### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **shᵉkâbâh**, represented by `{{H7902}}`, is derived from the root for "to lie down" `{{H7901}}`. Its base definition is **a lying down (of dew, or for the sexual act)**, and it is used idiomatically for **carnally, copulation, lay,** and **seed**. It appears 9 times across 9 unique verses in the Bible, primarily within legal and narrative contexts.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its usage, `{{H7902}}` has two distinct applications. The most frequent use refers to sexual **copulation**, often within the framework of ceremonial law. The phrase "seed of **copulation**" appears in Leviticus to describe emissions that cause temporary uncleanness [[Leviticus 15:16-17]]. It is also used in a legal context to specify when a man lies with a woman **carnally** [[Numbers 5:13]]. A different, non-sexual meaning is found in Exodus, where it describes the dew that **lay** on the ground before the appearance of manna [[Exodus 16:13]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the meaning and context of `{{H7902}}`:
* `{{H7901}}` **shâkab** (to lie down): As the primitive root, this word describes the general act of lying down for rest or sexual connection. It is used to describe the action of a man who shall **lie** with a woman in an act of copulation [[Leviticus 15:18]].
* `{{H2233}}` **zeraʻ** (seed): This word is consistently paired with `{{H7902}}` to form the idiom for a seminal emission, translated as "**seed** of copulation" [[Leviticus 15:16]] or used to specify the act as **carnally** [[Numbers 5:13]].
* `{{H2930}}` **ṭâmêʼ** (to be foul, ... unclean): The direct consequence of the act described by `{{H7902}}` is often a state of being ceremonially **unclean**. The law specifies that after such an act, individuals shall "be **unclean** until the even" [[Leviticus 15:18]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7902}}` is centered on the Old Testament purity laws.
* **Ceremonial Uncleanness:** The primary function of the term is to define a specific physical act that results in ceremonial uncleanness. This state required ritual washing for both the people and any garments or skins involved, re-establishing purity before God [[Leviticus 15:17-18]].
* **Social Justice:** In [[Leviticus 19:20]], the word is used in a law that distinguishes justice based on social status. A man who lies **carnally** with a betrothed bondmaid is to be scourged, but they are not put to death "because she was not free" `{{H2666}}`, demonstrating a specific legal application.
* **Divine Provision:** The term's use in describing the dew that **lay** on the ground connects it to God's miraculous provision of manna for Israel in the wilderness, linking a natural process to a foundational act of divine care [[Exodus 16:14]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7902}}` **shᵉkâbâh** is a precise term with a dual focus. While it can literally signify a "lying down," as with the dew [[Exodus 16:13]], it is primarily used to denote the act of sexual **copulation** within the legal code of the Pentateuch. Its significance is tied directly to the laws of ceremonial purity, where the act results in uncleanness that requires cleansing [[Leviticus 15:32]]. The word is therefore key to understanding how the Mosaic Law addressed physical realities to uphold spiritual principles of holiness and justice.
TRV