תְּשׁוּקָה
𐤕𐤔𐤅𐤒𐤄
tᵉshûwqâh
H8669 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A strong inclination, urge, or longing toward someone or something, typically with the sense of deeply felt desire or emotional dependence. In biblical usage, it often denotes an intense longing or yearning, especially in relational or affective contexts, whether for a person, for something desirable, or in a figurative or even adversarial sense. The term conveys both emotional intensity and a sense of directedness toward its object.
Semantic Range
longing, yearning, desire (emotional or physical), inclination, urge, emotional drive, deep attachment
Root / Etymology
Uncertain, but traditionally derived from the root שוק (to run after, seek, follow, desire, overflow). The root primarily conveys the idea of pursuing or being drawn toward something. תְּשׁוּקָה is a feminine noun formation from this root, expressing a state or quality of longing or desire.
Historical & Contextual Notes
תְּשׁוּקָה appears only three times in the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 3:16, Genesis 4:7, Song of Songs 7:10), each time in a context emphasizing powerful, often relational, yearning or inclination. In Genesis 3:16, it describes the woman's directed longing toward her husband as part of the consequences of the 'fall.' In Genesis 4:7, it characterizes 'sin's' inclination toward Cain, where it takes on a figurative, almost personified nuance, suggesting a desire to control or influence. In Song of Songs 7:10, it appears in an erotic and affectionate context, denoting the woman's certainty of her beloved's desire for her. Standard English translations often render תְּשׁוּקָה as 'desire,' 'longing,' or 'craving,' but these terms may not capture the strength or range of emotional attachment and directedness implied in the Hebrew. The verb שוק, upon which the word is based, is not attested in the Hebrew Bible, making its root meaning somewhat conjectural. Some modern scholarship cautions against over-narrow construals (such as exclusively sexual or adversarial meanings), instead viewing the term as denoting strong emotional direction in general. In post-biblical Hebrew, and in later Jewish interpretive traditions, תְּשׁוּקָה retains and sometimes expands these core connotations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שׁוּק in the original sense of stretching out after; a longing; desire.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שוק (š-w-q) — to long for, desire, reach toward, run after
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7783 | שׁוּק | they caused to overflow |
| H7784 | שׁוּק | in public thoroughfares |
| H7785 | שׁוֹק | the lower leg |
| H8243 | שָׁק | his lower legs |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8669-02 |
תְּשׁ֣וּקָת֔/וֹ | teshuqato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his desire | his longing | 2 |
H8669-01 |
תְּשׁ֣וּקָתֵ֔/ךְ | teshuqatekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your desire | your longing | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8669-01 |
Genesis 3:16 | תְּשׁ֣וּקָתֵ֔/ךְ | teshuqatekhe | HNcfsc/Sp2fs |
your desire | your longing |
H8669-02 |
Genesis 4:7 | תְּשׁ֣וּקָת֔/וֹ | teshuqato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
its desire | his longing |
H8669-02 |
Song of Songs 7:11 | תְּשׁוּקָתֽ/וֹ | teshuqato | HNcfsc/Sp3ms |
his desire | his longing |