סוּךְ (sukh)
sukh
to fence; to cover; to weave; protector
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 17 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb suk means to cover, screen, or hedge about. It describes the act of creating a barrier that blocks access or provides shade. In everyday usage, it refers to shielding something from view or harm, such as covering oneself or laying a roof over a structure. The word carries a sense of protection through enclosure, whether by weaving materials together or simply standing between a person and danger.
Scripture uses this term in vivid contexts. In Psalm 139:13, it describes God’s hand forming the human body, suggesting an intimate covering or shaping. In Exodus 33:22, Moses hides in the cleft of the rock as God passes by, and suk depicts the rock serving as a screen to protect him from divine glory. The noun form, sokhekh, appears in Nahum 2:6 to describe defenders shielding attackers on city walls.
This word highlights how protection in the biblical world often involved physical barriers or coverings. It is not merely about hiding but about providing safety through presence and structure. The imagery connects human craft, like weaving, with divine care, showing how God acts as both creator and protector.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sukh paints a picture of God as our protector and creator. It describes covering something to keep it safe, like wings shielding chicks or a veil hiding sacred items. This imagery shows that God’s protection is not distant but intimate and personal.
In Psalm 91:4, we see this clearly: He covers us with His feathers. This means you are never exposed to harm without His care. Whether in the cleft of the rock or under His wings, His presence provides a safe place for your soul.
Even when life feels chaotic, remember that God’s covering is real. He does not just watch from afar; He actively shields you. This truth offers comfort, knowing that your safety rests in His faithful hands, not in your own strength.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- covering2×
- you wove together/ me1×
- you have covered yourself1×
- you have covered1×
- they cover/ it1×
- he will cover1×
- did you weave together?/ me1×
- and/ you will cover1×
- and/ they covered1×
- and/ he shut off1×
- and/ he has made inaccessible1×
- and/ he covered1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְּסֹכְכֵֽ/נִי\׃1×
- תְּ֝סֻכֵּ֗/נִי1×
- סֹכְכִ֤ים1×
- סֹֽכְכִ֤ים1×
- סַכֹּ֤תָה1×
- סַכּ֤וֹתָה1×
- מֵסִ֥יךְ1×
- יָ֣סֶךְ1×
- יְסֻכֻּ֣/הוּ1×
- וַ/יָּסֹ֧כּוּ1×
- וַ/יָּ֣סֶךְ1×
- וַ/יָּ֖סֶךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 91:4
He will cover you with his feathers. Under his wings you will take refuge. His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
This verse uses the word to describe God's intimate protection, comparing His care to a mother bird shielding her young under her wings.
-
Exodus 33:22
It will happen, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by;
Here the word shows how God physically shields Moses from His own overwhelming glory, demonstrating that His presence can be both powerful and protective.
-
Exodus 25:20
The cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. The faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat.
The cherubim cover the mercy seat, indicating that this act of covering is central to the holiness and atonement found in the Tabernacle.
-
Job 38:8
“Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke out of the womb,
God uses this term to describe shutting up the sea with doors, highlighting His sovereign control over nature's chaotic forces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word suk mean?
How is suk different from other words for protection?
Where does this word appear in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (17 verses across 8 books)
Exodus 5 verses
The cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one…
Exodus 33:22It will happen, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand…
Exodus 37:9The cherubim spread out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one…
Exodus 40:3You shall put the ark of the covenant in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.
Exodus 40:21He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the covenant, as…