שִׁכְּרוֹן (shik.k.ron)
shik.k.ron
Shikkeron
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The word shikkeron appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, serving as a geographic marker rather than a theological concept. Listed in Joshua 15:11, it identifies a specific landmark on the northwestern boundary of the tribe of Judah. The text places this location between Ekron and Jabneel, helping to define the territorial limits assigned to Israel’s largest tribe.
Although its root shares letters with words for intoxication, leading some ancient translators to guess that "drunkenness" might be the meaning, modern scholarship treats it primarily as a proper name of place. The etymology remains uncertain, and the connection to drinking is speculative at best. It functions simply as a signpost in the land distribution narrative.
Its single occurrence highlights how biblical geography often relies on local landmarks that may have lost their original descriptive meaning by the time of writing. For readers today, shikkeron stands as a reminder of the tangible, earthly details preserved in Scripture, anchoring spiritual promises to specific spots on the map.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Bible often grounds its grand spiritual promises in very specific, earthly locations. Shikkeron is one such place mentioned only once in Joshua 15:11. It marks a boundary stone for the tribe of Judah, sitting between Ekron and Jabneel. This detail reminds us that God’s covenant with His people was not just abstract; it involved real land, real borders, and real communities.
Although we do not know exactly what this name meant in ancient times, its presence in Scripture shows the care taken to record the inheritance given to Israel. For believers today, these geographic markers serve as tangible evidence of God’s faithfulness. They anchor the narrative of promise and fulfillment in history, showing that the divine plan unfolded in actual spaces on the map.
When we read about places like Shikkeron, we are invited to trust in a God who knows the details of our lives just as He knew the boundaries of ancient tribes. His promises remain sure, rooted in a history that is both specific and eternal.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shikkeron/ towards1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שִׁכְּר֔וֹנָ/ה1×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 15:11
and the border went out to the side of Ekron northward; and the border extended to Shikkeron, and passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.
This verse places Shikkeron as a specific landmark on the northwestern border of Judah, helping to define the tribe's territorial inheritance.