שֻׁלְחָן (shul.chan)
shul.chan
table
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 50 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shulchan refers to a table, specifically one that is spread out or laid with food. Its root sense connects to the idea of extending something flat, much like laying out a cloth or arranging items for use. In Scripture, this word appears fifty times, most frequently in Exodus and the historical books, describing everything from royal dining halls to the sacred furniture in the Tabernacle.
The term carries both practical and symbolic weight. It denotes physical objects, such as the table of showbread described in Exodus 25:23, where it held the consecrated bread before God. Yet it also signifies relationship and provision. In Psalm 23:5, David speaks of a table prepared in the presence of enemies, illustrating divine hospitality and protection. Similarly, passages like 2 Samuel 9:7 describe Mephibosheth eating at King David’s table, marking his restored status and inclusion in the royal household.
Translators usually render shulchan as "table," but the context often reveals deeper layers of meaning. When used for the altar in Malachi 1:7 as "the table of Jehovah," it blurs the line between dining and sacrifice, suggesting that worship itself is a form of sustenance. The word consistently points to order, provision, and communal life, whether in a king’s palace or a believer’s prayer.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shulchan points to more than just a piece of furniture; it signals a place where provision meets relationship. In the ancient world, sharing a meal was a profound act of trust and covenant. When Scripture speaks of God preparing a table, it invites us into a space of safety and care that exists even when circumstances feel threatening or uncertain.
This concept bridges the gap between daily sustenance and spiritual hope. Whether it is the sacred bread placed before God in the Tabernacle or the kindness shown to Mephibosheth at King David’s table, the image remains consistent: God provides for those who are near Him. It reminds us that we are not left to fend for ourselves but are invited to sit and receive what is needed for our journey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 50 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ table22×
- [the] table of7×
- table/ my5×
- a table5×
- table/ your2×
- table/ his2×
- for/ [the] tables of2×
- and/ the/ table2×
- and/ a table2×
- the/ tables1×
- tables1×
- table/ her1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שֻּׁלְחָן֙5×
- שֻׁלְחַ֥ן4×
- הַ/שֻּׁלְחָֽן\׃4×
- שֻׁלְחָנִ֔/י2×
- שֻׁלְחָנ֡/וֹ2×
- לְ/שֻׁלְחֲנ֥וֹת2×
- הַ/שֻּׁלְחָ֥ן2×
- הַ/שֻּׁלְחָ֛ן2×
- הַ/שֻּׁלְחָ֗ן2×
- הַ/שֻּׁלְחָ֖ן2×
- הַ/שֻּׁלְחָ֔ן2×
- שֻׁלְחָנוֹת֮1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 9:7
David said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your father. You will eat bread at my table continually.”
Here the table becomes a symbol of restored dignity and covenant loyalty, showing how God’s kindness can reinstate someone to a place of honor after loss.
-
Exodus 25:30
You shall set bread of the presence on the table before me always.
The command to set bread on the table before God always establishes a rhythm of continual presence and remembrance in the heart of worship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shulchan represent in the Old Testament?
Why is the table important in Psalm 23?
How does Mephibosheth’s story relate to this word?
Every Occurrence (50 verses across 17 books)
Exodus 16 verses
“You shall make a table of acacia wood. Its length shall be two cubits, and its width a cubit, and its height one and a…
Exodus 25:27The rings shall be close to the rim, for places for the poles to carry the table.
Exodus 25:28You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them.
Exodus 25:30You shall set bread of the presence on the table before me always.
Exodus 26:35You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lamp stand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward…
Exodus 30:27the table and all its articles, the lamp stand and its accessories, the altar of incense,
Exodus 31:8the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,
Exodus 35:13the table with its poles and all its vessels, and the show bread;
Exodus 37:10He made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, and its width was a cubit, and its height was a cubit and…
Exodus 37:14The rings were close by the border, the places for the poles to carry the table.
Exodus 37:15He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table.
Exodus 37:16He made the vessels which were on the table, its dishes, its spoons, its bowls, and its pitchers with which to pour…
Exodus 39:36the table, all its vessels, the show bread,
Exodus 40:4You shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are on it. You shall bring in the lamp stand, and light…
Exodus 40:22He put the table in the Tent of Meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside of the veil.
Exodus 40:24He put the lamp stand in the Tent of Meeting, opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle.