English · KJV
H7783

שׁוּק

shûwq /shook/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto run after or over, i.e. overflow
KJV usageoverflow, water.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shûwq — 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 shûwq, represented by H7783, is a primitive root that means to run after or over, and is used to describe an overflow. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible, consistently illustrating a state of superabundance.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H7783 conveys both divine blessing and ripeness for judgment. In Psalm 65, it describes God's abundant provision, as He waterest the earth from "the river of God, which is full of water" to prepare corn for humanity Psalms 65:9. In the context of restoration, the prophet Joel uses it to promise that "the fats shall overflow with wine and oil" as a sign of renewed prosperity Joel 2:24. Conversely, in a prophecy of judgment, the same imagery is used to declare that "the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great" Joel 3:13, indicating that sin has reached its full measure.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the theme of abundance and processing associated with H7783:

  • H3342 yeqeb (fats, press-fat, wine-press): This word refers to the wine-vat or trough that receives the juice from the press. It is the container that is described as overflowing with wine and oil in Joel's prophecies of both blessing and judgment (Joel 2:24, Joel 3:13).
  • H8492 tîyrôwsh (wine): This term for fresh grape-juice or new wine is what fills and overflows the vats in Joel's vision of restoration Joel 2:24. It is a tangible sign of the land's fruitfulness.
  • H4325 mayim (water): This is the element of divine provision in Psalms 65:9. God waters the earth with the "river of God, which is full of water," causing the land to overflow with life and produce.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H7783 is tied to the concept of fullness and its consequences.

  • Divine Blessing and Restoration: The word is used to illustrate the tangible results of God's favor. An overflowing vat of wine or a well-watered earth are signs that God is providing for and restoring His people in abundance (Joel 2:24, Psalms 65:9).
  • Fullness of Iniquity: The imagery of overflow is also applied to wickedness. When the "fats overflow" because wickedness is great, it symbolizes that sin has reached a point where divine judgment is imminent, much like a harvest that is ripe for the sickle Joel 3:13.
  • God as the Source of Abundance: In each use, the overflow points back to a source. In Psalms, it is the "river of God" that waters the earth. In Joel, the overflowing vats are a direct result of either God's blessing or the people's transgression, highlighting His ultimate oversight of both prosperity and judgment.

Summary

In summary, shûwq H7783 is a potent verb that moves beyond a simple description of a liquid spilling over. It encapsulates the idea of a condition reaching its absolute fullness. Whether depicting the overwhelming generosity of God in blessing His creation or the final measure of wickedness that calls for judgment, this word powerfully illustrates that nothing goes unnoticed and that both grace and sin can reach an overflowing point.

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 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • הֵשִׁיקוּ
  • הֵשִׁיקוּ
  • תְּשֹׁקְקֶ

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.

H3342 יֶקֶב from an unused root meaning to excavate; a trough (as dug out); specifically, a wine-vat (whether the lower one, into wh H8492 תִּירוֹשׁ or תִּירֹשׁ; from יָרַשׁ in the sense of expulsion; must or fresh grape-juice (as just squeezed out); by implication (ra H4325 מַיִם dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase

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 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Joel (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

1
Psalms
2
Joel

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.