### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma H7594, שְׁאָל (Shᵉʼâl), is primarily understood as a proper noun, specifically a personal name. Its meaning is directly derived from the verbal root שָׁאַל (sha'al, `{{H7592}}`), which carries the core meaning "to ask, inquire, request, demand, borrow." Thus, Shᵉʼâl literally signifies "request" or "asked (of God)." As a proper name, it would likely have been given to a child as a reflection of a parent's prayer or petition, signifying that the child was "asked for" or "granted in response to a request." Unlike its verbal root, H7594 itself does not denote an action but rather a state or an object of a request.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The proper noun שְׁאָל (Shᵉʼâl, `{{H7594}}`) appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the post-exilic book of Ezra.
* **[[Ezra 10:29]]**: "Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth."
In this sole occurrence, Sheal is listed among the Israelites, specifically from the "sons of Bani," who had taken foreign wives during the period of the return from Babylonian exile. This list in Ezra 10 details those who covenanted with Ezra to put away their foreign wives, a crucial act of repentance and restoration of the community's purity according to the Mosaic Law. The appearance of the name "Sheal" in this context, while not providing direct insight into the individual's character or actions beyond his inclusion in this list, subtly connects him to the broader narrative of the people's "asking" for forgiveness and their "request" for divine restoration and purity. His name, meaning "request," stands as a quiet testimony to the theme of petition and response that permeates the book of Ezra, as the people "ask" for God's favor and guidance in rebuilding their nation and spiritual life.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most significant related word to H7594 is its verbal root, שָׁאַל (sha'al, `{{H7592}}`). This root is highly prominent in the Hebrew Bible, conveying a wide semantic range related to asking:
* **To Ask/Inquire**: As in Abraham's inquiry of God ([[Genesis 18:23]]) or the people's inquiry of the Lord ([[Judges 1:1]]).
* **To Request/Demand**: Such as when the Israelites "asked" for a king ([[1 Samuel 8:5]]), leading to the naming of Saul (שָׁאוּל, Sha'ul, `{{H7586}}`), whose name also derives from this root, meaning "asked for."
* **To Borrow**: As when the Israelites "asked" for articles of silver and gold from the Egyptians ([[Exodus 12:35]]).
* **To Pray/Petition**: Often in the context of seeking God's favor or intervention ([[Psalm 27:4]]).
Other names derived from this root include:
* שָׁאוּל (Sha'ul, `{{H7586}}`): Saul, meaning "asked" or "desired," most famously King Saul.
* שְׁאֵלָה (She'elah, `{{H7596}}`): A feminine noun meaning "petition" or "request," as in Hannah's petition to God for a son ([[1 Samuel 1:27]]).
These connections underscore the pervasive biblical theme of humanity's interaction with the divine through petition and God's sovereign response.
### Theological Significance
While H7594, Sheal, is a proper noun with limited direct theological exposition, its significance is deeply rooted in its etymology from שָׁאַל (sha'al, `{{H7592}}`). The theological weight of "asking" or "requesting" in the biblical narrative is profound:
1. **Divine Responsiveness**: The very existence of names like Sheal or Saul, signifying "asked (of God)," highlights the biblical conviction that God hears and responds to human petitions. This undergirds the concept of prayer as a vital component of the covenant relationship.
2. **Human Dependence**: The act of asking acknowledges human need and dependence on a higher power. It is an expression of humility before God's sovereignty and provision.
3. **Covenantal Interaction**: Asking and receiving are fundamental to the covenant. Israel frequently "asked" for guidance, deliverance, or forgiveness, and God, in His faithfulness, often "granted" their requests, though sometimes with consequences (e.g., the request for a king).
4. **Thematic Resonance in Ezra**: In the book of Ezra, the community's "request" for restoration and their "asking" for divine guidance in purification are central. Sheal's inclusion among those who repented by putting away foreign wives subtly aligns with this overarching theme of the community's earnest desire and petition for spiritual renewal. The name might serve as a quiet reminder that their collective repentance was a "request" for God's favor to re-establish a holy remnant.
### Summary
שְׁאָל (Shᵉʼâl, `{{H7594}}`) is a Hebrew proper noun, a personal name meaning "request" or "asked (of God)." It is derived directly from the common Hebrew verb שָׁאַל (sha'al, `{{H7592}}`), "to ask, inquire, request." This name appears only once in the Bible, in [[Ezra 10:29]], identifying an Israelite among those who had married foreign wives and subsequently agreed to put them away. Though its direct biblical context is brief, the name's etymological root connects it to the profound theological themes of prayer, human petition, and divine responsiveness. It subtly underscores the biblical narrative of God's attentiveness to the cries and requests of His people, whether for a king, for deliverance, or for spiritual purity and restoration, as seen in the post-exilic community of Ezra.
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