Lexical Summary
shul: Hem, skirt, train
Original Word:שׁוּל
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:shuwl
Pronunciation:shool
Phonetic Spelling:(shool)
KJV: hem, skirt, train
NASB:hem, skirts, hem of the robe, train of his robe
Word Origin:[from an unused root meaning to hang down]
1. a skirt
2. (by implication) a bottom edge
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
hem, skirt, train
From an unused root meaning to hang down; a skirt; by implication, a bottom edge -- hem, skirt, train.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionskirt (of a robe)
NASB Translationhem (4), hem of the robe (2), skirts (4), train of his robe (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[]
Isaiah 6:1 ; — plural construct
Exodus 28:34+; suffix
Nahum 3:5 +,
Isaiah 6:1 +,
Lamentations 1:9; —
skirts; of s train, in vision
Isaiah 6:1; elsewhere of city personified as woman, in phrase of ignominy,
Jeremiah 13:26,
Nahum 3:5,
Jeremiah 13:22; of defilement,
Lamentations 1:9; of high priest's robe
Exodus 28:33 (twice in verse);
Exodus 28:34 =
Exodus 39:24,25,26 (all P).
see .
Topical Lexicon
Key TextsExodus 28:33–34; 39:24–26 – ornamented hems of the high priest’s robe
Isaiah 6:1 – the sovereign train filling the temple
Jeremiah 13:22, 26;Lamentations 1:9;Nahum 3:5 – judicial exposure of Judah’s and Nineveh’s “skirts”
Physical Description and Ancient Near Eastern Context
Shul designates the lower border, fringe, or trailing end of a garment. In the culture of Moses, hems were not mere finishing touches; they bore colored thread, bells, pomegranates, and sometimes seals that signified ownership or status. The priestly robe’s hem was woven of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, interspersed with golden bells whose sound testified to the priest’s life as he moved within the Holy Place (Exodus 28:33–35). The same care for hem craftsmanship appears in royal garments across the Ancient Near East, attested in reliefs from Egypt and Mesopotamia where kings’ trains trail behind them to display rank.
Symbolic and Theological Significance
1. Holiness and Mediation. The high priest carried Israel’s names on ephod and breastpiece; but the hem ensured his every step resonated with holiness. The perpetual tinkling signified accepted intercession—life within God’s presence rather than death (Exodus 28:35).
2. Majesty and Glory. Isaiah saw “the train of His robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). The overwhelming fullness of the hem underscores that even the extremities of divine glory cannot be contained.
3. Honor versus Shame. A covered skirt denotes protected dignity; an uncovered skirt signals humiliation. Prophets adopt this contrast to portray covenant breaches. Jeremiah warns, “I Myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen” (Jeremiah 13:26). The imagery exposes sin publicly, reversing the earlier honor bestowed through obedience.
4. Covenant Edge. InNumbers 15, blue tassels (tzitzit) attached to the garment’s extremity call Israel to remember commandments. Though not identical vocabulary, the principle is parallel: the edge represents covenant boundaries—where daily life meets divine requirement.
Prophetic Imagery
Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Nahum employ shul to dramatize divine judgment. “Her uncleanness was in her skirts; she did not consider her end” (Lamentations 1:9). The unclean hem denotes persistent, unrepented sin now visible to all. Nahum pronounces similar exposure upon Nineveh’s arrogance, reflecting the moral law’s universality: rebellion, whether among God’s people or Gentile powers, ends in disgrace.
Christological and Ecclesiological Connections
The occupied hem ofIsaiah 6 anticipates the Incarnate Word whose earthly garment radiated glory at the Transfiguration and healing power at Capernaum. While the Gospels employ Greek terms, the conceptual link remains: power flows even from the “fringe” (Matthew 9:20–22). The Church, Christ’s body, likewise bears witness through its outermost actions—merciful deeds at society’s margins echo the priestly bells.
Practical Ministry Applications
• Worship Design: Choir robes, sanctuary linens, and processional banners may incorporate color and movement to reflect the Exodus pattern, reminding worshipers of the High Priest fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
• Ethical Warning: Teaching on modesty and integrity can draw from prophetic uses of shul, stressing that hidden sins eventually become public.
• Intercession: The audible bells challenge leaders to live transparently, their “sound” aligning with godly character as they enter spiritual service.
Related Terms and Distinctions
• Hem of Garment (kanaf) – corner where fringes are tied (Numbers 15:38).
• Train (me’il) – full outer robe; shul refers specifically to its bottom edge.
Understanding these nuances prevents conflating general garment terms with the specific theological symbolism attached to the hem.
Summary
Shul moves from priestly holiness to prophetic exposure, from resounding bells of life to silent shaming of sin, yet throughout it magnifies God’s righteousness. The hem’s edge marks the meeting of heaven’s glory with earth’s need, a boundary that—kept holy—rings with redemption, but—defiled—reveals iniquity.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּשׁוּלֶ֗יהָ בשוליה וְשׁוּלָ֖יו ושוליו שׁוּלֵ֣י שׁוּלֵ֤י שׁוּלֵ֥י שׁוּלַ֖יִךְ שׁוּלָ֖יו שׁוּלָ֗יו שולי שוליו שוליך bə·šū·le·hā beshuLeiha bəšūlehā shuLav shuLayich shuLei šū·la·yiḵ šū·lāw šū·lê šūlāw šūlayiḵ šūlê veshuLav wə·šū·lāw wəšūlāw
Links
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Strong's Numbers •
Englishman's Greek Concordance •
Englishman's Hebrew Concordance •
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