Word Study for H8262 (שָׁקַץ)

shâqats /shaw-kats'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto be filthy, i.e. (intensively) to loathe, pollute

KJV usageabhor, make abominable, have in abomination, detest

Idioms & phrasesidiom utterly.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shâqats — 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 shâqats, represented by H8262, is a primitive root signifying an intense form of loathing. Its definition is to be filthy, and more intensively, to loathe, pollute, abhor, make abominable, or utterly detest. This powerful term appears 8 times across 6 unique verses, primarily establishing a required attitude of revulsion towards things considered ritually or morally impure.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H8262 is heavily concentrated in the legal codes of Leviticus. It is used to command the Israelites what they "shall have in abomination" among various animals, forbidding their consumption Leviticus 11:13. The command extends beyond simply avoiding these creatures; it instructs the people not to "make your souls abominable" by them Leviticus 20:25 or by creeping things Leviticus 11:43. The intensity of the word is highlighted in Deuteronomy 7:26, where the command to "utterly detest" an idol or cursed thing is repeated for emphasis. In a contrasting use, Psalms 22:24 states that God has not "abhorred" the affliction of the afflicted, using H8262 to describe an action God refrains from.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the scope of what is to be abhorred:

H8441 tôwʻêbah (abomination): This term often refers to the object of loathing, such as an idol or a disgusting moral act. Israel is commanded to utterly detest (shâqats) any tôwʻêbah brought into the house Deuteronomy 7:26.
H8581 taʻâb (to loathe): Used in parallel with H8262, this word reinforces the command for intense moral detestation. In Deuteronomy 7:26, the people are told to "utterly detest" and "utterly abhor" a cursed thing.
H2930 ṭâmêʼ (to be foul, unclean): This root word for defilement is the consequence of failing to abhor what is forbidden. Making oneself abominable (shâqats) results in being defiled (ṭâmêʼ) Leviticus 11:43.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H8262 is significant in understanding holiness and devotion.

Commanded Revulsion: The term is not merely a description of a feeling but a divine command. It establishes that part of being holy is to cultivate a deep-seated, visceral rejection of what God has declared unclean or abominable Leviticus 20:25.
Protection from Idolatry: The command to "utterly detest" idols and associated objects serves as a spiritual boundary, protecting Israel from the corrupting influence of pagan worship by demanding a response of absolute horror rather than curiosity or tolerance Deuteronomy 7:26.
Divine Compassion: The use of H8262 in Psalms 22:24 reveals a crucial aspect of God's character. Unlike humans who might be repulsed by suffering, God does not abhor the afflicted, demonstrating that He draws near to the suffering rather than turning away in disgust.

Summary

In summary, H8262 shâqats is far more than a simple word for dislike. It is a cornerstone of Old Testament purity laws, defining a required attitude of intense revulsion toward both ritual and moral impurity. It functions as a command that shapes the believer's response to the profane, while its absence in God's reaction to suffering highlights His profound compassion. The word illustrates how an internal disposition of abhorrence was a key element in maintaining covenant faithfulness and separation unto God.

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 7 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Piel Imperfect 2nd Plural Masculine 4×
Piel Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
Piel Infinitive Construct 1×
Piel Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
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".
Piel: The intensive stem — strengthened or emphatic action.
Construct: Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

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 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Leviticus (4 verses); never once in the other 36.

Leviticus

Deuteronomy

Psalms

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, 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.