Lexical Summary
shakab: To lie down, to sleep, to rest, to lie with (in a sexual sense)
Original Word:שָׁכַב
Part of Speech:Verb
Transliteration:shakab
Pronunciation:shah-KAHV
Phonetic Spelling:(shaw-kab')
KJV: X at all, cast down, ((lover-))lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay
NASB:slept, lie down, lie, lies, lay, lay down, lies down
Word Origin:[a primitive root]
1. to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
cast down, lay self down, make to lie down, down to sleep, still with, lodge, ravish,
A primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose) -- X at all, cast down, ((lover-))lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. root
Definitionto lie down
NASB Translationactually lies (1), has (1), laid (6), laid low (1), lain (3), lain down (2), lay (22), lay down (15), lie (26), lie down (31), lie still (1), lies (25), lies down (10), lodged (1), lying (7), lying down (4), make your bed (1), recline (1), rest (4), rested* (1), sleep (4), sleeps (1), slept (37), take...rest (1), taking (1), tip (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Lag
BN 63) (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Ecclus 47:23 (in death),
bed Ecclesiasticus 40:5; Ecclesiasticus 47:20d, =
death bed Ecclesiasticus 46:19; Phoenician , (see
below), Lzb375; Ethiopic
lie, Aramaic ,
; Nabataeancouch; Arabic
onlypour out (water, tears),be poured out (compare
below, and LagBN 63)); —
Perfect3masculine singularGenesis 26:10 +, etc.;ImperfectGenesis 30:15 +, 3 masculine plural1 Samuel 2:22,Joshua 2:8;Job 30:17, etc.;Imperative masculine singular2 Samuel 13:5;Ezekiel 4:4,Genesis 39:7,12, etc.;Infinitive absoluteLeviticus 15:24;construct1 Kings 1:21 +, suffixRuth 3:4,Genesis 19:33,35,Deuteronomy 6:7 2t.;ParticipleGenesis 28:13 +, feminineMicah 7:5;Ruth 3:8, etc.; —
lie down (sometimes opposed to , ):
Judges 5:27 (prostrated by blow, + , ).
,Genesis 19:4 (J),Genesis 28:11 (E),1 Samuel 3:5;Deuteronomy 7:7;Proverbs 6:22 + often; read also (for )1 Samuel 9:26 Th We Dr and modern; +sleep1 Kings 19:5;Psalm 3:6;Psalm 4:9, compareProverbs 3:24 (twice in verse), +Jonah 1:5; =be lying1 Samuel 3:2,3;1 Samuel 26:5 (all local),1 Samuel 26:7;1 Samuel 4:5 (accusative of congnate meaning with verb noon-repose),2 Samuel 13:8, compareProverbs 23:34, of two lying (together, for warmth)Ecclesiastes 4:11; + be sleeping1 Samuel 26:7 =keep lying, withJudges 16:3;1 Samuel 3:15;Ruth 3:13;Proverbs 6:9; emphasis onresting,Leviticus 26:6 (H),Job 11:18; token of mourning, ()2 Samuel 12:16, compare2 Samuel 13:21,1 Kings 21:27,Psalm 68:14 (of indolence?); figurative of prostration by diseasePsalm 41:9; among foesPsalm 57:5; of humiliationJeremiah 3:25; with of thing: landGenesis 28:13 (J), usually bed2 Samuel 13:5;1 Kings 21:4;Leviticus 15:4,24,26, compareLeviticus 15:20, for midday repose2 Samuel 4:7.
lie on () one's sideEzekiel 4:4 (twice in verse);Ezekiel 4:6,9 (symbolic).
lie, person1 Kings 3:19 (fatally),2 Kings 4:34 (to revive).
lie , of lamb (i.e. be cherished)2 Samuel 12:3, of womanMicah 7:5 (intimacy),1 Kings 1:2 (vital warmth);lie down for copulationGenesis 19:33,35 (of woman, see
).
=lodge (for night),Joshua 2:1 (E),2 Kings 4:11, compare2 Kings 9:16 (yet perhaps =lie ill),Leviticus 14:47 ( local).
,lie with: subject man, withGenesis 30:15,16;Genesis 39:7,12,14 (J),Exodus 22:13 (E),Deuteronomy 22:22 8t. Deuteronomy;2 Samuel 11:4,11;2 Samuel 12:11,24;Leviticus 15:33; with femininewith ( , etc., originally , etc., see Dr2Samuel 13:14 and II. , p. 85:a above),Genesis 26:10;Genesis 34:2,7;Genesis 35:22 (all J),1 Samuel 2:22 (omitted by and modern),2 Samuel 13:14;Ezekiel 23:8 (figurative),Leviticus 15:24 (),Numbers 5:19, also (with accusative of congnate meaning with verb )Numbers 5:13;Leviticus 15:18;Leviticus 19:20; with accusative (suffix) feminineDeuteronomy 28:30 Kt (see [ ]); with feminineGenesis 39:10 (J); with of a man (sodomy),Leviticus 18:22;Leviticus 20:13 (both H; with accusative of congnate meaning with verb ); withDeuteronomy 27:21;Leviticus 22:18 (H); subject woman, with of a manGenesis 19:32,34,35 (J)2 Samuel 13:11; of a manGenesis 19:33,34 (compare above).
lie down in death,Isaiah 14:8;Isaiah 43:17 (opposed to ),Ezekiel 31:18;Ezekiel 32:27,28,29,30;Job 14:12 (opposed to , ),Job 3:12;be lying (dead)Isaiah 51:20;Lamentations 2:21.
especially in phraselie down with his fathers, of kings1 Kings 1:21;1 Kings 2:10 35t. Kings Chronicles, compareGenesis 47:30 (J)Deuteronomy 31:16, and (with )2 Samuel 7:12
,Isaiah 14:18 (opposed to ),Psalm 88:6;Job 7:21,Job 20:11;Job 21:26; insh®°ôlEzekiel 32:21; in Gehenna (?)Isaiah 50:11.
Job 30:17my gnawing pains do not sleep; = have rest,Ecclesiastes 2:23.
=be lain with (sexually; subject woman), only as Qr for Kt []
q. v.
lay, Perfect3feminine singular with accusative puer. +1 Kings 3:20, soImperfect3feminine singular suffix1 Kings 3:20, compare ()1 Kings 17:19;2 Kings 4:21;Infinitive absolute2 Samuel 8:2making them lie down on ground; Imperfect alsolay 2Chronicles 16:14 (of burial);Job 38:37 i.e. tip them so that contents may flow out (compare Arabic
above).
Participle2 Kings 4:32laid ;Perfect consecutiveEzekiel 32:32shall be laid (in death), with and person (with); soImperative masculine singularEzekiel 32:19 (with person only).
Topical Lexicon
Overviewשָׁכַב (shakhab) occurs about 208 times and describes the act of lying down in a wide spectrum of human experience: ordinary sleep, marital intimacy, violation, peaceful rest for livestock, and the final repose of death. Because the word appears in narrative, legal, poetic, and prophetic material, it becomes a quiet thread that connects daily life to covenant theology and eschatological hope.
Ordinary Rest and Sleep
In its simplest sense שָׁכַב portrays the nightly act of stretching out to sleep (Genesis 28:11;Joshua 2:8;1 Samuel 3:3). The Psalms turn this commonplace action into an expression of faith:
• “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me.” (Psalm 3:5)
• “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)
Wisdom literature adds the promise of undisturbed slumber to those who walk in covenant fear: “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.” (Proverbs 3:24)
Pastoral and Creation Imagery
The verb is also applied to animals and serves pastoral or eschatological images of tranquility. Quail “lay down” around the camp inExodus 16:13; flocks rest securely in prophetic visions of restoration (Ezekiel 34:14-15, 25). Isaiah’s picture of renewed creation where the wolf and the lamb dwell together relies on the same posture of relaxed vulnerability (Isaiah 11:6-7).
Marital Union
A large block of occurrences uses שָׁכַב for sexual relations. InGenesis 30:16 Jacob “lies with” Leah; inRuth 4:13 Boaz “lay with” Ruth, and the conception of Obed moves redemptive history toward David and ultimately Messiah. Within marriage the verb simply records covenantal intimacy (Deuteronomy 24:1;2 Samuel 11:11 as Uriah refers to his wife).
Illicit or Violent Acts
The same word is employed for adultery, fornication, homosexual practice, incest, bestiality, and rape. The Torah legislates each offense:
• Adultery: “If a man is found lying with a married woman… both of them shall die.” (Deuteronomy 22:22)
• Seduction of an unbetrothed virgin:Exodus 22:16.
• Rape:Deuteronomy 22:25-27;2 Samuel 13:11-14 (Amnon and Tamar).
• Homosexual acts:Leviticus 18:22; 20:13.
• Incest and bestiality:Leviticus 20:11-16;Deuteronomy 27:21-23.
Because שָׁכַב itself is neutral, the context supplies the moral quality. In narratives of violation (Genesis 34;2 Samuel 11; 13) the text uses the same verb but surrounds it with condemnation, reminding the reader that physical posture does not guarantee covenant faithfulness.
Legal Procedure and Justice
Numbers 5:11-31 employs the verb eight times in the ritual for a husband’s jealousy, emphasizing divine involvement in hidden sins (“if a man has lain with you…”). The repetition underscores that sexual faithfulness is first accountable to God, then to the community.
Death: “Lie Down with Your Fathers”
A third major field of meaning is burial and death. The formula “to lie down with (one’s) fathers” marks the transition of the patriarchs and subsequent kings:
•Genesis 47:30;Deuteronomy 31:16;2 Samuel 7:12;1 Kings 2:10; 22:40;2 Kings 4:34;2 Chronicles 9:31.
The phrase affirms continuity of covenant generations. Death is pictured not as annihilation but as rest within the people of God, awaiting future resurrection promise (Isaiah 26:19;Daniel 12:2).
Prophetic Hope and Judgment
Prophets use שָׁכַב both positively and negatively.Ezekiel 34:25 vows that under the shepherd-king “they will dwell securely, and they will lie down, and no one will make them afraid.” ConverselyEzekiel 32:24-27 depicts defeated nations “lying down in the Pit” with their weapons—an ironic rest of shame. Hosea warns that Israel “lies down” among unfaithful lovers (Hosea 2:7), yet promises ultimate restoration (Hosea 2:18).
Patterns in Salvation History
1. Creation Rest: Daily lying down testifies that humankind remains creaturely, dependent on the Sustainer (Psalm 3:5).
2. Covenant Fidelity: Legitimate שָׁכַב inside marriage furthers the seed-promise; illegitimate lying threatens covenant purity.
3. Eschatological Peace: Prophetic visions of safe lying down preview the final “rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9).
4. Death’s Sleep and Resurrection Hope: The Old Testament’s funeral formula anticipates the New Testament’s use of “sleep” for believers who die in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).
Ministry Implications
• Pastoral care may draw onPsalm 4:8 andProverbs 3:24 when counseling anxiety or insomnia.
• Teaching on biblical sexuality must ground ethics in the consistent witness that shakhab outside God-given marriage brings judgment, while within marriage it is blessed.
• Funeral ministry can connect the patriarchal phrase “lie down with your fathers” to Christian hope of bodily resurrection.
• Preaching from prophetic texts can hold out the picture of flocks lying down in safety as a foretaste of the Shepherd’s final kingdom (John 10:11;Revelation 7:17).
Shakhab quietly touches every stage of life—from the nightly bed to the marriage bed to the grave—inviting believers to entrust every posture to the Lord who “neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalm 121:4).
Forms and Transliterations
אֶשְׁכְּבָ֪ה אֶשְׁכָּ֑ב אשכב אשכבה בְּֽ֭שָׁכְבְּךָ בְּשִׁכְבָ֖הּ בְשָׁכְב֗וֹ בשכבה בשכבו בשכבך הִשְׁכִּ֥יבָה הַשְׁכֵּ֣ב הַשֹּֽׁכְבִים֙ הַשֹּׁכֵ֥ב השכב השכבים השכיבה וְ֝שָׁכַבְתָּ֗ וְהִשְׁכַּבְתִּ֖ים וְהַשֹּׁכֵ֣ב וְהָשְׁכְּבָ֖ה וְהֻשְׁכַּב֩ וְלִשְׁכַּ֣ב וְנִשְׁכְּבָ֣ה וְשָֽׁכַבְתִּי֙ וְשָֽׁכַבְתָּ֙ וְשָׁ֨כַבְתָּ֜ וְשָׁכְבָ֣ה וְשָׁכַ֣ב וְשָׁכַ֥ב וְשָׁכַ֨ב וְשָׁכַב֙ וְשָׁכָ֑בְתְּ וְתִשְׁכַּ֖ב וַיִּשְׁכְּב֤וּ וַיִּשְׁכְּבוּ־ וַיִּשְׁכַּ֕ב֙ וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב וַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב וַיִּשְׁכַּ֨ב וַיִּשְׁכַּב֙ וַיִּשְׁכַּב־ וַיִּשְׁכָּֽב׃ וַיַּשְׁכִּבֵ֖הוּ וַיַּשְׁכִּיבֻ֗הוּ וַתִּשְׁכַּ֣ב וַתִּשְׁכַּ֤ב וַתִּשְׁכָּֽב׃ וַתַּשְׁכִּבֵ֔הוּ וַתַּשְׁכִּיבֵ֖הוּ וּ֝כְשֹׁכֵ֗ב וּֽבְשָׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּשְׁכַבְתֶּ֖ם ובשכבך והשכב והשכבה והשכבתים וישכב וישכב־ וישכב׃ וישכבהו וישכבו וישכבו־ וישכיבהו וכשכב ולשכב ונשכבה ושכב ושכבה ושכבת ושכבתי ושכבתם ותשכב ותשכב׃ ותשכבהו ותשכיבהו יִ֭שְׁכַּב יִשְׁכְּב֥וּ יִשְׁכְּבוּ֙ יִשְׁכְּבוּן֙ יִשְׁכַּ֖ב יִשְׁכַּ֤ב יִשְׁכַּ֥ב יִשְׁכַּ֨ב יִשְׁכַּב֙ יִשְׁכַּב־ יִשְׁכָּ֑ב יִשְׁכָּ֑בוּ יִשְׁכָּ֔ב יִשְׁכָּ֖בוּ יִשְׁכָּב֑וּן יִשְׁכָּבֽוּן׃ יִשְׁכָּבוּ֒ יַשְׁכִּֽיב׃ ישכב ישכב־ ישכבו ישכבון ישכבון׃ ישכיב׃ כְּשֹׁכֵ֣ב כִּשְׁכַ֥ב כב כשכב לִשְׁכַּ֖ב לִשְׁכַּ֣ב לִשְׁכַּ֤ב לִשְׁכַּ֥ב לִשְׁכַּב֙ לִשְׁכָּֽב׃ לשכב לשכב׃ מִשֹּׁכֶ֣בֶת מֻשְׁכָּ֖ב משכב משכבת נִשְׁכְּבָ֣ה נשכבה שְׁכַ֥ב שְׁכַֽב־ שְׁכַב֙ שְׁכָ֑ב שְׁכָֽב׃ שְׁכָב֒ שִׁכְבִ֖י שִׁכְבִ֣י שִׁכְבִ֥י שִׁכְבָ֣ה שִׁכְבָ֥ה שָֽׁכַב־ שָׁ֝כַ֗ב שָׁכְב֛וּ שָׁכְב֣וּ שָׁכְב֥וּ שָׁכְב֨וּ שָׁכְבָ֖ה שָׁכַ֔בְתָּ שָׁכַ֗ב שָׁכַ֗בְתִּי שָׁכַ֞ב שָׁכַ֣ב שָׁכַ֣בְתִּי שָׁכַ֤ב שָׁכַ֥ב שָׁכַ֥בְתִּי שָׁכַ֧ב שָׁכָ֑ב שָׁכֹב֩ שֹֽׁכְבִ֔ים שֹׁ֥כְבֵי שֹׁכְבִ֖ים שֹׁכֵ֑ב שֹׁכֵ֔ב שֹׁכֵ֖ב שֹׁכֵ֣ב שֹׁכֵ֣ב ׀ שֹׁכֵ֤ב שֹׁכֵ֥ב שֹׁכֵב֙ שֹׁכֶ֖בֶת שׁוֹכֵ֣ב שוכב שכב שכב־ שכב׃ שכבה שכבו שכבי שכבים שכבת שכבתי תִּשְׁכְּבוּן֮ תִּשְׁכַּ֣ב תִּשְׁכַּ֤ב תִּשְׁכַּ֥ב תִּשְׁכַּב֙ תִּשְׁכָּ֑ב תִּשְׁכָּֽב׃ תִּשְׁכָּבֽוּן׃ תִשְׁכַּ֖ב תִשְׁכָּ֔ב תשכב תשכב׃ תשכבון תשכבון׃ ’eš·kāḇ ’eš·kə·ḇāh ’eškāḇ ’eškəḇāh bə·šā·ḵə·bə·ḵā ḇə·šā·ḵə·ḇōw bə·šiḵ·ḇāh bəšāḵəbəḵā ḇəšāḵəḇōw Beshachebecha beshichVah bəšiḵḇāh Chav eshKav eshkeVah haš·kêḇ haš·šō·ḵə·ḇîm haš·šō·ḵêḇ hashKev hashshoChev hashshocheVim haškêḇ haššōḵêḇ haššōḵəḇîm hiš·kî·ḇāh hishKivah hiškîḇāh ḵaḇ kə·šō·ḵêḇ keshoChev kəšōḵêḇ kiš·ḵaḇ kishChav kišḵaḇ liš·kaḇ liš·kāḇ lishKav liškaḇ liškāḇ miš·šō·ḵe·ḇeṯ mishshoChevet miššōḵeḇeṯ muš·kāḇ mushKav muškāḇ niš·kə·ḇāh nishkeVah niškəḇāh šā·ḵaḇ šā·ḵāḇ šā·ḵaḇ- šā·ḵaḇ·tā šā·ḵaḇ·tî šā·ḵə·ḇāh šā·ḵə·ḇū šā·ḵōḇ šāḵaḇ šāḵāḇ šāḵaḇ- šāḵaḇtā šāḵaḇtî šāḵəḇāh šāḵəḇū šāḵōḇ šə·ḵaḇ šə·ḵāḇ šə·ḵaḇ- šəḵaḇ šəḵāḇ šəḵaḇ- shaChav shaChavta shaChavti shacheVah shacheVu shaCho sheChav shichVah shichVi shoChev Shochevei shoChevet shocheVim šiḵ·ḇāh šiḵ·ḇî šiḵḇāh šiḵḇî šō·ḵə·ḇê šō·ḵe·ḇeṯ šō·ḵə·ḇîm šō·ḵêḇ šō·w·ḵêḇ šōḵêḇ šōḵəḇê šōḵeḇeṯ šōḵəḇîm šōwḵêḇ tiš·kā·ḇūn tiš·kaḇ tiš·kāḇ ṯiš·kaḇ ṯiš·kāḇ tiš·kə·ḇūn tishKav tishkaVun tishkeVun tiškaḇ tiškāḇ ṯiškaḇ ṯiškāḇ tiškāḇūn tiškəḇūn ū·ḇə·šā·ḵə·bə·ḵā ū·ḵə·šō·ḵêḇ ū·šə·ḵaḇ·tem ūḇəšāḵəbəḵā ucheshoChev ūḵəšōḵêḇ ūšəḵaḇtem ushechavTem uveshachebeCha vaiyashkiVehu vaiyashkiVuhu vaiyishKav vaiyishkevu vattashkiVehu vattishKav vehashekeVah vehashshoChev vehishkavTim vehushKav velishKav venishkeVah veshaChav veshaChavet veshachavTa veshachavTi veshacheVah veshacheVo vetishKav wat·taš·ki·ḇê·hū wat·taš·kî·ḇê·hū wat·tiš·kaḇ wat·tiš·kāḇ wattaškiḇêhū wattaškîḇêhū wattiškaḇ wattiškāḇ way·yaš·ki·ḇê·hū way·yaš·kî·ḇu·hū way·yiš·kaḇ way·yiš·kāḇ way·yiš·kaḇ- way·yiš·kə·ḇū way·yiš·kə·ḇū- wayyaškiḇêhū wayyaškîḇuhū wayyiškaḇ wayyiškāḇ wayyiškaḇ- wayyiškəḇū wayyiškəḇū- wə·hā·šə·kə·ḇāh wə·haš·šō·ḵêḇ wə·hiš·kaḇ·tîm wə·huš·kaḇ wə·liš·kaḇ wə·niš·kə·ḇāh wə·šā·ḵā·ḇət wə·šā·ḵaḇ wə·šā·ḵaḇ·tā wə·šā·ḵaḇ·tî wə·šā·ḵə·ḇāh wə·ṯiš·kaḇ wəhāšəkəḇāh wəhaššōḵêḇ wəhiškaḇtîm wəhuškaḇ wəliškaḇ wəniškəḇāh wəšāḵaḇ wəšāḵāḇət wəšāḵaḇtā wəšāḵaḇtî wəšāḵəḇāh wəṯiškaḇ yaš·kîḇ yashKiv yaškîḇ yiš·kā·ḇū yiš·kā·ḇūn yiš·kaḇ yiš·kāḇ yiš·kaḇ- yiš·kə·ḇū yiš·kə·ḇūn yishKav yishkaVu yishkaVun yishkeVu yishkeVun yiškaḇ yiškāḇ yiškaḇ- yiškāḇū yiškāḇūn yiškəḇū yiškəḇūn
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