English · KJV
H7776

שׁוּעָל

shûwʻâl /shoo-awl'/ Ask about this word
Rootor שֻׁעָל · from the same as שֹׁעַל
Meaninga jackal (as a burrower)
KJV usagefox.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shûwʻâl — 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 Hebrew word shûwʻâl, represented by H7776, refers to a jackal or fox. It appears 7 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible. While it can denote the literal animal, it is more often used as a powerful symbol for destruction, cunning, and the desolation that results from judgment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7776 appears in both literal and figurative contexts. The most direct use is in the account of Samson, who caught three hundred foxes to carry out a plan of massive destruction against the Philistines' crops Judges 15:4. Figuratively, it illustrates utter ruin, as when the desolate mountain of Zion is described as a place where foxes walk Lamentations 5:18. The term is also used as a metaphor for false prophets, who are likened to foxes in the deserts Ezekiel 13:4, and as a taunt by Tobiah, who claimed even a single fox could break down the wall of Jerusalem Nehemiah 4:3.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words are used in direct connection with the actions or effects of the fox:

  • H3920 lâkad (to catch): This root is used to describe Samson's act of capturing the animals for his plan, as he went and caught three hundred foxes Judges 15:4.
  • H2254 châbal (to... destroy; ...spoil): This term describes the ruinous impact of the "little foxes" that spoil the vines Song of Solomon 2:15, highlighting how seemingly small things can cause great damage.
  • H6555 pârats (to break... down): In his mockery, Tobiah uses this word to claim that if a fox were to go up on the wall Nehemiah was building, it would break down their stone wall Nehemiah 4:3.

Theological Significance

The symbolic weight of H7776 is significant, often conveying themes of judgment and collapse.

  • Symbol of Desolation and Judgment: The presence of foxes signifies a land abandoned to ruin. Their walking on Mount Zion illustrates the city's forsaken state Lamentations 5:18, and the wicked becoming a "portion for foxes" is a curse of utter defeat and desecration Psalms 63:10.
  • Metaphor for Corrupt Leadership: False prophets are compared to foxes in the desert, suggesting they are wily, self-serving, and bring ruin rather than guidance Ezekiel 13:4.
  • Agent of Destructive Influence: The word is used to represent sources of ruin, whether as a literal instrument of destruction in Samson's hands Judges 15:4 or as a metaphor for the subtle but damaging influences that "spoil the vines" Song of Solomon 2:15.

Summary

In summary, H7776 is far more than a simple name for an animal. It is a recurring biblical symbol of desolation, cunning, and destruction. It illustrates how a single word can carry layers of meaning, from the literal creature used by Samson to a powerful metaphor for the spiritual ruin of a nation and the deceptive nature of its enemies.

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 noun across 7 occurrences, inflected in 2 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.

  • שׁוּעָלִים
  • שׁוּעָל

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H3920 לָכַד a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figurative H2254 חָבַל a primitive root; to wind tightly (as a rope), i.e. to bind; specifically, by a pledge; figuratively, to pervert, destro H6555 פָּרַץ lemma פּרַץ missing vowel, corrected to פָּרַץ; a primitive root; to break out (in many applications, direct and indirec

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 6 of the 39 books. 6 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 33.

1
Judges
1
Nehemiah
1
Psalms
1
Song of Solomon
1
Lamentations
1
Ezekiel

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.