English · KJV
H7945

שֶׁל

shel /shel/ Ask about this word
Meaningfor the rel. אֲשֶׁר; used with prepositional prefix, and often followed by some pronominal affix; on account of, whatsoever, whichsoever
KJV usagecause, sake.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shel — 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 shel, represented by H7945, is a relative term used to indicate cause or sake. It is derived from the relative pronoun ʼăsher H834 and appears 3 times in 3 unique verses, translating to phrases like "on account of" or "for whose cause."

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The usage of H7945 is concentrated on establishing causality and reason. In the book of Jonah, it is used first by the mariners who cast lots to determine "for whose cause" a great evil had come upon them Jonah 1:7. Shortly after, Jonah himself uses the term to take responsibility, declaring that the tempest was upon them "for my sake" Jonah 1:12. In Ecclesiastes, it is used to describe the limits of human understanding, noting that even if a man should labour to seek out God's work, he cannot find it Ecclesiastes 8:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which shel appears:

  • H834 ʼăsher (who, which, what, that): As the relative pronoun from which H7945 is derived, this word establishes the connection or relationship in a clause. It is used in phrases like "that which" to introduce a subject or reason Genesis 22:18.
  • H7451 raʻ (bad or (as noun) evil): This term often describes the negative event or state for which a cause is sought. The mariners in Jonah used lots to find the cause of the evil upon them Jonah 1:7.
  • H1245 bâqash (to search out): This word for seeking is linked to H7945 in the context of human effort. In Ecclesiastes, a man may labour H5998 to seek out an answer, highlighting the reason for his toil Ecclesiastes 8:17.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7945 is centered on accountability and divine sovereignty.

  • Accountability for Sin: The primary use of H7945 in the book of Jonah establishes a direct link between human action and divine consequence. The sailors search for the "cause" of the evil Jonah 1:7, and Jonah admits it is for his "sake" Jonah 1:12, illustrating the principle of personal responsibility before God.
  • The Limits of Human Knowledge: In Ecclesiastes, H7945 is part of a statement on the futility of man's effort to fully comprehend God's work. Though a wise man H2450 may labour to seek it out H1245, he cannot find H4672 it, highlighting God's inscrutable sovereignty Ecclesiastes 8:17.
  • Identifying the Source of Calamity: The question "for whose cause" Jonah 1:7 reveals a worldview where significant misfortune has a specific origin. This drives the characters to identify the source of the disruption in order to restore peace, as seen when the sea H3220 becomes calm H8367 after Jonah is cast out.

Summary

In summary, shel H7945 is a rare but potent Hebrew word that pinpoints reason and accountability. Though appearing only three times, its usage is critical in the narratives where it is found. It frames the dramatic search for the cause of a life-threatening tempest H5591 in Jonah and underscores the philosophical limits of human inquiry in Ecclesiastes. Ultimately, H7945 serves to connect actions to their consequences, whether it is a person's sin bringing about a storm or a person's labor failing to grasp the full work H4639 of God H430.

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 suffix and pronoun across 4 occurrences, inflected in 4 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.

  • מִי
  • נוּ
  • י
  • שֶׁ

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.

H834 אֲשֶׁר a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) H7451 רַע from רָעַע; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), di H1245 בָּקַשׁ a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after; ask H5998 עָמַל a primitive root; to toil, i.e. work severely and with irksomeness; (take) labour (in). H2450 חָכָם from חָכַם; wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful); cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man). H4672 מָצָא a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figur

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 Jonah (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

1
Ecclesiastes
2
Jonah

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.