שְׁכֹ֫בֶת (she.kho.vet)
she.kho.vet
copulation
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shekōvet refers specifically to the physical act of sexual intercourse. It appears only four times in the Old Testament, primarily within the legal codes of Leviticus and Numbers that address sexual morality.
Its meaning is concrete and biological rather than emotional or relational. The word derives from a root related to lying down, emphasizing the bodily posture involved in the act. In these texts, it serves as a technical term for the physical union itself, often in contexts defining prohibited relationships or ritual purity.
Because its usage is so limited and specific, the word carries no metaphorical weight in Scripture. It denotes the literal event of copulation without additional nuance about love, commitment, or consequence. Translators typically render it simply as "sexual intercourse" or "copulation" to preserve this straightforward, legal precision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shekōvet refers to the physical act of sexual intercourse. It appears only four times in the Old Testament, primarily within the legal codes of Leviticus and Numbers that address sexual morality. Its meaning is concrete and biological rather than emotional or relational.
In these texts, it serves as a technical term for the physical union itself, often in contexts defining prohibited relationships or ritual purity. Because its usage is so limited and specific, the word carries no metaphorical weight in Scripture. It denotes the literal event of copulation without additional nuance about love, commitment, or consequence.
Translators typically render it simply as "sexual intercourse" or "copulation" to preserve this straightforward, legal precision. Understanding this term helps us see how seriously ancient Israel viewed sexual boundaries, not as arbitrary rules, but as protections for community integrity and personal holiness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- copulation/ your2×
- copulation/ his2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁכָבְתְּ/ךָ֖2×
- שְׁכָבְתּ֛/וֹ1×
- שְׁכָבְתּ֔/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 18:20
“‘You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, and defile yourself with her.
This verse uses shekōvet to explicitly forbid adultery, highlighting the violation of marital trust and covenant fidelity.
-
Leviticus 18:23
“‘You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it. No woman may give herself to an animal, to lie down with it: it is a perversion.
Here the term is applied to bestiality, marking it as a profound perversion that crosses created boundaries between species.
-
Numbers 5:20
But if you have gone astray, being under your husband’s authority, and if you are defiled, and some man has lain with you besides your husband—”
In this context of suspected adultery, the word underscores the physical reality of infidelity within a marriage covenant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shekōvet mean in the Bible?
Why is this word used so rarely?
How is it different from other Hebrew words for sex?
Every Occurrence (4 verses across 2 books)
Leviticus 3 verses
“‘You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife, and defile yourself with her.
Leviticus 18:23“‘You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself with it. No woman may give herself to an animal, to lie down…
Leviticus 20:15“‘If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death; and you shall kill the animal.