Lexical Definition

‎שֶׂכֶל‎ sekel (seh'-kel) understanding ^H:N-M
or שֵׂכֶל sêkel (say'-kel); from ‎שָׂכַל‎

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

• intelligence
• by implication, success

1) prudence, insight, understanding
1a) prudence, good sense
1b) insight, understanding
1c) cunning, craft (bad sense)

See Greek: διανόημα · ἐλεήμων · ἔννοια · σοφία · φρόνησις

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: sokh.le.ta.nu (‎ש‎ׇׂ‎כ‎ְ‎ל‎ְ‎ת‎ָ‎נו‎ּ "insight" שׇׂכְלְתָנוּ)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎שֵׂ֫כֶל‎, ‎שֶׂ֫כֶל‎ noun masculine prudence, insight; — ‎׳‎‎שֵׂ֫‎ absolute Ps 111:10 +, construct Prov 19:11 +; ‎׳‎‎שֶׂ‎ absolute 1Sam 25:3 +; ‎שָׂ֑כֶל‎ Job 17:4 suffix ‎שִׂכְלוֺ‎ Prov 12:8; Dan 8:25 —

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

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

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs References