7777. Shuw'al

Lexical Summary

Shuw'al: Fox

Original Word: שׁוּעָל
Part of Speech: proper name, of a location; proper name, masculine
Transliteration: Shuw`al
Pronunciation: shoo-ahl'
Phonetic Spelling: (shoo-awl')
KJV: Shual
Word Origin: [the same as H7776 (שׁוּעָל שׁוּעָל - foxes)]

1. Shual, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Shual

The same as shuw'al; Shual, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine -- Shual.

see HEBREW shuw'al

Brown-Driver-Briggs

II. שׁוּעָל proper name, of a location district in Israel; — ׳אֶרֶץ שׁ 1 Samuel 13:17 (דֶּרֶךְ עָפְרָה); not identified. — See also ׳חֲצַר שׁ above

III. שׁוּעָל

proper name, masculine in Asher; — 1 Chronicles 7:36, Σουλα, A Σουαλ, ᵐ5^L Σουαν.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Shuʿal (Strong’s Hebrew 7777) occurs twice in the Old Testament, once designating a territory raided by the Philistines and once naming a descendant of Asher. Built on a root that elsewhere denotes the fox or jackal, the term carries both geographical and personal significance as well as a broader symbolic resonance within Scripture.

Biblical References

• 1 Samuel 13:17 – “And raiding parties went out of the camp of the Philistines in three divisions. One division headed toward Ophrah in the land of Shual.”
• 1 Chronicles 7:36 – “The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, and Imrah.”

Historical and Geographical Setting: The Land of Shual

When Saul’s fledgling monarchy faced Philistine domination, the enemy sent three raiding columns to terrorize the highlands (1 Samuel 13:17-18). One column marched toward Ophrah “in the land of Shual.” The context places Shual in Benjamin’s northern sector, on an approach that links the hill country to the Jordan Valley. Its mention highlights the Philistines’ deep penetration into Israel’s heartland and underscores the precariousness of Israelite security before Jonathan’s daring attack in the next chapter. The incursion into Shual therefore illustrates both the severity of the Philistine threat and the strategic importance of the central ridge route that later kings, prophets, and armies would continually contest.

Shual in the Genealogies of Asher

In 1 Chronicles 7:30-40 the Chronicler rehearses Asher’s family lines to affirm that every tribe, even those settled on the northern fringe, belongs to the covenant community. Named among Zophah’s sons, Shual represents a single household, yet his inclusion proclaims God’s detailed remembrance of individuals. The listing also helps frame the later narratives of faithful remnants from Asher who return to Judah for Hezekiah’s Passover (2 Chronicles 30:11). By preserving such names, Scripture threads together tribal history, worship, and eventual restoration.

Symbolic Associations of the Fox

The underlying noun for “fox” or “jackal” appears in colorful scenes: Samson releases three hundred foxes (Judges 15:4-5); Solomon’s Song warns, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards” (Song of Songs 2:15); Ezekiel likens false prophets to foxes among the ruins (Ezekiel 13:4); and Jesus calls Herod “that fox” (Luke 13:32). These texts connect the animal with cunning, destructiveness, and spiritual danger. Although the proper name Shual in 1 Samuel 13 and 1 Chronicles 7 functions historically rather than figuratively, the lexical backdrop invites reflection: places and people bearing the word “fox” remind readers to stay alert to subtle threats—be they Philistine raids, false teaching, or moral compromise.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty Amid National Crisis – The Philistines’ advance into Shual sets the stage for the Lord’s deliverance through Jonathan (1 Samuel 14). Even when enemy forces occupy Israelite territory, God remains able to save “whether by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6).
2. Covenant Memory – Genealogical preservation of a minor Asherite named Shual testifies that no lineage is forgotten before God. This counters any notion that spiritual significance rests on size or renown.
3. Vigilance Against Cunning Opposition – From literal foxes in Samson’s fields to metaphorical foxes among prophetic ranks, Scripture treats sly destruction seriously. The land of Shual’s vulnerability in Saul’s day urges believers to guard their own “vineyards.”

Lessons for Ministry Today

• Strategic Defense and Faith – Like ancient Israel, congregations must discern enemy inroads—doctrinal, moral, or cultural—and respond in faith rather than fear.
• Valuing Every Believer – The Chronicler’s care for names such as Shual models pastoral attentiveness to individuals who might otherwise fade into obscurity.
• Exposing Subtle Dangers – Whether false prophecy (Ezekiel 13:4) or political manipulation (Luke 13:32), leaders are called to “catch the little foxes” before they spoil spiritual fruitfulness.

Shual therefore stands as more than an obscure locale or ancestor. Within the biblical narrative it marks the front lines of conflict, the breadth of covenant inclusion, and a perpetual summons to spiritual watchfulness.

Forms and Transliterations

וְשׁוּעָ֖ל ושועל שׁוּעָֽל׃ שועל׃ shuAl veshuAl wə·šū·‘āl wəšū‘āl

Englishman's Concordance

1 Samuel 13:17
HEB: אֶל־ אֶ֥רֶץ שׁוּעָֽל׃
NAS: Ophrah, to the land of Shual,
KJV: unto the land of Shual:
INT: to the land of Shual

1 Chronicles 7:36
HEB: ס֧וּחַ וְחַרְנֶ֛פֶר וְשׁוּעָ֖ל וּבֵרִ֥י וְיִמְרָֽה׃
NAS: Harnepher, Shual, Beri
KJV: and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri,
INT: Suah Harnepher Shual Beri and Imrah

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7777
2 Occurrences

šū·‘āl — 1 Occ.
wə·šū·‘āl — 1 Occ.