	and she sank	and it sank
`H8257-02`	Job 40:25	תַּשְׁקִ֥יעַ	tasheqia	`HVhi2ms`	press down	you will cause to sink	will you cause to sink

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