שְׁחִין (she.chin)
she.chin
boil
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shechin refers to a boil or a painful inflammatory swelling on the skin. In the Old Testament, it describes physical eruptions that affect both humans and animals, often appearing as a symptom of divine judgment rather than a common illness. The term carries a sense of visible affliction, marking the body with a condition that is difficult to ignore.
This word appears most frequently in the books of Exodus and Leviticus, where it plays a central role in the narrative of the plagues upon Egypt. In Exodus 9:8-11, Moses and Aaron throw soot into the air to create boils on people and livestock, demonstrating God’s power over Pharaoh. Later, in Leviticus 13, shechin is used in the legal code for diagnosing skin diseases, linking physical inflammation to ritual purity laws that required examination by a priest.
The sources note that while it can describe general inflammation, it is distinct from other terms for leprosy (tzaraath), often serving as a specific type of lesion or eruption. Translators typically render it simply as "boil," capturing the immediate physical reality without adding theological interpretation. The word underscores the tangible connection between spiritual disobedience and bodily consequence in the biblical text.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shechin describes a painful boil or inflammatory swelling. In Scripture, this physical affliction often serves as a visible sign of divine judgment or severe trial. It marks the body in a way that cannot be hidden, reminding us that spiritual realities can have tangible consequences.
Yet even in these harsh descriptions, we see God’s sovereignty over suffering. Whether in the plagues of Egypt or the personal trials of Job, no affliction escapes His notice. This word invites us to consider how our actions and faith intersect with the physical world, urging humility before God’s power.
For your daily life, shechin reminds us that pain is real and often profound. It calls for dependence on God rather than self-sufficiency. In times of illness or hardship, we can trust that He sees our visible struggles and remains faithful to His purposes, even when the path forward is unclear.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ boil4×
- with/ boil[s]2×
- the/ boil[s]2×
- with/ [the] boil[s] of1×
- in the/ boil1×
- boil[s]1×
- a boil1×
- <into>/ boil[s]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שְּׁחִ֖ין3×
- בִּ/שְׁחִ֣ין2×
- שְׁחִין֙1×
- שְׁחִ֑ין1×
- לִ/שְׁחִ֥ין1×
- הַ/שְּׁחִין֙1×
- הַ/שְּׁחִ֔ין1×
- הַ/שְּׁחִ֑ין1×
- בַּ/שְּׁחִ֥ין1×
- בִּ/שְׁחִ֤ין1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 9:10
They took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward the sky; and it became boils and blisters breaking out on man and on animal.
This verse shows the immediate manifestation of God's power through Moses, as the boils appear on both humans and animals, demonstrating His authority over Pharaoh.
-
Job 2:7
So Satan went out from the presence of Yahweh, and struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head.
Here the term describes Job's intense suffering, highlighting how physical pain can be part of a larger spiritual test permitted by God.
-
Leviticus 13:20
The priest shall examine it. Behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. It has broken out in the boil.
This passage links the boil to ritual purity laws, showing how physical symptoms required priestly examination to determine spiritual status.
-
Deuteronomy 28:35
Yahweh will strike you in the knees and in the legs with a sore boil, of which you cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head.
It illustrates the severity of covenant curses, describing a persistent and incurable affliction that covers the entire body.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shechin mean in the Bible?
How is shechin different from other skin diseases?
Why do boils appear in the plagues of Egypt?
Does shechin always mean punishment?
Every Occurrence (12 verses across 6 books)
Exodus 3 verses
It shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be boils and blisters breaking out on man and on…
Exodus 9:10They took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward the sky; and it became boils…
Exodus 9:11The magicians couldn’t stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were on the magicians and on all the…