שֶׂכְוִי (sekh.vi)
sekh.vi
heart
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word sekhvi appears only once in the entire Bible, in Job 38:36. Its exact meaning has long puzzled scholars because the context is so specific and unusual. In this verse, God asks who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the heart, using sekhvi to describe a faculty of mind or perception linked to celestial phenomena.
Lexicons often translate it as "mind" or "understanding," but they also note that the connection to sky or stars makes the precise sense uncertain. Some suggest it refers to a mental clarity inspired by the heavens, while others see it as a rare term for intuition or insight. Because it is unique to this passage, there is no broader usage in Scripture to clarify its definition.
This single occurrence highlights the limits of lexical certainty. The word serves as a reminder that some biblical terms remain opaque despite extensive study. Its presence in Job’s dialogue about divine wisdom underscores the mystery surrounding human understanding and its possible connection to the natural world.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sekhvi appears only once in Scripture, nestled within God’s majestic response to Job. In this rare instance, it describes the inner faculty where wisdom resides. It reminds us that true understanding is not merely intellectual but deeply internal, a gift from the Creator who designed our minds.
When we face questions that exceed our knowledge, like Job did, we can rest in the truth that God alone grants insight. This unique term highlights the mystery of how divine wisdom enters human perception. It invites us to acknowledge our limits while trusting the One who holds all understanding.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to the/ heart1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לַ/שֶּׂ֣כְוִי1×
Key Verses
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Job 38:36
Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
This verse uses sekhvi to describe the inner mind as the place where God grants wisdom, contrasting human limitation with divine insight.