Word Study for H7593 (שְׁאֵל)

shᵉʼêl /sheh-ale'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁאַל

Meaning(to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand)

KJV usageask, demand, require.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shᵉʼêl — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word shᵉʼêl, represented by H7593, is used for an authoritative inquiry, request, or demand. Appearing 6 times across 6 unique verses, its definition is {to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand}. The word is primarily used in the context of royal commands and official questioning.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H7593 is used exclusively in contexts of royal power and official proceedings. In the book of Daniel, it describes the impossible demand made by the king for his wise men to reveal a secret Daniel 2:27. The Chaldeans note that no king had ever asked such a thing Daniel 2:10 and that what the king requireth is a rare thing only the gods could reveal Daniel 2:11. In contrast, the book of Ezra uses the word for formal inquiries. Elders are asked who authorized the rebuilding of the house of God Ezra 5:9, and their names are asked for official certification Ezra 5:10. The term also describes the authority granted to Ezra, whom King Artaxerxes permits to require whatever is needed from the royal treasurers Ezra 7:21.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words clarify the context of authority and revelation surrounding H7593:

H2324 chăvâʼ (to show): This word is often paired with a demand. What the king demanded H7593 could not be shewn H2324 by his wise men, establishing a challenge that only divine power could meet Daniel 2:27.
H2942 ṭᵉʻêm (decree, command): This word provides the legal or royal basis for a request. An inquiry is asked H7593 about who gave the command H2942 to build the temple Ezra 5:9, linking the question to a matter of official authorization.
H3046 yᵉdaʻ (to know, make known, certify): This term is connected to the purpose of an inquiry. For instance, names were asked H7593 specifically to certify H3046 them in a written record for the king Ezra 5:10.

Theological Significance

The use of H7593 carries significant theological weight, particularly in demonstrating the limits of human authority versus divine sovereignty.

Human vs. Divine Power: In Daniel, a king's demand H7593 is intentionally set as an impossible task to highlight the inadequacy of human wisdom. The Chaldeans admit that only "the gods" can fulfill what the king requireth, setting the stage for God to reveal His supreme power Daniel 2:11.
Authority in Service of God's Will: In Ezra, the word is used in inquiries regarding the rebuilding of God's house Ezra 5:9. It is also used when a king grants Ezra authority to require H7593 whatever is needed for the law of the God of heaven, showing earthly power being directed to accomplish divine purposes Ezra 7:21.
Demand as a Catalyst for Revelation: The king's arrogant demand H7593 in Daniel becomes the direct catalyst for a major prophetic revelation from God. The unanswerable question prompts a divine answer that reveals God's control over human history and kingdoms Daniel 2:27.

Summary

In summary, H7593 shᵉʼêl is a specific term that goes beyond simple asking. It denotes a formal, authoritative inquiry or an absolute demand. Its use in Daniel and Ezra frames critical moments where the authority of earthly kings intersects with the sovereignty of God. Whether through an impossible demand that reveals God's power or an official inquiry about His work, the word highlights the relationship between human requests and divine will.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

שָׁאֵל
שְׁאֵלְנָא
יִשְׁאֲלֶנְ
שְׁאֵל

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezra and Daniel (3 verses each); never once in the other 37.

Ezra

Daniel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.