שַׁ֫חַל (sha.chal)
sha.chal
lion
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shaḥal refers specifically to a lion, appearing in seven verses across the Old Testament with a strong presence in Job, Hosea, and Psalms. Lexical sources classify it as a poetic term, distinguishing it from other words for big cats by its concentrated usage in literary rather than legal or narrative contexts.
Its imagery carries significant weight, often depicting overwhelming danger or ferocity. In Hosea 5:14, God declares He will be like a shaḥal to Israel, using the lion’s predatory nature as a metaphor for divine judgment against the nation’s rebellion. This figurative application highlights the word’s capacity to convey terrifying power and inescapable consequence.
While commonly understood simply as "lion," the term occasionally appears in similes that emphasize sudden attack or relentless pursuit. Its rarity in Scripture ensures that each occurrence stands out, drawing attention to the specific threat or authority being described by the biblical author.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shaḥal brings the raw power of the lion into focus, often highlighting danger or overwhelming force. In our lives, we sometimes feel hunted by circumstances that seem too large to handle. Job felt this weight when he sensed God pursuing him with relentless intensity. It reminds us that even in fear, we are aware of a power that cannot be ignored.
Yet Scripture also shows this strength under divine control. The psalmist finds confidence knowing that the same authority behind the lion’s roar is available to protect and deliver. When we face overwhelming odds, we can look to the One who treads on the fierce beast. This word invites us to trust in a power greater than any threat we encounter.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a lion5×
- like <the>/ lion1×
- [will be] like <the>/ lion1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁ֑חַל2×
- שַׁ֣חַל2×
- שָֽׁחַל\׃1×
- כַּ/שַּׁ֣חַל1×
- כַ/שַּׁ֙חַל֙1×
Key Verses
-
Hosea 5:14
For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver.
This verse uses shaḥal to describe God’s judgment, showing how divine authority can be as terrifying and inescapable as a lion tearing its prey.
-
Job 10:16
If my head is held high, you hunt me like a lion. Again you show yourself powerful to me.
Here the word captures Job’s feeling of being hunted by God, illustrating the heavy burden of perceived divine pursuit during deep distress.
-
Psalms 91:13
You will tread on the lion and cobra. You will trample the young lion and the serpent underfoot.
This passage shifts the image from threat to victory, showing that those under God’s protection can trample the fierce lion with confidence.