שׁוּעָל (shu.al)
shu.al
fox
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shu’al refers to a small, burrowing carnivore, typically identified as a fox or possibly a jackal. It appears in only three verses in the Old Testament, making it a rare word with distinct literary weight. In Song of Solomon 2:15, the speaker urges lovers to "catch for us the foxes," using the animal’s cleverness and potential to damage vineyards as a metaphor for small threats that can ruin something beautiful if ignored.
This usage highlights the creature’s reputation for cunning rather than brute strength. The image of foxes destroying vines suggests that minor sins or distractions, though seemingly insignificant, can cause substantial harm over time. In Lamentations 5:18, the word describes a different kind of vulnerability, where the people lie awake in fear because their enemies have laid siege to them, leaving them exposed like prey.
The term’s rarity means each occurrence carries significant symbolic force. Translators generally render it as "fox" or "jackal," depending on regional context, but the underlying idea remains consistent: a small, agile creature that poses a threat through persistence and slyness rather than direct confrontation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shu’al appears only three times in Scripture, yet each instance carries significant weight. In Song of Solomon, lovers are asked to catch the little foxes that threaten their blossoming vineyards. This image reminds us that small distractions or minor sins can quietly damage what is beautiful and new in our lives if we do not address them promptly.
In Lamentations, the sight of foxes walking on Zion’s desolate hill reflects a time of deep vulnerability and loss. Here, the animal symbolizes exposure and the aftermath of siege, reminding us that even places once holy can feel empty when trust is broken. Yet this stark imagery also points to God’s presence in our lowest moments.
Samson’s use of foxes in Judges shows cunning rather than brute force. These small creatures, often overlooked, become tools for a larger purpose. This teaches us that God can use the seemingly insignificant or unexpected in our lives to bring about His plans, even when we feel small or powerless.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- foxes4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שׁוּעָלִ֖ים1×
- שׁוּעָלִ֑ים1×
- שֽׁוּעָלִ֥ים1×
- שֽׁוּעָלִ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 2:15
Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that plunder the vineyards; for our vineyards are in blossom.
The word describes small pests that threaten budding vines, illustrating how minor sins or distractions can ruin spiritual growth if ignored.
-
Lamentations 5:18
for the mountain of Zion, which is desolate. The foxes walk on it.
Foxes walking on Zion’s ruins symbolize the vulnerability and desolation felt when God’s people are exposed to enemy siege.
-
Judges 15:4
Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took torches, and turned tail to tail, and put a torch in the middle between every two tails.
Samson uses foxes as instruments of judgment, showing how even small, cunning creatures can be used for divine purposes.