שָׁכַן, H7931
To settle down, dwell, inhabit; of God's presence: to tabernacle; causative: to cause to dwell, place, settle
A verb of rooted habitation that stretches from ordinary human residence to the awesome mystery of God's indwelling presence. Its most theologically rich usage describes the divine Shekinah—God's glory 'settling' on Mount Sinai (Exod 24:16) and 'dwelling' in the Tabernacle (Exod 25:8). The cognate Aramaic שְׁכִינָה (Shekinah) and Arabic سَكَنَ (to be at rest, dwell) both illuminate the root's core meaning: not mere location but settled, restful presence. The Piel and Hifil causative stems extend this to God 'causing his Name to dwell' in the chosen sanctuary (Deut 12:11), a striking theological idiom found nowhere else in Semitic religion.
Senses
1. Qal: dwell, inhabit — The basic Qal sense of dwelling or inhabiting a place as an ongoing state. Covers the broadest range: Shem dwelling in the tents of Japheth (Gen 9:27), Zebulun dwelling by the seashore (Gen 49:13), Israel dwelling in the land, and God dwelling among his people (Exod 25:8). Arabic يَسْكُنُ, Spanish habitará, and Korean 거하다 all converge on settled, continuous residence. This sense anchors the theological use—when God 'dwells' among Israel, the same ordinary verb is elevated to express covenant presence. 75×
AR["فَ-أَسكُنُ","وَ-أَسكُنُ","وَ-أَسْكُنُ","وَ-تَسْكُنُ","وَأَسْكُنُ","وَيَسْكُنونَ","وَيَسْكُنُ","وَيَسْكُنُونَ","يَسْكُنُ","يَسْكُنُونَ","يَسْكُنُونَ-"]·ben["আর-বাস-করবে","এবং-আমি-বাস-করব","এবং-বাস-করব","এবং-বাস-করবে","ও-থাকবে","ও-বাস-করবে","তারা-বাস-করবে-","বাস-করবে","বাস-করবে-","বাস-করবেন","সে-বাস-করবে"]·DE["dwells","er-wird-wohnen-in","er-wohnt","soll-wohnen","und-ich-wird-wohne","und-ich-wird-wohnen","und-wird-wohnen","und-wohnen","und-wohnte","wird-er-wohnen","wird-wohnen","wohnen"]·EN["and-I-will-dwell","and-shall-dwell","and-they-will-dwell","and-will-dwell","dwell","dwells","he-will-dwell-in","in-it","shall-dwell","will-dwell"]·FR["--demeurer","demeurer","et-Je---demeurer","et-demeurer","et-je-fera-habite","habite"]·heb["ו-ישכנו","ו-שכנו","ו-שכנתי","ישכון","ישכן","ישכנו"]·HI["और-निवास-करूँगा","और-बसेंगे","और-मैं-निवास-करूँगा","और-मैं-निवास-करूंगा","और-मैं-वास-करूँगा","और-रहेंगे","और-वे-बसेंगे","निवास-करेगा","बसेंगे","बसेगा","वह-निवास-करेगा","वे-निवास-करेंगे-"]·ID["Dan-Aku-akan-diam","akan-berdiam","akan-tinggal","dan-Aku diam","dan-Aku-akan-diam","dan-Aku-akan-tinggal","dan-akan-tinggal","dan-mereka-berdiam","dan-tinggal","ia-akan-tinggal","mereka-akan-berdiam","tinggal"]·IT["abito'","dimorare","dimorera","dwells","e-abito'","e-dimorare","e-io-vorrà-dimora","e-io-will-abitare","shall-abitare"]·jav["Lan-Kawula-dedalem","badhe-dedalem","badhe-dedalem-","badhe-manggen","badhé-manggen","lan-Aku-bakal-dedalem","lan-Kula-badhè-dedalem","lan-badhe-manggen","lan-badhé-dedalem","lan-dedalem","lan-dedalem-Kawula","lan-piyambakipun-badhé-manggen","manggen","manggèn","mapan","piyambakipun-badhé-manggen","sarta-Kawula-badhé-dedalem"]·KO["거하리라","거하리이다","거하시리이다","거할-것이다","거할-것이다-","그리고-거하리라","그리고-거하리이다","그리고-그들이-거하리라","그리고-내가-거하리라","그리고-내가-거할-것이다","머물-것이다","머물리이까"]·PT["E-habitarei","e-habitarei","e-habitarão","habitará","habitarão","habitarão-","morará"]·RU["И-буду-обитать","будет-жить","будет-обитать","будут-жить-","будут-обитать-","и-буду-обитать","и-будут-обитать","и-вселюсь","и-поселятся","обитать-будет","поселились","поселится"]·ES["Y-habitaré","habitará","habitarán","habitarán-","morará","y-habitarán","y-habitaré"]·SW["Na-nitakaa","akae","atakaa","itakaa","na-nitakaa","na-watakaa","nami-nitakaa","wanakaa","wataishi-","watakaa"]·TR["Ve-oturacağım","görkemli","kalır","oturacak","oturacak-","oturacaklar","oturacaklar-","ve-ikamet-edecekler","ve-ikamet-edeceğim","ve-ikâmet-edeceğim","ve-oturacak","ve-oturacaklar","ve-oturacağım","yaşasın","yaşayacak"]·urd["اور-بسوں-گا","اور-بسیں-گے","اور-سکونت-کروں-گا","اور-سکونت-کریں-گے","اور-میں رہوں گا","اور-میں-سکونت-کروں-گا","اور-میں-سکونیت-کروں-گا","بسیں-گے","بسے-گا","رہیں-گے","رہیں-گے-","رہے-گا"]
Gen 9:27, Gen 35:22, Gen 49:13, Exod 24:16, Exod 25:8, Exod 29:45, Deut 33:12, Deut 33:12, Deut 33:20, Judg 5:17, 2 Sam 7:10, 1 Kgs 6:13 (+38 more)
2. Qal participle: inhabitant, dweller — The Qal participle used substantivally to mean 'inhabitant, dweller, one who resides.' Appears with construct chains: שֹׁכְנֵי אֹהָלִים 'tent-dwellers' (Num 24:2), or שֹׁכֵן סְנֶה 'the One dwelling in the bush' (Deut 33:16)—an epithet for God himself. Arabic سَاكِن / سَاكِنِين and Spanish el que habita confirm the participial noun function. The theological use in Psalm 135:21 ('blessed be the LORD from Zion, the One dwelling in Jerusalem') shows how the participle becomes a divine title. 24×
AR["السَّاكِنِ","السَّاكِنِينَ","الـ-سَاكِنِينَ","الْ-سَّاكِنَةِ","ساكِني","ساكِنٌ","سَاكِنًا","سَاكِنٌ","سَاكِنُ","سَاكِنِ","وَ-سَاكِنِي","يَا-سَاكِنَ","يَا-سَاكِنِي","يَسْكُنُ"]·ben["-বসবাসকারীদের","-যিনি-বাস-করেন","[যে-বাস-করে]","ও-বাসিন্দারা","তিনি-বাস-করেন","বাস-করছে","বাস-করত","বাস-করি","বাস-করেন","বাসকারী-যে","বাসিন্দারা","যারা-তাঁবুতে-বাসকারী","যারা-বাস-করে","যিনি-বাস-করেন","যে-বাস-করে"]·DE["Wohnung","der-Wohnung","der-Zelt-dwellers","der-wohnte","dweller-von","und-wohnen","wohnen","wohnte"]·EN["He-dwells","[ketiv:you-dwelling]","and-dwellers-of","dweller-of","dwellers","dwellers-of","dwelling","dwells","inhabiting","one-dwelling","the-dwelling","the-one-dwelling","the-tent-dwellers"]·FR["demeure","demeurer","dweller-de","et-demeurer","habiter","le-demeure","le-tente-dwellers"]·heb["[שכנתי]","ה-שוכן","ה-שוכני","ה-שוכנים","ה-שכן","ו-שוכני","שוֹכן","שוכן","שוכני","שכן"]·HI["और-बसने-वालो","जो-बसते-हैं","निवास करने वाला","निवास-करता-हूँ","निवास-करता-है","निवास-करने-वाला","निवास-करनेवाला","निवास-करनेवाले","निवास-करनेवाले-की","बसने-वाली","बसे-हुए","रहत-थ","रहने-वालो","रहनेवाले","रहनेवालों-के","वह-निवास-करता-है","वास-करता-हूं"]·ID["Dia-berdiam","Dia-yang-berdiam","[yang-berdiam]","berdiam","dan-yang-diam","diam","penghuni","penghuni-tenda","tinggal","yang-berdiam","yang-mendiami","yang-tinggal"]·IT["dimora","dimorare","dweller-di","e-dimorare","il-dimora","il-tenda-dwellers"]·jav["Ingkang-manggèn","[ketib]","dedalem","ingkang-dedalem","ingkang-manggen","ingkang-manggon","kang-manggen","lan-ingkang-lenggah","manggen","manggèn","para-ingkang-manggèn-ing-tarub"]·KO["[거주하는-자여]","거주하는","거주하는-자들이여","거주하는-자여","거하는","거하는-분(접)","거하는-자들-을","거하는-자들은","거하시느니라","거하시는","거하시는-자","거하신다","그-거하는-자들-의","그리고-사는-자들이여","사는","살고-있었다"]·PT["[Habitante]","e-os-moradores-de","habita","habitando","habitante-de","habitante-em","habito","moradores-de","o-que-habita","os-moradores-de","os-que-habitam","que-habita","que-habitam"]·RU["[живущая]","Обитающего","Обитающий","живущий","живущих","живущих-в","и-обитатели","обитает","обитал","обитаю","обитающего","обитающие","обитающий"]·ES["[kethiv]","el-que-habita","el-que-habitó-en","habitando","habito","la-que-mora","los-morando","los-que-habitan","los-que-habitan-en","mora","moradores-de","morando","que-moran","y-habitantes-de"]·SW["Shkn","[Ukaaye]","alikaa","aliyekaa","anaishi","anakaa","anayekaa","linaloishi","mlalao","na-wakaaji","ninaishi","ninakaa","unayekaa","wakaaji-wa-hemani","wakaao-katika","wamekaa","wanaoishi"]·TR["[oturan]","de-çadırda-oturanların","ikamet-eden","ikamet-ediyorum","konan","oturan","oturan-","oturanlar","oturanlari","oturanları","oturanın","ve-sakinleri","yaşayanların"]·urd["[رہنے-والی]","اور-بسنے-والو","بسا-ہوا","جو-رہتا-ہے","جھاڑی-میں-بسنے-والے-کی","رہتا-تھا","رہتا-ہوں","رہتا-ہے","رہنے-والا","رہنے-والو","رہنے-والوں","رہنے-والوں-کے","رہنے-والی","رہنے-والے","سکونت-کرتا-ہوں"]
3. Piel: cause to dwell — The Piel causative stem meaning to cause or allow someone to dwell, or more specifically, to settle God's Name in a chosen place. The distinctive formula לְשַׁכֵּן שְׁמוֹ שָׁם 'to cause his Name to dwell there' (Deut 12:11, 14:23, 16:2, 6) is a Deuteronomic signature phrase. Arabic أُسْكِنُ (Form IV causative) and Swahili -kalisha (causative of -kaa 'sit') parallel the morphological structure. This theological idiom makes the sanctuary not merely God's house but the place where his Name takes up residence. 12×
AR["أَسْكَنْتُ","الَّتِي-سَكَنَ","لِأُسْكِنَكُمْ","لِـ-أُسْكِنَ","لِيُسْكِنَ","وَ-أُسْكِنُ"]·ben["-বাস-করাতে","আমি-বাস-করিয়েছিলাম","এবং-আমি-বাস-করাব","তিনি-বাস-করিয়েছিলেন","বসবাস-করাতে","বাস-করাতে","রাখতে"]·DE["er-placed","und-wohnen","wohnen","zu-cause-zu-wohnen","zu-wohnte"]·EN["I-caused-to-dwell","and-I-will-let-dwell","he-placed","to-cause-to-dwell"]·FR["[לשכן]","demeurer","et-demeurer","voisin","à-cause-à-habiter"]·heb["ו-אשכנה","ו-שיכנתי","ל-שכן","שיכן","שיכנתי"]·HI["और-मैं-बसाऊँगा","के-लिए-बसाने","जहाँ-वह-रहता-था","बसाने","बसाने-के-लिए","बसाने-को","मैंने-बसाया-था","रखने-को"]·ID["Aku-tempatkan","Dia-tempatkan","maka-Aku-akan-membiarkanmu-tinggal","untuk-membuat-kamu-tinggal","untuk-mendiamkan","untuk-menempatkan"]·IT["[לשכן]","a-cause-a-abitare","che-cosi'","dimorare","e-dimorare"]·jav["Kula-mapanaken","Lan-Kula-badhé-mapanaken","Panjenengan-sampun-ndadosaken-manggen","kangge-mapanaken","kanggé-manggènaken","kanggé-ndelehaken","lan-Kula-badhé-mapanaken","supados-mapanaken"]·KO["거주하게-하기-위하여","거하게-하려고","거하게-하셨다","거하게-하시려고","그러면-내가-살게-하리라","내가-거하게-하였다","로-거하게-하다"]·PT["E-farei-habitar","e-farei-habitar","fiz-habitar","para-fazer-habitar","para-habitar","que-fez-habitar"]·RU["и-поселю","поселил-Он","поселил-Я","поселить","чтобы-обитать","чтобы-поселить"]·ES["Y-os-haré-habitar","hice-habitar","hizo-habitar","para-hacer-habitar","para-haceros-habitar","y-os-haré-habitar"]·SW["aliloliweka","kukaa","kukalisha","kukifanya-kukaa","kuwakalisha","nami-nitawakalisha","nilipakalisha"]·TR["-için-yerleştirmek","oturdurmak-için","oturtmak-için","ve-yerleştireceğim","yerleştirdim","yerleştirdiği","yerleştirmek-için"]·urd["اور-بساؤں-گا","بسانے-کو","بسایا","بسایا-تھا-مَیں-نے","کے-لیے-بسانے"]
4. Qal: settle, rest upon — A nuanced Qal sense of settling down, coming to rest upon, or temporarily alighting—distinct from permanent habitation. The cloud 'settled' on the Tabernacle (Exod 40:35), the cloud 'rested' over the camp (Num 9:17-18, 22), and God's glory 'settled' on Sinai (Exod 24:16). Arabic لِيَحُلَّ (to alight, descend upon) and Spanish reposar (to rest) distinguish this from ordinary dwelling. This sense captures the dynamic, almost physical quality of divine presence descending and remaining. 9×
AR["تَسْكُنُ","سَكَنَ","لِتَسْكُنَ","لِيَحُلَّ","وَ-أَستَريحُ","وَ-سَكَنَتِ","يَسْكُنُ"]·ben["অবস্থান-করল","এবং-থামল","ও-বাস-করব-আমি","থাকছে","থাকত","থাকতে","থাকুক","থাকে","থামত"]·DE["und-sein-bei-Ruhe","und-settled","wohnte","wuerde-settle","wuerde-settle-","zu-settle"]·EN["and-be-at-rest","and-settled","dwelt","let-dwell","rest","stay","to-settle","would-settle","would-settle-"]·FR["demeura","demeurer","et-demeurer","et-settled","habiter","would-settle","would-settle-","à-settle"]·heb["ו-אשכונה","ו-ישכן","ישכן","ישכנו","ל-שכן","שכן","תשכון"]·HI["और-ठहरा","टिकते","ठहरता-था","ठहरता-था-","ठहरा","ठहरा-रहने-को","बसते-हैं","बसे-"]·ID["berhenti","berhenti-","bersemayam","bertempat-tinggal","biarlah-tinggal","dan-berhentilah","tinggal","untuk-berhenti"]·IT["a-settle","abitò","dimorare","e-abito'","e-settled","farebbe-settle","farebbe-settle-"]·jav["kangge-manggèn","kula","lan-piyambakipun-manggèn","lerem","manggon","mugi-dedalem","piyambakipun-manggèn","piyambakipun-manggèn-"]·KO["거하리라","그리고-거하리이다","그리고-머물였다","머무는","머무른다","머물기-위하여","머물기를","머물렀다"]·PT["e-descansaria","e-pousou","ficam","habite","habitou","para-pousar","pousava","repousam"]·RU["да-поселится","и-остановилось","и-успокоился-бы","обитало","оставалось","останавливалось-","почили","усидят","чтобы-оставаться"]·ES["Reposan","moraba","para-reposar","permanecen","pose-sobre-él","reposará","reposará-","y-moraría","y-reposó"]·SW["hayakae","kukaa","lilikaa","lilikaa-","na-ikae","na-kupumzika","na-likakaa","wanalala"]·TR["-için-durmak","durmaz","dururdu","dururdu-","konaklıyordu","konasın-","ve-dinlenirdim","ve-durdu","yatacaklar"]·urd["اور-ٹھہرا","بس-گئے","وَ-رَہوں","ٹکتے-ہیں","ٹھہرا-تھا","ٹھہرتا","ٹھہرنے-کو","ٹھہرے"]
5. Hifil: place, settle someone — The Hifil causative stem meaning to place or settle someone or something in a location by authoritative action. God 'placed' the cherubim east of Eden (Gen 3:24), Joshua 'set up' the Tabernacle at Shiloh (Josh 18:1), and the psalmist warns against letting wickedness 'settle' in one's tent (Job 11:14, Ps 7:5). Arabic وَأَسْكَنَ (Form IV) and Spanish hicieron habitar confirm the causative-agentive reading. Distinguished from the Piel (sense 3) primarily by context and the Hifil's emphasis on the agent's authority over the placement. 6×
AR["تُسْكِنْ","لِيُسْكِنْ","وَ-أقاموا","وَ-أَسْكَنَ","وَأَسْكَنَ","وَأُسْكِنُ"]·ben["আর-আমি-বসতি-স্থাপন-করব","আর-স্থাপন-করলেন","এবং-তিনি-বাস-করিয়েছিলেন","এবং-স্থাপন-করলেন","তাক-বাস-করাও","বাস-করতে-দিও"]·DE["lass-ihn-lay","und-er-settled","und-setzen-hinauf","und-stellte","und-wohnen","wohnte"]·EN["and-I-will-cause-to-dwell","and-he-settled","and-placed","and-set-up","let-dwell","let-him-lay"]·FR["demeurer","et-demeurer","et-placer-en-haut","et-plaça","habiter"]·heb["ו-השכינו","ו-השכנתי","ו-ישכן","ישכן","תשכן"]·HI["और-बसाया","और-मैं-बैठाऊँगा","बसने-दे","बसाए"]·ID["dan-Aku-menjadikan-tinggal","dan-Dia-menempatkan","dan-mendirikan","dan-menempatkan","diletakkan","membiarkan-tinggal"]·IT["abito'","dimorare","e-abito'","e-dimorare","e-eresse","e-placed"]·jav["lan-Kawula-badhe-mapanaken","lan-mapanaken","lan-masang","mapan","maringi-dedalem","saha-Panjenengan-sampun-ndadosaken-manggen"]·KO["거하게-하라","거하게-하리로다","거하게-하셨나이다","그리고-두셨다","그리고-세웠다","그리하여-내가-살게-하리라"]·PT["deixes-habitar","e-colocou","e-farei-habitar","e-fez-habitar","e-fizeram-habitar","faça-habitar"]·RU["дай-жить","и-поселил-Он","и-поселю","и-поставил","и-поставили","повергнет"]·ES["e-hicieron-habitar","e-hizo-habitar","haga-habitar","permites-habitar","y-haré-habitar","y-puso"]·SW["aulaze","na-akawakalisha","na-akaweka","na-nitawafanya-kukaa","na-wakasimamisha","usiache"]·TR["barındır","ve-konduracakğım","ve-koydular","ve-yerleştirdi","yerleştirsin"]·urd["اور-بساؤں-گا","اور-بسایا","بسا-دے","بسنے-دے"]
6. Qal passive: be inhabited — A stative or passive Qal sense meaning 'to be inhabited,' used of cities or regions that will or will not have residents. Isaiah 13:20 declares Babylon 'shall never be inhabited,' Jeremiah 46:26 and 50:39 echo the same desolation oracle. Arabic passive تُسْكَنُ and Spanish será habitada confirm the passive reading. These prophetic uses powerfully reverse the verb's positive connotations—the God who causes his Name to dwell can also decree that a place shall never again be dwelt in. 3×
AR["تُسْكَنُ","تُعْمَرُ","يُقَامُ-فِيهَا"]·ben["বাস-করবে","সে-বাস-করবে"]·DE["wohnen"]·EN["it-shall-be-inhabited","she-will-be-dwelt-in"]·FR["demeurer"]·heb["תשכון"]·HI["टिकेगा","बसी-होगी","रहेगी"]·ID["akan-didiami","didiami","dihuni"]·IT["dimorare"]·jav["badhe-kaenggen","badhé-dipundunungi","dipunenggen"]·KO["거하겠다-그것이","머무르리라","머물리라"]·PT["haverá-moradores","será-habitada"]·RU["будет-населена","будет-обитаема","будут-жить"]·ES["se-morará","será-habitada","será-morada"]·SW["hadi","itakaliwa","kaliwa"]·TR["ikamet-edilecek","ikâmet-edecek","oturulacak"]·urd["بسے-گا","بسے-گی","وہ-آباد-ہو-گا"]
Related Senses
H5921a 1. upon, on, over (spatial) (5443×)H0413 1. directional: to, toward (5366×)H1121a 1. son, male offspring, descendant (4914×)H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)H4428 1. king, human ruler (2518×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)H6440 1. before, in front of (spatial) (1870×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H3027 1. physical hand (body part) (1596×)H1697 1. word, speech, utterance (1235×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
שָׁכַן, שָׁכֵ֑ן, vb. settle down, abide, dwell (NH id.; Ecclus 43:17d +; Ph. שכן Lzb375; Aramaic שְׁכֵין; Syriac ܫܟܶܢ, all dwell; Arabic سَكَنَ rest, dwell, cf. Assyrian šakânu, set, lay, deposit, set up (a dwelling), intrans. be situated (of city), maškanu, place, dwelling-place);— Qal Pf. 3 ms. שׁ׳ Ex 40:35 + 5 times; שָׁכֵ֑ן Dt 33:12 + 2 times, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יִשְׁכֹּן Gn 16:12 +;…