Lexical Summary saqal: To stone, to pelt with stones Original Word: סָקַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cast, gather out, throw stones, surely A primitive root; properly, to be weighty; but used only in the sense of lapidation or its contrary (as if a delapidation) -- (cast, gather out, throw) stone(-s), X surely. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to stone, put to death by stoning NASB Translation cast (1), remove (1), removed stones (1), stone (7), stoned (6), stoning (1), surely be stoned (2), threw (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [סָקַל] verb stone, put to death by stoning, also (Pi`el) free from stones (appears like denominative, but noun unknown; Late Hebrew סְקִילָא execution by stoning); — Qal Perfect2masculine singular suffix וּסְקַלְתּוֺ consecutive Deuteronomy 13:11; 3masculine plural suffix וּסְקָלֻנִי consecutive Exodus 17:4; 2masculine plural וּסְקַלְתֶּם consecutive Deuteronomy 22:24, etc.; Imperfect3masculine plural יִסְקְלוּ Joshua 7:25, suffix יִסְקְלֻהוּ 1 Kings 21:13, etc.; Imperative masculine plural suffix מִקְלֻהוּ 1 Kings 21:10; Infinitive absolute סָקוֺל Exodus 19:13; Exodus 21:28; construct suffix סָקְלוֺ 1 Samuel 30:6; — pelt with stones, stone to death (as penalty) with accusative of person or animal., Exodus 8:22; Exodus 17:4 (both J E) 1 Samuel 30:6; 1 Kings 21:10, absolute Exodus 19:3; Exodus 21:28 (JE); with accusative of person + בְּ instrumental בָּאֲבָנִים Deuteronomy 13:11; Deuteronomy 17:5; Deuteronomy 22:21,24; Joshua 7:25; 1 Kings 21:13. Niph`al Imperfect3masculine singular יִסָּקֵל be stoned to death Ezekiel 19:13; Ezekiel 21:28; Ezekiel 21:29; Ezekiel 21:32 (JE). Pi`el Imperfect3masculine singular יְסַקֵּל 2 Samuel 16:6,13, suffix יְסַקְּלֵהוּ Isaiah 5:2; Imperative masculine plural סַקְּלוּ Isaiah 62:10; — 1 stone, pelt with stones, with accusative of person + בָּאֲבָנִים 2 Samuel 16:6, accusative omitted 2 Samuel 16:13 ("" עִמַּר בֶּעָפָר). 2 free vineyard (accusative) from stones (Ges§ 52h) Isaiah 5:2; so also 2 Samuel 4:6, reading participle feminine מְסַקְּלָה חִטִּים lo, the portress was cleansing what from stones (for ᵑ0 ׳לֹקְּחֵי ח), so We Dr Bu Kit Löhr HPS, after ᵐ5; (> reading however mostly סֹלְקָה, Qal Participle); סַקְּלוּ מֵאֶבֶן Isaiah 62:10 free (highway) from stones. Pu`al Perfect סֻקַּל be stoned to death 1 Kings 21:14,15. — Not in HP; these and other writings (except above) use synonym רגס, compare BrHexateuch 73. סַר see סרר. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Range of Usage סָקַל (saqal) denotes the throwing or removal of stones. Most occurrences concern the communal act of pelting an offender to death; two passages (Isaiah 5:2; Isaiah 62:10) describe clearing stones from land or roadway. The breadth of the verb therefore spans judgment, hostility, and cultivation. Judicial Stoning in Israelite Law Under the Mosaic economy stoning was the prescribed penalty for capital offenses such as idolatry (Deuteronomy 13:10), blasphemy, persistent rebellion, or certain sexual sins (Deuteronomy 22:21, 24). The practice emphasized covenant fidelity: “Stone him to death, because he tried to turn you away from the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 13:10). Execution was carried out by the whole community, normally “outside the camp” (cf. Numbers 15:35–36, using a cognate), underscoring the corporate responsibility to purge evil (Deuteronomy 17:5-7). Community Responsibility and Deterrence Because the congregation itself cast the stones, each Israelite affirmed the righteousness of the law and was reminded of sin’s gravity. False testimony that led to wrongful conviction incurred the same penalty (Deuteronomy 19:16-19), protecting judicial integrity. Fear of such public, participatory justice served as a deterrent: “All Israel will hear and be afraid” (Deuteronomy 17:13). Protection of Holiness and Covenant Fidelity Stoning incidents in the narrative books reveal how the penalty guarded Israel’s holiness. Achan was stoned at the Valley of Achor for violating the ban on Jericho’s spoil (Joshua 7:25). Naboth’s murder by false witness (1 Kings 21:10-15) shows how corrupt leaders could pervert this ordinance, yet the subsequent prophetic judgment upon Ahab and Jezebel reaffirms that God defends the innocent and condemns misuse of His statutes. Hostile Threats and Vigilante Violence Several texts report threatened or attempted stoning apart from formal trial. The enslaved Israelites spoke of Pharaoh stoning them if they sacrificed in Egypt (Exodus 8:26). When water was scarce at Rephidim the people “were almost ready to stone” Moses (Exodus 17:4). Shimei’s assault on David during Absalom’s rebellion illustrates personal hostility expressed by stone-throwing (2 Samuel 16:6, 13). Such episodes contrast lawful, deliberated stoning with mob violence or personal vendetta. Clearing Stones for Fruitfulness Isaiah’s vineyard parable pictures the LORD as One who “cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines” (Isaiah 5:2). Later the prophet calls the returned exiles, “Clear it of stones; raise a banner for the nations” (Isaiah 62:10). Here saqal conveys preparation for growth and welcome, anticipating the Messianic kingdom where obstacles to righteousness and inclusion are removed. Symbolic and Prophetic Applications The penalty of stoning graphically portrays the wages of sin (Romans 6:23) and the necessity of substitutionary atonement. Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 7:58-60) echoes Achan and Naboth, showing how the New Covenant community likewise faces opposition when witnessing to God’s truth. Conversely, clearing stones prefigures the Gospel’s call to prepare hearts for the Seed of the word (Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21). Messianic Reflections and New Testament Continuity Though saqal itself appears only in the Hebrew Scriptures, its themes culminate in Jesus Christ. He repeatedly escaped unlawful stoning attempts (John 8:59; 10:31), yet ultimately bore judgment outside the city (Hebrews 13:12), fulfilling the law’s requirement for the condemned to die “outside the camp.” By satisfying divine justice, He removes the “stones” of judgment and opens a highway of holiness for all nations (Isaiah 62:10; John 14:6). Practical Ministry Implications 1. Proclamation: Preachers can employ the imagery of stoning to convey both the seriousness of sin and the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement. Select Biblical Occurrences Exodus 17:4; Exodus 21:28-29, 32; Deuteronomy 13:10; Deuteronomy 22:21, 24; Joshua 7:25; 1 Samuel 30:6; 2 Samuel 16:6, 13; 1 Kings 21:10, 13-15; Isaiah 5:2; Isaiah 62:10. Forms and Transliterations וְסִקְלֻ֖הוּ וַֽיְסַקְּלֵ֗הוּ וַיְסַקֵּ֤ל וַיִּסְקְל֥וּ וַיִּסְקְלֻ֥הוּ וּסְקַלְתֶּ֨ם וּסְקַלְתָּ֥ם וּסְקַלְתּ֥וֹ וּסְקָלֻֽנִי׃ וּסְקָלוּהָ֩ ויסקל ויסקלהו ויסקלו וסקלהו וסקלוה וסקלני׃ וסקלתו וסקלתם יִסְקְלֻֽנוּ׃ יִסָּקֵ֔ל יִסָּקֵ֜ל יִסָּקֵֽל׃ יִסָּקֵל֙ יסקל יסקל׃ יסקלנו׃ לְסָקְל֔וֹ לסקלו סַקְּל֣וּ סָק֤וֹל סָק֨וֹל סֻקַּ֥ל סקול סקל סקלו lə·sā·qə·lōw lesakeLo ləsāqəlōw sā·qō·wl sakkeLu saKol saq·qə·lū sāqōwl saqqəlū sukKal suq·qal suqqal ū·sə·qā·lū·hā ū·sə·qā·lu·nî ū·sə·qal·tām ū·sə·qal·tem ū·sə·qal·tōw usekalTam usekalTem usekalTo usekaluHa usekaLuni ūsəqaltām ūsəqaltem ūsəqaltōw ūsəqālūhā ūsəqālunî vaiyiskeLu vaiyiskeLuhu vaysakKel vaysakkeLehu vesikLuhu way·saq·qə·lê·hū way·saq·qêl way·yis·qə·lū way·yis·qə·lu·hū waysaqqêl waysaqqəlêhū wayyisqəlū wayyisqəluhū wə·siq·lu·hū wəsiqluhū yis·qə·lu·nū yis·sā·qêl yiskeLunu yisqəlunū yissaKel yissāqêlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 8:26 HEB: לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם וְלֹ֥א יִסְקְלֻֽנוּ׃ NAS: before their eyes, will they not then stone us? KJV: before their eyes, and will they not stone us? INT: their eyes not stone Exodus 17:4 Exodus 19:13 Exodus 19:13 Exodus 21:28 Exodus 21:28 Exodus 21:29 Exodus 21:32 Deuteronomy 13:10 Deuteronomy 17:5 Deuteronomy 22:21 Deuteronomy 22:24 Joshua 7:25 1 Samuel 30:6 2 Samuel 16:6 2 Samuel 16:13 1 Kings 21:10 1 Kings 21:13 1 Kings 21:14 1 Kings 21:15 Isaiah 5:2 Isaiah 62:10 22 Occurrences |
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