7922. sekel

Lexicon

sekel: Insight, understanding, prudence, wisdom

Original Word: שֶׂכֶל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: sekel
Pronunciation: SAY-kel
Phonetic Spelling: (seh'-kel)
Definition: Insight, understanding, prudence, wisdom
Meaning: intelligence, success

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

discretion, knowledge, policy, prudence, sense, understanding, wisdom, wise

Or sekel {say'-kel}; from sakal; intelligence; by implication, success -- discretion, knowledge, policy, prudence, sense, understanding, wisdom, wise.

see HEBREW sakal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from sakal
Definition
prudence, insight
NASB Translation
discretion (3), insight (4), intelligent* (1), repute (1), sense (1), shrewdness (1), understanding (4), wisdom (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

שֵׂ֫כֶל, שֶׂ֫כֶל noun masculine prudence, insight; — ׳שֵׂ֫ absolute Psalm 111:10 +, construct Proverbs 19:11 +; ׳שֶׂ absolute 1 Samuel 25:3 +; שָׂ֑כֶל Job 17:4; suffix שִׂכְלוֺ Proverbs 12:8; Daniel 8:25; —

1 prudence, good sense: ׳טוֺבַת שׂ woman of good sense 1 Samuel 25:3.

2 insight, understanding: "" בִינָה 1 Chronicles 22:12; 2Chron 2:11, compare Job 17:4; טוֺב ׳שׂ Proverbs 3:4; Proverbs 13:15; Psalm 111:10; 2Chronicles 30:22; ׳אִישׂ שׂ Ezra 8:18; ׳יוֺעֵץ בְּשׂ 1 Chronicles 26:14; בְּעָלָיו ׳מְקוֺר חַיִּים שׂ Proverbs 16:22; restrains from anger Proverbs 19:11, wins praise Proverbs 12:8, fool despises מִלִּים ׳שׂ Proverbs 23:9; ׳שׂוֺם שׂ Nehemiah 8:8 ("" הֵבִין) set forth (the) understanding (i.e. the meaning).

3 bad sense, cunning, craft, Daniel 8:25.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root verb שָׂכַל (sakal), which means to be prudent, to act wisely, or to prosper.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1270 (dianoia): Refers to the mind, understanding, or intellect, often used in the New Testament to describe the faculty of thinking or reasoning.
• G1655 (eleēmōn): While primarily meaning merciful or compassionate, it can imply a wise and understanding heart in certain contexts.
• G1771 (ennoia): Denotes thought, intention, or purpose, reflecting a depth of understanding or insight.
• G4678 (sophia): Translates to wisdom, a key concept in both the Old and New Testaments, often associated with divine insight and understanding.
• G5428 (phronēsis): Refers to practical wisdom or prudence, highlighting the application of intelligence in making sound decisions.

In summary, שֶׂכֶל (sekel) is a multifaceted term that encompasses intelligence, insight, and the resulting success from wise decision-making. It is a quality highly valued in the biblical narrative, often linked to the fear of the LORD and the pursuit of godly wisdom.

Usage: The term שֶׂכֶל is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a quality of wisdom or understanding that leads to successful outcomes. It is often associated with the ability to discern and make prudent decisions.

Context: • שֶׂכֶל (sekel) appears in various contexts within the Hebrew Scriptures, often highlighting the importance of wisdom and understanding in achieving success. This term underscores the biblical principle that true success is rooted in godly wisdom and discernment.
• In 1 Samuel 25:3, Abigail is described as having "good understanding" (שֶׂכֶל), which is contrasted with her husband Nabal's foolishness. Her intelligence and discernment lead to a successful intervention with David.
• In 2 Chronicles 30:22, Hezekiah speaks encouragingly to the Levites who show "good understanding" (שֶׂכֶל) in the service of the LORD, indicating that their insight contributes to the success of their worship.
• Proverbs 3:4-5 emphasizes the value of trusting in the LORD and not relying solely on one's own understanding (שֶׂכֶל), suggesting that divine wisdom surpasses human intelligence.
• Ecclesiastes 10:10 states, "If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success." Here, שֶׂכֶל (translated as "skill") is linked to the idea of achieving success through wise and efficient action.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּשֶׂ֗כֶל בשכל הַמַּשְׂכִּילִ֥ים המשכילים וְשֵֽׂכֶל־ ושכל־ כלו לְשֵׂ֣כֶל לשכל מִּשָּׂ֑כֶל משכל שִׂ֭כְלוֹ שִׂכְל֗וֹ שֵֽׂכֶל־ שֵׂ֣כֶל שֶׂ֔כֶל שֶׂ֙כֶל֙ שכל שכל־ שכלו bə·śe·ḵel beSechel bəśeḵel chelov ham·maś·kî·lîm hammaskiLim hammaśkîlîm ḵə·lōw ḵəlōw lə·śê·ḵel leSechel ləśêḵel miś·śā·ḵel misSachel miśśāḵel śe·ḵel śê·ḵel śê·ḵel- sechel śeḵel śêḵel śêḵel- sichLo śiḵ·lōw śiḵlōw vesechel wə·śê·ḵel- wəśêḵel-

Englishman's Concordance

1 Samuel 25:3
HEB: וְהָאִשָּׁ֤ה טֽוֹבַת־ שֶׂ֙כֶל֙ וִ֣יפַת תֹּ֔אַר
KJV: of good understanding, and of a beautiful
INT: and the woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance

1 Chronicles 22:12
HEB: לְּךָ֤ יְהוָה֙ שֵׂ֣כֶל וּבִינָ֔ה וִֽיצַוְּךָ֖
NAS: give you discretion and understanding,
KJV: give thee wisdom and understanding,
INT: give the LORD discretion and understanding and give

1 Chronicles 26:14
HEB: בְנ֜וֹ יוֹעֵ֣ץ ׀ בְּשֶׂ֗כֶל הִפִּ֙ילוּ֙ גּֽוֹרָל֔וֹת
NAS: a counselor with insight, and his lot
KJV: his son, a wise counsellor,
INT: his son A counselor insight cast lots

2 Chronicles 2:12
HEB: חָכָ֗ם יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙ שֵׂ֣כֶל וּבִינָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר
NAS: endowed with discretion and understanding,
KJV: endued with prudence and understanding,
INT: A wise endowed discretion and understanding who

2 Chronicles 30:22
HEB: כָּל־ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם הַמַּשְׂכִּילִ֥ים שֵֽׂכֶל־ ט֖וֹב
NAS: good insight [in the things] of the LORD.
KJV: the good knowledge of the LORD:
INT: to all the Levites insight showed good

Ezra 8:18
HEB: עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ שֶׂ֔כֶל מִבְּנֵ֣י מַחְלִ֔י
NAS: us a man of insight of the sons
KJV: us a man of understanding, of the sons
INT: and A man of understanding of the sons of Mahli

Nehemiah 8:8
HEB: מְפֹרָ֑שׁ וְשׂ֣וֹם שֶׂ֔כֶל וַיָּבִ֖ינוּ בַּמִּקְרָֽא׃
NAS: to give the sense so that they understood
KJV: and gave the sense, and caused [them] to understand
INT: translating to give the sense understood the reading

Job 17:4
HEB: לִ֭בָּם צָפַ֣נְתָּ מִּשָּׂ֑כֶל עַל־ כֵּ֝֗ן
NAS: their heart from understanding, Therefore
KJV: their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt
INT: their heart have kept understanding and after that

Psalm 111:10
HEB: יִרְאַ֬ת יְהוָ֗ה שֵׂ֣כֶל ט֭וֹב לְכָל־
NAS: A good understanding have all
KJV: a good understanding have all they that do
INT: the fear of the LORD understanding A good have all

Proverbs 3:4
HEB: וּמְצָא־ חֵ֖ן וְשֵֽׂכֶל־ ט֑וֹב בְּעֵינֵ֖י
NAS: and good repute In the sight
KJV: and good understanding in the sight
INT: will find favor repute and good the sight

Proverbs 12:8
HEB: לְֽפִי־ שִׂ֭כְלוֹ יְהֻלַּל־ אִ֑ישׁ
NAS: according to his insight, But one of perverse
KJV: according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse
INT: according to his insight will be praised A man

Proverbs 13:15
HEB: שֵֽׂכֶל־ ט֭וֹב יִתֶּן־
NAS: Good understanding produces favor,
KJV: Good understanding giveth favour:
INT: understanding Good produces

Proverbs 16:22
HEB: מְק֣וֹר חַ֭יִּים שֵׂ֣כֶל בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר
NAS: Understanding is a fountain of life
KJV: Understanding [is] a wellspring
INT: fountain of life Understanding who the discipline

Proverbs 19:11
HEB: שֵׂ֣כֶל אָ֭דָם הֶאֱרִ֣יךְ
NAS: A man's discretion makes him slow
KJV: The discretion of a man deferreth
INT: discretion A man's makes

Proverbs 23:9
HEB: כִּֽי־ יָ֝ב֗וּז לְשֵׂ֣כֶל מִלֶּֽיךָ׃
NAS: For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
KJV: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
INT: for will despise the wisdom of your words

Daniel 8:25
HEB: וְעַל־ שִׂכְל֗וֹ וְהִצְלִ֤יחַ מִרְמָה֙
NAS: And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit
KJV: And through his policy also he shall cause craft
INT: and through his shrewdness to succeed deceit

16 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7922
16 Occurrences

bə·śe·ḵel — 1 Occ.
ḵə·lōw — 1 Occ.
ham·maś·kî·lîm — 1 Occ.
lə·śê·ḵel — 1 Occ.
miś·śā·ḵel — 1 Occ.
śe·ḵel — 9 Occ.
śiḵ·lōw — 1 Occ.
wə·śê·ḵel- — 1 Occ.