שָׁאַל170 H7592
To ask, inquire, request, demand, borrow, or lend; covering question-asking, petition, and the loan transaction in both directions
Sha'al is the quintessential verb of human need voiced aloud — whether seeking information, requesting a favor, or negotiating a loan. Its semantic range runs from the simple question ('What is your name?' Gen 32:29) to the desperate petition (Hannah's plea for a son, 1 Sam 1:20), and even extends into the economics of borrowing and lending. Arabic sa'ala preserves the same core of voiced inquiry, while the Korean split between mul-eotda (asking) and guhaetda (requesting) exposes the line between information-seeking and favor-seeking that Hebrew leaves implicit. The wordplay on Samuel's name — 'I asked him of the LORD' — shows how deeply this verb is woven into Israel's narrative theology.
Senses
1. ask, inquire, question — To ask a question or make an inquiry, seeking information from another person or from God. Arabic sa'ala and Korean mul-eotda (to ask) consistently mark this as the information-seeking register. This is the dominant sense (96x), ranging from simple interpersonal questions (Gen 26:7 'the men of the place asked about his wife') to formal divine inquiry through priest or prophet (Judg 1:1; 1 Sam 10:22). The construction often takes a double accusative — asking someone about something — and the multilingual glosses converge on consultar/demander/befragen, all emphasizing the investigative dimension. 96×
AR["فَ-سَأَلَ", "فَسَأَلَ", "وَ-سَأَلَ", "وَ-سَأَلُوا", "وَسَأَلَ"]·ben["আর-জিজ্ঞাসা-করল", "আর-জিজ্ঞাসা-করলেন", "এবং-জিজ্ঞাসা-করল", "এবং-জিজ্ঞাসা-করলেন", "এবং-জিজ্ঞেস-করল", "এবং-জিজ্ঞেস-করলেন", "ও-জিজ্ঞাসা-করলেন"]·DE["und-befragten", "und-er-fragte", "und-fragen", "und-fragte", "und-inquired", "und-sie-befragten"]·EN["and-asked", "and-he-asked", "and-inquired", "and-they-inquired"]·FR["et-consulta", "et-demanda", "et-demander", "et-il-demanda", "et-ils-interrogèrent", "et-interrogea"]·heb["ו-ישאל", "ו-שאל", "ו-שאלו"]·HI["और-उन्होंने-पूछा", "और-पुचछ", "और-पुछ", "और-पूछा", "वय्यिश्अल"]·ID["Dan-bertanya", "Dan-bertanyalah", "Dan-ia-bertanya", "dan-bertanya", "dan-bertanyalah", "dan-dia-bertanya", "dan-mereka-bertanya"]·IT["e-chiese", "e-consultò", "e-domandare", "e-domandò", "e-egli-chiese", "e-essi-consultò"]·jav["Lan-Yakub-tangled", "Lan-nakèkaken", "Lan-ndangu", "Lan-nyuwun-pirsa", "Lan-nyuwun-pitedah", "Lan-taken", "lan-nyuwun-pirsa", "lan-taken"]·KO["그-와-물었다", "그리고-구하였다", "그리고-물었다"]·PT["E-consultaram", "E-consultou", "E-perguntou", "e-consultaram", "e-perguntaram", "e-perguntou"]·RU["И-спросил", "и-вопросил", "и-спросил", "и-спросили"]·ES["Y-consultaron", "Y-consultó", "Y-preguntó", "y-consultaron", "y-preguntaron", "y-preguntó"]·SW["Na-akauliza", "Na-wakauliza", "akauliza", "na-akauliza", "na-akawauliza", "na-wakainama", "na-wakaomba", "na-wakauliza"]·TR["Ve-sordu", "Ve-sordular", "ve-sordu", "ve-sordular"]·urd["اور-پوچھا"]
2. request, petition, demand — To request, petition, or demand something from someone, seeking to obtain goods, favors, or outcomes rather than information. Arabic talaba (to seek/request) and Korean guhaetda (to seek to obtain) distinguish this from mere inquiry. Covers Moses's statement of what God 'asks of' Israel (Deut 10:12), Caleb's daughter requesting springs of water (Josh 15:18), and the elders demanding a king (1 Sam 8:10). Spanish pedir and French demander in the petitionary register confirm the shift from question to request. Hannah's naming of Samuel — she'iltiv, 'I asked him of the LORD' (1 Sam 1:20) — is the theological pinnacle of this sense. 73×
AR["أَنْ-أَطْلُبَ", "اسْأَلِي", "اسْأَلْ", "اسْأَلْنِي", "تَسْأَلْ", "تَسْأَلْهُ", "سَأَلَ", "سَأَلْتَ", "طَلَبَ", "طَلَبْتَ", "لِ-طَلَبِ", "لِ-يَسْأَلَ", "لِ-يَطْلُبَ"]·ben["-কে", "চাইতে", "চাও", "চেয়েছ", "চেয়েছিল", "তুমি-চেয়েছিলে", "তোমার-শত্রুদের", "দিন", "ধন", "শলোমন", "সে-চেয়েছিল"]·DE["ask", "du-fragte", "er-fragte", "frage", "fragen", "fragte", "zu-fragen", "zu-fragte"]·EN["ask", "asked", "he-asked", "to-ask", "you-asked"]·FR["demanda", "demande", "demander", "il-demanda", "tu-asked", "tu-demanda", "zu-Saül", "à-demander"]·heb["ל-שאול", "שאל", "שאלי", "שאלת"]·HI["तूने-मांगा", "माँग", "माँगने-को", "माँगा", "मांग", "मांगने-को", "मांगा", "मांगा-था"]·ID["Mintalah", "dia-pinjamkan", "diminta", "dimintanya", "engkau-meminta", "engkau-minta", "ia-minta", "kamu-minta", "meminta", "mintalah", "untuk-meminta"]·IT["a-Saul", "a-chiedere", "che-a", "chiedi", "chiese", "domandare", "egli-chiese", "per-chiedere", "tu-chiese", "tu-domando"]·jav["Nyuwun", "Nyuwuna", "dipunsuwun", "kangge-nyuwun", "kanggé-nyuwun", "nyuwun", "nyuwuna", "panjenengan-nyuwun", "panyuwunipun", "piyambakipun-nyuwun"]·KO["구하기-위해", "구하라", "구하라고", "구한", "구했다", "네가-요구했다", "로-요청하다", "에게-구하려고", "요구하라", "요구했다", "요청하였다", "청하였다"]·PT["Pede", "a-pedir", "de-pedir", "para-pedir", "pede", "pediste", "pediu"]·RU["одолжил", "проси", "просил", "просил-ты", "просить", "чтобы-просить"]·ES["Pide", "de-pedir", "para-pedir", "pediste", "pide", "pidió"]·SW["Niombe", "aliloliomba", "aliomba", "hili", "kuomba", "kwako", "nikupe", "omba", "sitakukataa", "uliomba", "umeomba", "utajiri"]·TR["iste", "istedi", "istedin", "istemek", "istemek-için", "istemesi-için", "isteyerek", "ödünç-verdi"]·urd["تُو-نے-مانگا", "مانگ", "مانگا", "مانگنے کے لیے", "مانگنے-کو", "مانگنے-کے-لیے", "مانگی-گئی", "مانگے"]
Deut 10:12, Deut 14:26, Deut 18:16, Josh 15:18, Josh 19:50, Judg 1:14, Judg 5:25, 1 Sam 1:20, 1 Sam 1:27, 1 Sam 2:20, 1 Sam 12:13, 1 Sam 12:17 (+38 more)
3. borrow — To borrow, to receive something on loan from another. Arabic musta'ar (borrowed) and Korean billin (borrowed) mark the economic transaction. Rare (3x), appearing in the case law of Exod 22:14 regarding liability for a borrowed animal, Hannah's declaration that Samuel was 'lent to the LORD' (1 Sam 1:28 — a deliberate wordplay on borrowing/lending), and the floating axe head that 'was borrowed' (2 Kgs 6:5). The semantic extension from 'ask for' to 'borrow' is natural and paralleled across Semitic languages. 3×
AR["استَعارَ", "مُسْتَعارٌ", "مُعَارٌ"]·ben["ধার-করা", "ধার-দেওয়া", "ধার-নেয়"]·DE["borrows", "ist-lieh", "war-borrowed"]·EN["borrows", "is-lent", "was-borrowed"]·FR["borrows", "est-prêta", "fut-borrowed"]·heb["ישאל", "שאול"]·HI["माँगा-हुआ", "माँगे", "शाऊल"]·ID["dipinjam", "dipinjamkan", "meminjam"]·IT["borrows", "era-borrowed", "è-prestò"]·jav["dipunsuwun", "nyambut", "tiyang-nyilih"]·KO["빌리면", "빌린", "빌린-것이다"]·PT["emprestado", "pedido", "pedir-emprestado"]·RU["возьмёт-взаймы", "одолжен", "одолжено"]·ES["era-prestado!", "pida-prestado", "prestado"]·SW["akikopa", "ameombwa", "kilikuwa-kimekopwa"]·TR["odunc", "ödünç-alırsa", "ödünç-verilmiş"]·urd["اُدھار-لے", "مانگا-گیا", "مانگا-ہوا-تھا"]
4. lend, grant on loan — Hifil causative: to lend, to grant on loan to another. Arabic a'ara (to lend) and Korean billyeojuda (to lend) confirm the causative flip from receiving to granting. Appears only twice: the Israelites being granted gold and silver by the Egyptians at the Exodus (Exod 12:36), and Hannah's vow that she has 'lent' Samuel to the LORD (1 Sam 1:28). The Exodus passage is remarkable — Spanish les dieron ('they gave them') and the broader translation tradition show how 'lending' shades into 'granting,' since these loans were never repaid. 2×
AR["أَعَرْتُهُ", "وَ-أَعَارُوهُمْ"]·ben["এবং-তারা-ধার-করালেন", "ধার-দিলাম-তাকে"]·DE["ich-habe-lieh-ihn", "und-sie-lieh-ihnen"]·EN["I-have-lent-him", "and-they-lent-them"]·FR["et-ils-prêta-eux", "je-ai-prêta-lui"]·heb["השאלתיהו", "ו-השאילום"]·HI["उधार-दिया", "और-उधार-दिया-उन्होंने"]·ID["dan-mereka-meminjamkan", "meminjamkannya"]·IT["e-essi-prestò-loro", "io-avere-prestò-lui"]·jav["lan-tiyang-maringi", "masrahaken-piyambakipun"]·KO["그리고-보내주었다-그들이-그들에게", "빌려주었다-그-를"]·PT["e-emprestaram-lhes", "emprestei-o"]·RU["и-давали-им", "отдала-его"]·ES["lo-presté", "y-les-dieron"]·SW["na-wakawakopesha", "nimemkabidhi"]·TR["ve-verdiler", "ödünç-verdim-onu"]·urd["امانت-دیتی-ہوں-اُسے", "اور-دیا-انہوں-نے"]
5. sense 5 — To ask leave, to request permission for departure. A specialized pragmatic extension of the petition sense, appearing in Neh 13:6 where Nehemiah asks the king's permission to return to Jerusalem. Spanish pedi permiso and English 'I asked leave' confirm the diplomatic-courtly register. The construction is idiomatic: sha'al functions as requesting formal authorization rather than simply asking a question or requesting an object. 1×
AR["اسْتَأْذَنْتُ"]·ben["অনুমতি-চাইলাম"]·DE["fragte"]·EN["I-asked-leave"]·FR["demander"]·heb["נשאלתי"]·HI["मैंने-अनुमति-ली"]·ID["aku-minta-izin"]·IT["domandare"]·jav["kula-nyuwun"]·KO["허락-구했다-내가"]·PT["pedi-licença"]·RU["попросил-я"]·ES["pedí-permiso"]·SW["niliomba"]·TR["izin-istedim"]·urd["رخصت-لی"]
6. sense 6 — To beg, to plead as a destitute person. A register shift toward abject supplication, appearing in the imprecatory Ps 109:10 ('let his children beg'). Spanish mendiguen (let them beg) captures the social degradation implied. Where sense 2 covers dignified petition, this sense carries the connotation of desperate, repeated asking born of poverty — the semantic floor of a verb whose ceiling is royal petition. 1×
AR["وَ-يَسأَلون"]·ben["এবং-ভিক্ষা-করুক"]·DE["und-lass-ihnen-beg"]·EN["and-let-them-beg"]·FR["et-demander"]·heb["ו-שאלו"]·HI["और-माँगें"]·ID["dan-mengemis"]·IT["e-chiese"]·jav["lan-mengemis"]·KO["그리고-구걸하게-하소서"]·PT["e-mendiguem"]·RU["и-просят"]·ES["y-mendiguen"]·SW["na-waombe"]·TR["ve-dilencillik-etsinler"]·urd["اور-بھیک-مانگیں"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
שָׁאַל170 vb. ask, inquire (NH id.; Assyrian šaʾâlu, Arabic سَأَلَ, Ethiopic ሰአለ: Sab. מסאל request, petition, HomChrest. 124 Levy-Os ZMG xix (1865), 165; Aramaic ܫܶܐܠ, שְׁאֵיל; O Aramaic Zinj. שאל Ldzb371, Nab. Hiph. lend id.ib.;—on שׁ׳ cf. Jastr JBL xix (1900), 82 ff.);— Qal Pf. 3 ms. שׁ׳ Ju 5:25 +, שָׁאָ֑ל Ju 8:26 + 2 times; consec. וְשָׁ֫אַל לוֹ Nu 27:21; sf. וּשְׁאֵלְךָ consec. Gn 32:18…