שַׁ֫חַק (sha.chaq)
sha.chaq
cloud
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun shaḥaq refers to a thin cloud or fine dust suspended in the air. In the Hebrew Bible, it describes the faint, hazy layer that obscures vision without bringing rain, often appearing as a distant veil rather than a storm front.
This word appears thirteen times, with significant usage in Job and Proverbs. It captures the ambiguity of the sky: sometimes indicating the promise of moisture, other times merely a barrier to clear sight. For instance, Job uses it to describe how God’s presence is hidden behind these subtle atmospheric layers (Job 26:9), while Proverbs employs the image of a cloud that brings no rain to illustrate empty promises (Proverbs 25:14).
Its etymological root suggests something broken or scattered, which explains its dual sense of fine dust and thin cloud. Translators often render it as "cloud" when referring to weather phenomena, but the underlying image remains one of something diffuse and insubstantial. This distinction helps readers see why a shaḥaq is not the heavy, life-giving rain clouds of later prophetic literature, but rather a faint, perhaps deceptive, presence in the sky.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shaḥaq describes a thin, hazy layer in the sky—more like a veil of mist or fine dust than a heavy storm cloud. It captures a moment of ambiguity where the heavens are present but not yet giving rain. In Job 35:5, this image invites us to look upward at something vast and distant, reminding us that God’s realm is higher than our own understanding. We often seek clear signs or immediate answers, but shaḥaq teaches us to rest in the mystery of what we cannot fully see.
This subtle atmospheric detail also warns against empty appearances. Proverbs 25:14 uses a similar concept of clouds that bring no rain to illustrate hollow promises. In our daily lives, we encounter words and plans that look substantial but lack substance. Shaḥaq helps us discern the difference between true provision and mere appearance. It encourages patience as we wait for the genuine dew of God’s wisdom to fall.
Ultimately, this word points to a Creator who sustains even the faintest haze in the atmosphere. Whether the sky is clear or veiled, His knowledge holds it all together. We can trust that He sees beyond the surface layers to what truly matters. This perspective brings peace when we feel uncertain about the future, knowing that our God is faithful even in the unseen moments.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] clouds5×
- clouds3×
- and/ clouds2×
- in the/ clouds1×
- and/ like/ [the] dust of1×
- <to>/ clouds1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁחָקִֽים\׃3×
- שְׁחָקִ֣ים3×
- שְׁחָקִ֑ים1×
- שְׁ֝חָקִ֗ים1×
- לִ/שְׁחָקִ֑ים1×
- וּ֝/שְׁחָקִ֗ים1×
- וּ/שְׁחָקִ֖ים1×
- וּ/כְ/שַׁ֥חַק1×
- בַּ/שְּׁחָקִ֑ים1×
Key Verses
-
Job 35:5
Look to the skies, and see. See the skies, which are higher than you.
This verse uses shaḥaq to direct attention to the heavens as a reminder of God’s transcendence over human limitations.
-
Job 37:21
Now men don’t see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.
The text describes how wind clears the shaḥaq, showing that clarity often comes only after the passing of turbulent forces.