Lexical Summary
saqal: To stone, to pelt with stones
Original Word:סָקַל
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:caqal
Pronunciation:sah-KAHL
Phonetic Spelling:(saw-kal')
KJV: (cast, gather out, throw) stone(-s), X surely
NASB:stone, stoned, surely be stoned, cast, remove, removed stones, stoning
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. (properly) to be weighty
2. but used only in the sense of lapidation or its contrary (as if a delapidation)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
cast, gather out, throw stones, surely
A primitive root; properly, to be weighty; but used only in the sense of lapidation or its contrary (as if a delapidation) -- (cast, gather out, throw) stone(-s), X surely.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto stone, put to death by stoning
NASB Translationcast (1), remove (1), removed stones (1), stone (7), stoned (6), stoning (1), surely be stoned (2), threw (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] , also (
) (appears like denominative, but noun unknown; Late Hebrewexecution by stoning); —
Perfect2masculine singular suffix consecutiveDeuteronomy 13:11; 3masculine plural suffix consecutiveExodus 17:4; 2masculine plural consecutiveDeuteronomy 22:24, etc.;Imperfect3masculine pluralJoshua 7:25, suffix1 Kings 21:13, etc.;Imperative masculine plural suffix1 Kings 21:10;Infinitive absoluteExodus 19:13;Exodus 21:28;construct suffix1 Samuel 30:6; —pelt with stones, stone to death (as penalty) with accusative of person or animal.,Exodus 8:22;Exodus 17:4 (both J E)1 Samuel 30:6;1 Kings 21:10, absoluteExodus 19:3;Exodus 21:28 (JE); with accusative of person + instrumentalDeuteronomy 13:11;Deuteronomy 17:5;Deuteronomy 22:21,24;Joshua 7:25;1 Kings 21:13.
Imperfect3masculine singularbe stoned to deathEzekiel 19:13;Ezekiel 21:28;Ezekiel 21:29;Ezekiel 21:32 (JE).
Imperfect3masculine singular2 Samuel 16:6,13, suffixIsaiah 5:2;Imperative masculine pluralIsaiah 62:10; —
stone, pelt with stones, with accusative of person +2 Samuel 16:6, accusative omitted2 Samuel 16:13 ("" ).
free vineyard (accusative)from stones (Ges§ 52h)Isaiah 5:2; so also2 Samuel 4:6, reading participle feminine lo, the portresswas cleansing what from stones (for ), so We Dr Bu Kit Löhr HPS, after ; (> reading however mostly ,
Participle);Isaiah 62:10free (highway)from stones.
Perfectbe stoned to death1 Kings 21:14,15. — Not in HP; these and other writings (except above) use synonym , compare BrHexateuch 73.
see .
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Range of Usageסָקַל (saqal) denotes the throwing or removal of stones. Most occurrences concern the communal act of pelting an offender to death; two passages (Isaiah 5:2;Isaiah 62:10) describe clearing stones from land or roadway. The breadth of the verb therefore spans judgment, hostility, and cultivation.
Judicial Stoning in Israelite Law
Under the Mosaic economy stoning was the prescribed penalty for capital offenses such as idolatry (Deuteronomy 13:10), blasphemy, persistent rebellion, or certain sexual sins (Deuteronomy 22:21, 24). The practice emphasized covenant fidelity: “Stone him to death, because he tried to turn you away from the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 13:10). Execution was carried out by the whole community, normally “outside the camp” (cf.Numbers 15:35–36, using a cognate), underscoring the corporate responsibility to purge evil (Deuteronomy 17:5-7).
Community Responsibility and Deterrence
Because the congregation itself cast the stones, each Israelite affirmed the righteousness of the law and was reminded of sin’s gravity. False testimony that led to wrongful conviction incurred the same penalty (Deuteronomy 19:16-19), protecting judicial integrity. Fear of such public, participatory justice served as a deterrent: “All Israel will hear and be afraid” (Deuteronomy 17:13).
Protection of Holiness and Covenant Fidelity
Stoning incidents in the narrative books reveal how the penalty guarded Israel’s holiness. Achan was stoned at the Valley of Achor for violating the ban on Jericho’s spoil (Joshua 7:25). Naboth’s murder by false witness (1 Kings 21:10-15) shows how corrupt leaders could pervert this ordinance, yet the subsequent prophetic judgment upon Ahab and Jezebel reaffirms that God defends the innocent and condemns misuse of His statutes.
Hostile Threats and Vigilante Violence
Several texts report threatened or attempted stoning apart from formal trial. The enslaved Israelites spoke of Pharaoh stoning them if they sacrificed in Egypt (Exodus 8:26). When water was scarce at Rephidim the people “were almost ready to stone” Moses (Exodus 17:4). Shimei’s assault on David during Absalom’s rebellion illustrates personal hostility expressed by stone-throwing (2 Samuel 16:6, 13). Such episodes contrast lawful, deliberated stoning with mob violence or personal vendetta.
Clearing Stones for Fruitfulness
Isaiah’s vineyard parable pictures the LORD as One who “cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines” (Isaiah 5:2). Later the prophet calls the returned exiles, “Clear it of stones; raise a banner for the nations” (Isaiah 62:10). Here saqal conveys preparation for growth and welcome, anticipating the Messianic kingdom where obstacles to righteousness and inclusion are removed.
Symbolic and Prophetic Applications
The penalty of stoning graphically portrays the wages of sin (Romans 6:23) and the necessity of substitutionary atonement. Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 7:58-60) echoes Achan and Naboth, showing how the New Covenant community likewise faces opposition when witnessing to God’s truth. Conversely, clearing stones prefigures the Gospel’s call to prepare hearts for the Seed of the word (Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21).
Messianic Reflections and New Testament Continuity
Though saqal itself appears only in the Hebrew Scriptures, its themes culminate in Jesus Christ. He repeatedly escaped unlawful stoning attempts (John 8:59; 10:31), yet ultimately bore judgment outside the city (Hebrews 13:12), fulfilling the law’s requirement for the condemned to die “outside the camp.” By satisfying divine justice, He removes the “stones” of judgment and opens a highway of holiness for all nations (Isaiah 62:10;John 14:6).
Practical Ministry Implications
1. Proclamation: Preachers can employ the imagery of stoning to convey both the seriousness of sin and the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement.
2. Church Discipline: While physical stoning is not part of the New Covenant, the principle of communal holiness remains (1 Corinthians 5:6-13).
3. Reconciliation: Clearing stones challenges believers to remove stumbling blocks—unforgiveness, false teaching, or cultural barriers—that hinder Gospel advance.
Select Biblical Occurrences
Exodus 17:4;Exodus 21:28-29, 32;Deuteronomy 13:10;Deuteronomy 22:21, 24;Joshua 7:25;1 Samuel 30:6;2 Samuel 16:6, 13;1 Kings 21:10, 13-15;Isaiah 5:2;Isaiah 62:10.
Forms and Transliterations
וְסִקְלֻ֖הוּ וַֽיְסַקְּלֵ֗הוּ וַיְסַקֵּ֤ל וַיִּסְקְל֥וּ וַיִּסְקְלֻ֥הוּ וּסְקַלְתֶּ֨ם וּסְקַלְתָּ֥ם וּסְקַלְתּ֥וֹ וּסְקָלֻֽנִי׃ וּסְקָלוּהָ֩ ויסקל ויסקלהו ויסקלו וסקלהו וסקלוה וסקלני׃ וסקלתו וסקלתם יִסְקְלֻֽנוּ׃ יִסָּקֵ֔ל יִסָּקֵ֜ל יִסָּקֵֽל׃ יִסָּקֵל֙ יסקל יסקל׃ יסקלנו׃ לְסָקְל֔וֹ לסקלו סַקְּל֣וּ סָק֤וֹל סָק֨וֹל סֻקַּ֥ל סקול סקל סקלו lə·sā·qə·lōw lesakeLo ləsāqəlōw sā·qō·wl sakkeLu saKol saq·qə·lū sāqōwl saqqəlū sukKal suq·qal suqqal ū·sə·qā·lū·hā ū·sə·qā·lu·nî ū·sə·qal·tām ū·sə·qal·tem ū·sə·qal·tōw usekalTam usekalTem usekalTo usekaluHa usekaLuni ūsəqaltām ūsəqaltem ūsəqaltōw ūsəqālūhā ūsəqālunî vaiyiskeLu vaiyiskeLuhu vaysakKel vaysakkeLehu vesikLuhu way·saq·qə·lê·hū way·saq·qêl way·yis·qə·lū way·yis·qə·lu·hū waysaqqêl waysaqqəlêhū wayyisqəlū wayyisqəluhū wə·siq·lu·hū wəsiqluhū yis·qə·lu·nū yis·sā·qêl yiskeLunu yisqəlunū yissaKel yissāqêl
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