Lexical Summary shekem: Shoulder, back, ridge Original Word: שְׁכֶם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance place of burdensFrom shakam; the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens; figuratively, the spur of a hill -- back, X consent, portion, shoulder. see HEBREW shakam NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition shoulder NASB Translation back (2), portion (1), shoulder (12), shoulders (7), socket (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. שְׁכֶם noun masculineZephaniah 3:9 shoulder; — absolute ׳שׁ Genesis 48:2 +, שְׁכֶ֑ם Genesis 33:19 +, שֶׁ֑כֶם Psalm 21:13 (whence original *šakm inferred Ol§ 147 a near the end Sta§ 199 a; but ֶ֯ derived from ִ֯ before כ, BaNB 104 Kö ii.l.67, 506); construct שְׁכֶם Genesis 9:23; suffix שִׁכְמוֺ Genesis 49:15 +, שִׁכְמָה (for שִׁכְמָהּ Ges§ 91e) Job 31:22, etc.; — 1 shoulder (sometimes including back of neck; כתף = shoulder-blade): a. as bearing burdens, לִסְבֹּל ׳וַיֵּט שׁ Genesis 49:15 (poem in J; Issachar under figure of ass), compare Genesis 21:14 (E), Genesis 24:15,45; Exodus 12:34, also Genesis 9:23 (all J), Joshua 4:5 (E), Judges 9:48; Isaiah 10:27 ("" צַוָּאר), Isaiah 14:25 (both figurative), Psalm 81:7, so, metaphorical, of responsibility of rule Isaiah 9:5; Isaiah 22:22= (symbolized by key), of accusation as (easy) burden Job 31:36; figurative also אֶחָד ׳לְעָבְדוֺ שׁ Zephaniah 3:9 to serve him (with) one shoulder (as one man), of. Syriac b. in statement of Saul's height, מִשִּׁכְמוֺ וָמַ֫עְלָה גָּכֹהַּ מִכָּלהָֿעָם1Samuel 9:2, compare 1 Samuel 10:23 and (with play on proper name, of a location שְׁכֶם) אַהַד עַלאַֿחֶיךָ ׳נָתַתִּי לְךָ שׁ Genesis 48:22 (E; compare Dr). 2 in General back: כְּהַפְנֹתוֺ שִׁכְמוֺ לָלֶכֶת מֵעִם 1 Samuel 10:9; so ׳תְּשִׁיתֵמוֺ שׁ Psalm 21:13, i.e. make them turn (in flight; compare וְאוֺיְבַי נָתַתָּה לִי עֹרֶף, Psalm 18:41); as beaten ׳מַטֵּה שׁ Isaiah 9:3 ("" שֵׁבֶט הַנֹּנֵשׂ בּוֺ); more anatomical תִמּוֺל ׳כְּתֵפִי מִשּׁ Job 31:22 let my shoulder blade fall from its back. — Hosea 6:9 see II. שְׁכֶם below שִׁכְמָה see foregoing. Topical Lexicon Overview Appearing twenty-one times, the term sketches a theological arc: literal shoulders bearing loads in daily life grow into a figure for responsibility, oppressive yokes, delegated authority, and finally the messianic rule that lifts every burden. Domestic Service in Genesis • Genesis 9:23—Shem and Japheth drape a garment across their shoulders to cover their father, modeling respectful intercession. From Bondage to Freedom Exodus 12:34 shows Israel hastily carrying dough on their shoulders; Psalm 81:6 answers, “I relieved his shoulder of the burden.” The exodus pattern—burden, redemption, rest—anchors later prophetic promises of deliverance. Commemorative Stones and Testimony Joshua 4:5 has one man from each tribe lift a memorial stone “onto his shoulder.” Redeemed shoulders now carry reminders of grace so future generations will ask, “What do these stones mean?” Strength, Power, and its Misuse Abimelech’s men shoulder branches to burn a tower (Judges 9:48), turning physical vigor toward injustice. Saul’s stature—“head and shoulders above the people” (1 Samuel 9:2; 10:23)—illustrates that natural advantage cannot replace obedience. Wisdom Literature and Personal Integrity Job 31:36: “Surely I would carry it on my shoulder,” expressing readiness to bear full accountability. Psalm 21:12 depicts enemies turning their shoulders in flight when God aims His bow, exalting divine supremacy. Prophetic Images of Oppression and Release Repeatedly Isaiah contrasts crushing yokes with promised freedom: Thus the shoulder becomes the battlefield of tyranny versus salvation. Delegated Authority Isaiah 22:22: “I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David.” The shoulder receives not only burdens but stewardship, foreshadowing ultimate Messianic kingship. Messianic Pinnacle Isaiah 9:6 concentrates the motif: “The government will be upon His shoulders.” Every load, yoke, key, and memorial finds fulfillment in the Son who alone can carry the weight of eternal dominion. Eschatological Unity Zephaniah 3:9 promises peoples who “serve Him shoulder to shoulder,” reversing Babel’s division and realizing corporate worship under one Lord. Ministry Applications 1. Share burdens; God’s pattern is to lift, not heap, weights (Psalm 81:6; Galatians 6:2). Summary From patriarchs carrying jars to the King bearing government, Scripture traces how God transforms shoulders from symbols of toil into emblems of liberty and lordship. In Christ the burdened find rest, the weak find strength, and all nations stand shoulder to shoulder in redeemed worship. Forms and Transliterations כמי מִשִּׁכְמ֖וֹ מִשִּׁכְמ֣וֹ משכמו שְׁכֶ֣ם שְׁכֶ֥ם שִׁ֭כְמִי שִׁכְמ֑וֹ שִׁכְמ֔וֹ שִׁכְמ֖וֹ שִׁכְמֶ֔ךָ שִׁכְמָ֔הּ שִׁכְמָ֛הּ שִׁכְמָֽהּ׃ שִׁכְמָֽם׃ שִׁכְמוֹ֙ שֶׁ֑כֶם שכם שכמה שכמה׃ שכמו שכמך שכמם׃ chemi ḵə·mî ḵəmî miš·šiḵ·mōw mishshichMo miššiḵmōw še·ḵem šə·ḵem šeḵem šəḵem sheChem shichMah shichMam shichMecha shichMo šiḵ·māh šiḵ·mām šiḵ·me·ḵā šiḵ·mōw šiḵmāh šiḵmām šiḵmeḵā šiḵmōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 9:23 HEB: וַיָּשִׂ֙ימוּ֙ עַל־ שְׁכֶ֣ם שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ NAS: it upon both their shoulders and walked KJV: [it] upon both their shoulders, and went INT: and laid and their shoulders both and walked Genesis 21:14 Genesis 24:15 Genesis 24:45 Genesis 48:22 Genesis 49:15 Exodus 12:34 Joshua 4:5 Judges 9:48 1 Samuel 9:2 1 Samuel 10:9 1 Samuel 10:23 Job 31:36 Psalm 21:12 Psalm 81:6 Isaiah 9:4 Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 10:27 Isaiah 14:25 Isaiah 22:22 Zephaniah 3:9 21 Occurrences |
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