שָׁקוּף (sha.quph)
sha.quph
frame
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun shaquph refers specifically to a frame or casing, most notably for windows. It appears only twice in the entire Old Testament, both times within the detailed architectural descriptions of Solomon’s Temple in 1 Kings. In these passages, the word describes the structural elements that held glass or lattice, distinguishing the interior sacred space from the outside world.
Its meaning is quite concrete: it denotes the physical beams or casing laid over an opening. The sources do not suggest a metaphorical use for this term; instead, it serves as a technical architectural term in the biblical text. This rarity highlights how specific ancient building materials and methods were recorded with precision, even if those exact structures are no longer visible today.
Understanding shaquph helps readers visualize the temple’s construction more accurately. It reminds us that the Bible includes detailed records of craftsmanship and design, not just theological or narrative content. These small linguistic details ground the sacred stories in real, tangible history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shaquph appears only twice in Scripture, describing the specific frames or casings of windows in Solomon’s Temple. These were not ordinary openings but carefully constructed elements with fixed lattice work, designed to let light into the holy space while maintaining its separation from the outside world. This precision reminds us that God cares about the details of how His dwelling place is built.
For your faith, this concrete detail grounds the biblical narrative in real history. It shows that the sacred stories are not abstract myths but events involving actual craftsmanship and materials. When you read these passages, you can visualize the temple as a tangible place where heaven and earth met, built with intentional design to honor God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- frames1×
- and/ window frames1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׁקֻפִ֥ים1×
- וּ/שְׁקֻפִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 6:4
He made windows of fixed lattice work for the house.
This verse specifies that the windows had fixed lattice work, indicating a permanent structural frame rather than a simple opening.
-
I Kings 7:4
There were beams in three rows, and window was facing window in three ranks.
Here the description of beams in three rows highlights the layered architectural complexity of the window frames in the House of Lebanon.