שְׁכַח

shᵉkach /shek-akh'/ Ask about this word
Meaning(Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁכַח through the idea of disclosure of a covered or forgotten thing; to discover (literally or figuratively)
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word shᵉkach, represented by H7912, means to discover or find. Its root suggests the disclosure of something previously covered or forgotten. It appears 18 times across 15 unique verses, primarily in the books of Daniel and Ezra, where it is used for both literal and figurative discoveries.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H7912 is used to describe the act of locating people, objects, and information. It appears in contexts of deliberate searching, such as when Arioch found a man from the captives of Judah to interpret the king's dream Daniel 2:25 or when a historical record was found in the palace at Achmetha Ezra 6:2. It is also used in relation to character assessment. Daniel's adversaries sought to find occasion against him but could find no error or fault H7844 because he was faithful Daniel 6:4. Ultimately, after his trial in the lions' den, no hurt was found on Daniel, and his innocency H2136 was found before God (Daniel 6:22, Daniel 6:23).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words clarify the process and result of "finding":

  • H1156 bᵉʻâʼ (to seek or ask): This often precedes the act of finding. The presidents and princes sought H1156 to find H7912 an occasion against Daniel Daniel 6:4.
  • H1240 bᵉqar (inquire, make search): This describes the investigation that leads to a discovery. A command is given for a search H1240 to be made in the book of records, where one will find H7912 information about a city's history Ezra 4:15.
  • H3046 yᵉdaʻ (to know): This is often the outcome of finding something. After a search is made and it is found that a city has a history of rebellion, this truth is then known (Ezra 4:15, Ezra 4:19).

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7912 is significant, often tied to divine judgment and revelation.

  • Moral Verdict: The word is used to deliver a spiritual or moral assessment. In the writing on the wall, King Belshazzar is weighed in the balances and found wanting Daniel 5:27, signifying God's judgment against him. Conversely, innocency H2136 was found in Daniel before God Daniel 6:22.
  • Divine Endowments: God-given qualities are "found" in individuals. In Daniel, an excellent spirit, knowledge H4486, understanding H7924, and wisdom H2452 were found (Daniel 5:11, Daniel 5:12, Daniel 5:14).
  • Irrevocable Judgment: The absence of finding something demonstrates the totality of divine action. After the stone strikes the great image, its pieces are carried away by the wind so that no place was found for them, signifying complete destruction Daniel 2:35.

Summary

In summary, H7912 moves beyond a simple physical act of discovery. It serves as a key term in narratives of political intrigue and divine intervention, highlighting the process of seeking and uncovering truth. Whether searching for historical records, assessing a person's character, or revealing a divine verdict, shᵉkach illustrates the moment of revelation where what was hidden—be it an object, a fault, or a spiritual truth—is brought to light.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 18 occurrences, inflected in 10 grammatical forms.

  • Hitpael Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 5×
  • Hitpael Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 3×
  • Haphel Perfect 3rd Plural Masculine 2×
  • Hiphil Infinitive Construct 2×
  • Haphel Imperfect 1st Plural common gender 1×
  • Haphel Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Haphel Perfect 1st Plural common gender 1×
  • Haphel Perfect 1st Singular common gender 1×
  • Hiphil Conjunction+Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Hitpael Perfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st
First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Infinitive
The verb as a noun — "to do".
Hiphil
The causative stem — the subject causes the action.
Conjunction+Imperfect
Imperfect joined by a simple "and".
Construct
Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 15 verses across 2 books. Most frequent in Daniel (11 verses).

4
Ezra
11
Daniel

Verse Explorer

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