שָׁכֹל (sha.khol)
sha.khol
be bereaved; childless; barenness
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 16 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sha.khol describes the profound loss of children, whether through permanent childlessness or the tragic death of offspring. It captures the deep sorrow of bereavement, focusing on the emptiness left behind when a family line is cut short. In the Old Testament, this word often appears in narratives where God’s sovereignty intersects with human grief, such as in Genesis and Samuel.
Its usage extends beyond simple sadness to include the physical reality of barrenness or miscarriage, particularly in the Piel stem which can mean to cause childlessness. This dual sense highlights how ancient Israelites viewed fertility and loss not just as biological events but as significant spiritual moments. The related adjective shak.kul describes a person who is childless, often through such bereavement.
Translators typically render sha.khol as "bereaved" or "childless," terms that convey the lasting emotional weight of the experience. By using this specific vocabulary, the biblical text acknowledges the pain of loss while also pointing to God’s power over life and death. The word serves as a reminder that even in seasons of emptiness, the narrative of Scripture continues.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Shakhol speaks to the deepest human fear: the loss of what we hold most dear. Whether it is the grief of losing a child or the ache of childlessness, this word names a pain that feels final and isolating. The biblical writers did not shy away from this reality. They brought their raw sorrow directly to God, acknowledging that life can be fragile and that our plans for family can be shattered in an instant.
Yet Scripture does not leave us in the dark. Even when the text describes a land made barren or a family bereaved, it points to a God who sees the emptiness. In moments like Jacob’s fear of losing Benjamin, we see a father trusting that God holds the future, even when the present is terrifying. This word reminds us that our worth is not defined by our offspring or our productivity, but by our standing before the Creator.
For those walking through seasons of loss or waiting for children, this vocabulary offers a sacred space for honest prayer. It validates your grief as real and seen. You are not alone in your sorrow. The same God who witnessed the pain of ancient Israelites is present with you now, offering a hope that transcends biological limits and earthly circumstances.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 16 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I have been bereaved2×
- you are making childless1×
- will I be bereaved1×
- they have miscarried1×
- she will become childless1×
- miscarrying1×
- it will prove barren1×
- it will make childless1×
- it miscarries1×
- it has made childless1×
- it has bereaved1×
- and/ it will make childless1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִּשְׁכַּ֥ל1×
- תְּשַׁכֶּל\־1×
- תְשַׁכֵּֽל\׃1×
- תְשַׁכֵּ֨ל1×
- שָׁכֹ֖לְתִּי1×
- שָׁכָֽלְתִּי\׃1×
- שִׁכַּלְתֶּ֑ם1×
- שִׁכַּ֤לְתִּי1×
- שִׁכֵּ֑לוּ1×
- שִׁכְּלָה\־1×
- שִׁכְּלָ֤ה1×
- מַשְׁכִּ֔יל1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 42:36
Jacob, their father, said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children! Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin away. All these things are against me.”
Jacob uses this term to express his overwhelming sense of loss, listing the sequential departures of Joseph and Simeon as a cumulative tragedy that leaves him feeling stripped of his lineage.
-
Genesis 43:14
May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
Here the word appears in a prayerful surrender, where Jacob acknowledges that if he loses Benjamin too, he will be fully bereaved, placing his remaining hope entirely in God Almighty's mercy.
-
Lamentations 1:20
“Look, Yahweh; for I am in distress. My heart is troubled. My heart turns over within me, for I have grievously rebelled. Abroad, the sword bereaves. At home, it is like death.
The poet describes the dual devastation of war, noting how the sword bereaves families in the public square while death reigns within the home, capturing the total collapse of social and familial safety.
-
Hosea 9:14
Give them—Yahweh what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
This verse portrays a severe divine judgment where God requests a 'miscarrying womb,' highlighting the ancient understanding that fertility was intimately tied to covenant blessing and spiritual standing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between shakhol and other words for barrenness?
Does this word appear in the New Testament?
How does this word relate to God's sovereignty?
Every Occurrence (16 verses across 11 books)
Genesis 4 verses
until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you…
Genesis 31:38“These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not cast their young, and I haven’t…
Genesis 42:36Jacob, their father, said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children! Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you…
Genesis 43:14May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am…