What does שָׁכַם (šākam) mean in the Bible?
The Hebrew verb shakam describes starting early, often with the practical background of loading people or animals for a journey. Narratives use it when someone rises early to travel or carry out a task.
Hebrew · H7925
שָׁכַם
Literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
שָׁכַםH7925
Pronunciationšākam
What does שָׁכַם (šākam) mean in the Bible?
The Hebrew verb shakam describes starting early, often with the practical background of loading people or animals for a journey. Narratives use it when someone rises early to travel or carry out a task.
Reader summary
Full entry for שָׁכַם (H7925) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7925?
The BSB source-word alignment has 65 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include Again and again (8), got up (7), got up early (7), again (4), Early (3).
Where does שָׁכַם (šākam) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 19:2. Its strongest book concentrations include Jeremiah (11), 1 Samuel (10), Genesis (8), Judges (8).
What This Word Actually Means
The Hebrew verb shakam describes starting early, often with the practical background of loading people or animals for a journey. Narratives use it when someone rises early to travel or carry out a task. Prophetic books repeatedly combine early action with the Lord's persistent sending of messengers or speaking to a resistant people. Wisdom can also question anxious overwork and expose the harm of loud intrusion at daybreak.
Early rising may therefore express readiness, urgency, regular persistence, or simply time of day; it is not a universal measure of diligence or spirituality. Sleep needs vary with age, disability, illness, pregnancy, caregiving, shift work, trauma, and medication. Biblical early-morning scenes do not authorize chronic sleep deprivation, compulsory predawn devotion, or public comparison.
Responsible teaching identifies the stated task and setting, honors rest as a creaturely need, and distinguishes timely obedience from anxious productivity or a leader's demand for unlimited availability.
How the Bible Uses It
Shakam marks an early start for travel, encounter, warning, or work and appears in prophetic idioms of repeated, timely sending. Context determines whether the emphasis is readiness, persistence, urgency, or problematic intrusion.
- Gen.22.3
So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.
Abraham rises early, prepares the donkey, and begins the journey to the place God named in the binding narrative.
- Exod.9.13
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him that this is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.
The Lord tells Moses to rise early and confront Pharaoh with the command to let His people go.
- 1Sam.17.16
For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening to take his stand.
Goliath presents himself morning and evening for forty days as the armies remain in confrontation.
- 2Chr.36.15
Again and again the Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place.
The Lord persistently sends messengers because of compassion for His people and dwelling place.
- Ps.127.2
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved.
The psalm calls anxious early rising and late rest vain while affirming the Lord's gift to His beloved.
- Prov.27.14
If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
A loud blessing given to a neighbor early in the morning is received as a curse rather than kindness.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItAgain and again8×2 Chronicles 36:15, Jeremiah 7:13, Jeremiah 7:25, Jeremiah 11:7
got up7×Genesis 19:27, Genesis 20:8, Genesis 21:14, Genesis 31:55
got up early7×Genesis 22:3, Joshua 6:12, Joshua 8:10, Judges 21:4
again4×Jeremiah 25:3, Jeremiah 25:4, Jeremiah 26:5, Jeremiah 35:15
Early3×Genesis 28:18, Psalms 127:2, Proverbs 27:14
early in the morning3×Joshua 8:14, Judges 7:1, 2 Kings 6:15
Get up early3×Exodus 8:20, Exodus 9:13, 1 Samuel 29:10
they got up3×Numbers 14:40, Joshua 6:15, 2 Chronicles 20:20
like the early2×Hosea 6:4, Hosea 13:3
they got up early2×Judges 19:5, 1 Samuel 1:19
When the people got up2×2 Kings 19:35, Isaiah 37:36
And they got up early1×Genesis 26:31
arose early1×Joshua 7:16
as soon as1×1 Samuel 29:10
But when they got up early1×1 Samuel 5:4
Early the next morning1×2 Chronicles 29:20
every morning1×1 Samuel 17:16
get up1×Judges 9:33
he got up1×Exodus 24:4
he got up early1×Judges 19:8
He rose early1×Exodus 34:4
Let us go early1×Song Of Solomon 7:12
rising early1×Job 1:5
Then you can get up early1×Judges 19:9
Then you can rise early1×Genesis 19:2
they arose1×Exodus 32:6
They got up early in the morning1×1 Samuel 9:26
they rose early1×Zephaniah 3:7
to those who rise early1×Isaiah 5:11
When [Gideon] arose1×Judges 6:38
When they got up early1×2 Kings 3:22
would get up early1×2 Samuel 15:2
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 19:2וְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּ֖םtoThen you can rise earlyConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralGenesis 19:27וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥םtogot upConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 20:8וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨םtogot upConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 21:14וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֣םtogot upConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 22:3וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨םtogot up earlyConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 26:31וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּtoAnd they got up earlyConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralGenesis 28:18וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨םtoEarlyConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularGenesis 31:55וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨םtogot upConjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularExodus 8:20הַשְׁכֵּ֤םtoGet up earlyVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singularExodus 9:13הַשְׁכֵּ֣םtoGet up earlyVerb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 19:2
Aligned rows65
Books represented17
Genesis8Exodus5Numbers1Joshua6Judges81 Samuel102 Samuel12 Kings32 Chronicles3Job1Psalms1Proverbs1Song Of Solomon1Isaiah2Jeremiah11Hosea2Zephaniah1
Source forms
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם9xway·yaš·kêmGenesis 20:8, Genesis 22:3, Genesis 28:18, Genesis 31:55
הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם7xhaš·kêmExodus 9:13, 1 Samuel 17:16, 1 Samuel 29:10, 2 Chronicles 36:15
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ6xway·yaš·kî·mūGenesis 26:31, Judges 21:4, 2 Kings 3:22, 2 Kings 19:35
הַשְׁכֵּ֥ם3xhaš·kêmJeremiah 7:25, Jeremiah 11:7, Jeremiah 25:4
וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣מוּ3xway·yaš·ki·mūNumbers 14:40, 1 Samuel 1:19, 1 Samuel 5:4
הַשְׁכֵּ֤ם2xhaš·kêmExodus 8:20, Jeremiah 7:13
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֥ם2xway·yaš·kêmGenesis 19:27, Joshua 6:12
וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֣ם2xway·yaš·kêmGenesis 21:14, Exodus 24:4
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular20xGenesis 19:27, Genesis 20:8, Genesis 21:14, Genesis 22:3
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural16xGenesis 26:31, Exodus 32:6, Numbers 14:40, Joshua 6:15
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute13x1 Samuel 17:16, 2 Chronicles 36:15, Proverbs 27:14, Jeremiah 7:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural3xGenesis 19:2, Judges 19:9, 1 Samuel 29:10
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular3xExodus 8:20, Exodus 9:13, 1 Samuel 29:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular2x2 Samuel 15:2, Job 1:5
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural construct2xPsalms 127:2, Isaiah 5:11
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular2xHosea 6:4, Hosea 13:3
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Sleep disruption, insomnia, apnea, medication effects, or severe fatigue may require medical care and should not be treated as a spiritual deficit.
- Schedules should provide rest, predictable boundaries, disability accommodation, caregiving flexibility, and shared coverage for urgent work.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that God favors early risers over people whose health, work, or care duties require another schedule.
- Do not claim that sleep deprivation produces revelation, holiness, productivity, or protection.
- Do not claim that every urgent or early request must be obeyed without discernment and safety review.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Rising early denotes urgent readiness and diligent obedience in pursuing God's will or covenant duties.
Source Gloss
literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Rising early denotes urgent readiness and diligent obedience in pursuing God's will or covenant duties.
literally, to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning BDB: start Usage: (arise, be up, get (oneself) up, rise up) early (betimes), morning.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms23
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action23×
Infinitive absolute1Sam 17:16 · 2Chr 36:15 · Jer 7:13 · Jer 7:25 · Jer 11:7 · Jer 25:3 · Jer 25:4 · Jer 29:19 · Jer 32:33 · Jer 35:14 · Jer 35:15 · Jer 44:4 · Prov 27:1413×
Participle activeHos 6:4 · Hos 13:3 · Isa 5:11 · Ps 127:24×
Sequential imperfect1Sam 29:10 · Exod 8:16 · Exod 9:133×
ImperfectJudg 9:331×
CohortativeSong 7:131×
PerfectZeph 3:71×
Word Origins
שָׁכַם is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Shakam describes an early start, but Scripture does not give every early starter the same moral meaning. Abraham's departure in Genesis 22 belongs to a singular, difficult narrative governed by God's stated command and final provision. It cannot justify a parent or leader placing another person at risk because they claim private revelation. Moses rises early to confront Pharaoh, while Goliath repeatedly appears morning and evening to intimidate Israel.
The same timing can accompany faithful witness or sustained threat. Chronicles and Jeremiah use early-rising language for the Lord's persistent sending of prophetic warning, emphasizing patience and repeated address rather than divine sleeplessness. Psalm 127 directly resists anxious work patterns that rise early and stay up late as though human strain secures the household apart from God.
Proverbs 27 adds social wisdom: an early, loud blessing can become inconsiderate intrusion. Faithful application values preparation, punctuality, and persistence while protecting rest, health, family responsibilities, and accessible schedules. A predawn practice may help one person and harm another. Communities should measure service by truthfulness and love, not wake time, visible fatigue, or willingness to answer at all hours.
Creaturely limits are not laziness, and urgent tasks require shared planning rather than spiritualized exhaustion.
Anchor passage
Ps.127.2
Doctrinal connections
- Psalm 127 locates household security and fruitful labor under the Lord rather than anxious human overwork.
- The Lord's repeated prophetic sending expresses compassion and patience before judgment.
- Moses' early confrontation serves the stated liberation command rather than personal ambition.
- Goliath's repeated schedule shows that disciplined timing can also sustain intimidation.
- Genesis 22 belongs to Abraham's unique tested obedience and God's provision within the covenant narrative.
- Wisdom requires consideration for neighbors, so even positive speech can become harmful when intrusive.
Shakam is a Hebrew verb associated with loading up and beginning early, commonly used in the Hiphil. It often works adverbially with another verb to mark an early or repeated start rather than naming a separate spiritual act.
From Old to New Testament
New Testament scenes of early prayer, travel, work, and resurrection morning use Greek time and rising vocabulary. Canonical comparison can illuminate readiness and rest without treating a particular schedule as a command for every believer.