סִכּוּת (sik.kut)
sik.kut
Sikkuth
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun sikkuth refers to a tent or tabernacle, but in the Hebrew Bible it appears only once as a proper name for a deity. In Amos 5:26, the prophet condemns Israel’s idolatry by mentioning this specific foreign god alongside Chiun. The term is widely understood by scholars to be a transliteration of the Babylonian star god Sakkut, who was associated with the planet Saturn.
This single occurrence carries significant theological weight because it highlights the extent of Israel’s spiritual drift. By adopting the worship of sikkuth, the people were not merely ignoring Yahweh; they were actively embracing a celestial power from their captors’ culture. The text uses this foreign name to illustrate how completely their loyalty had shifted away from the covenant God toward the stars and heavens.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sikkuth appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, found in Amos 5:26. It refers to a tent or shrine dedicated to a foreign deity, likely associated with the planet Saturn. This single mention serves as a stark warning against idolatry and the shift of loyalty away from God.
For your faith, this word reminds us to examine what we hold most dear. When we place our trust in anything other than God—whether it be status, wealth, or even religious rituals performed without heart—we risk building shrines that distract us from Him. The prophet Amos uses this term to show how deeply the people had drifted.
Let this encourage you to keep your focus on the one true God. In a world full of competing claims, it is a blessing to know who holds your life. May you find rest in His presence alone, knowing He is faithful and good.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Sikkuth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סִכּ֣וּת1×
Key Verses
-
Amos 5:26
You also carried the tent of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves.
This verse uses sikkuth to identify the specific idol Israel was worshipping, highlighting the severity of their spiritual betrayal.