Language Studies

Hebrew Thoughts

shâkhan - שָׁכַן (Strong's #7931)
To dwell

shâkhan 'to dwell' שָׁכַן (Strong's #7931)

The word שָׁכַן shâkhan (Strong's #7931, x129) is the verb behind the well known but non-biblical term שֱׁכִנָה shekhinah, used for the presence of God, a feminine word often seen as describing the Spirit or glory of God.

The first use of the verb is God's "placing" or "causing to dwell" cherubim at the eastern edge of Eden to guard against man's return to the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:24).

Next the verb is used in Noah's blessing of Japheth that he would "dwell, lodge, reside" in the tents of Shem, with Canaan as servant (Genesis 9:27).

Most other references are covered by a very normal "living, dwelling" description without any supernatural overtones.

The first of 43 divine uses is Exodus 24:16, "Now the glory of the LORD abode/rested on Mount Sinai". This is followed by the instructions to build a מִקְדָּשׁ miq'dâsh (Strong's #4720, x74) or "sanctuary, holy set apart place" that God may dwell, perhaps "remain" among them. Whether the place is necessary for the dwelling is debatable since God is said to dwell among the people (Exodus 29:45-46), in Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:3), or via his glory כָּבוּד kâbhôwdh (Strong's #3519, x200) in the land (Psalm 85:9 [Heb.v10]).

The Greek word σκηνη skênê "dwelling" (Strong's #4633, x20), e.g., John 1:14, is thought to be derived from שֱׁכִנָה shekhinah. Compare the consonants s-k-n with sh-k-n, bearing in mind that 'sh' and 's' often transpose as سکن sakana in Arabic equates to שָׁכַן shâkhan. Other Arabic derivative words help to give a fuller picture of both the broader and the core semantic meaning:

سکن sakana "to become still, calm, rest, come to a stop, abate, dwell"
سکن sakan "means or time for rest, dwelling"
سکني sakanîy "housing"
سکن sukun "calm, tranquility, state of rest"
سکنية sukûnîya "immobility, lack of development, quiescence"
سکن sakîna "immanent presence of God, God-inspired calm and peace of mind"

The sense of permanence, immanence, substance, calm stability rather than a transitory temporary intangible presence seems paramount. This is worth bearing in mind given that a well known derivative of שָׁכַן shâkhan is the word מִשְׁכָן mish'kân (Strong's #4908, x139) and is similarly used in the sense of dwelling-place in the Bible, e.g., Psalm 132:5; Habakkuk 1:6 and Ezekiel 37:27 (echoed in Revelation 21:3) apart from its more common use as a common word for the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:1-35) which should, therefore, not be seen as a second-class temporary structure but a legitimate substantial dwelling place.

שָׁכַן shâkhan is often found paralleled with other "dwelling" verbs such as גּוּר gûwr, (Strong's #1481, x98) and יָשַׁב yâshabh (Strong's #3427, x1090), the former which often implies a temporary dwelling and the latter more established, so nothing of any certainty can be read into שָׁכַן shâkhan's sense of permanence.

"LORD, who may abide (גּוּר gûwr) in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell (שָׁכַן shâkhan) in Your holy hill?" (Psalm 15:1)

"All inhabitants (יָשַׁב yâshabh) of the world
and dwellers (שָׁכַן shâkhan) on the earth" (Isaiah 18:3)

It has been muted that שָׁכַן shâkhan is more temporary and יָשַׁב yâshabh more permanent and that the latter is rarely, if ever, used for God's dwelling on earth. In 2 Chronicles Solomon speaks of God's enigmatic שֱׁכִנָה Shekhinah-like dwelling in an obscure "dark cloud" from a root word עָרַף ‘âraph (Strong's #6201, x2) meaning "to drop, descend". The very idea behind the descent of a cloud-like Shekhinah-spirit-presence.

"Then Solomon spoke: 'The LORD said He would dwell (שָׁכַן shâkhan) in the dark cloud. I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell (יָשַׁב yâshabh) in forever.'" (2 Chronicles 6:1-2)

Admittedly, the shift from the ethereal cloud to an exalted house might imply a change of substance in terms of the dwelling. But permanence does not seem to be a prerequisite of יָשַׁב yâshabh over שָׁכַן shâkhan, nor does יָשַׁב yâshabh reserve unto itself the idea of heavenly dwelling to שָׁכַן shâkhan's earthbound residence.

Another derivative of שָׁכַן shâkhan is שָׁכַן shâkhên (Strong's #7934, x20) meaning "near neighbour" used of people and nations. שָׁכַן shâkhên is often used of a next-door neighbour, as during the first Passover (Exodus 12:4), of tent and house dwellers, so no distinction of structure or permanence in relationship. So, certainly, שָׁכַן shâkhan implies proximity, nearness, and with little emphasis on anything intangible or impermanent. Hence the derived word שֱׁכִנָה Shekhinah, used of God's presence, need not be seen as ethereal, distant and vague but substantial, close, neighbourly and dwelling in peace and calm.

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