Original Word: שָׁאַל
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sha'al
Pronunciation: shaw-al'
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-al')
Definition: To ask, inquire, request, demand
Meaning: to inquire, to request, to demand

Word Origin: A primitive root

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G154 (aiteo): To ask, request

- G2065 (erotao): To ask, inquire

Usage: The Hebrew verb "shaal" primarily means to ask or inquire. It is used in various contexts, including making a request, seeking information, or demanding something. The term can imply a simple question or a more earnest petition, depending on the context. It is often used in relational settings, such as asking God for guidance or making requests of others.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Israelite culture, asking questions was a fundamental part of learning and communication. The act of inquiring was not only a means of gaining information but also a way to build relationships and understand God's will. The Hebrew tradition places a strong emphasis on seeking wisdom and understanding, often through asking questions. This is evident in the practice of consulting prophets, priests, and wise men for guidance.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to ask, inquire
NASB Translation
ask (45), asked (41), asking (5), asks (5), beg (1), begged (1), begs (1), borrow (1), borrowed (1), borrows (1), consult (2), consulting (1), consults (1), dedicated (2), dedicated* (1), demand (1), demanded (1), desired (1), desires (1), earnestly asked (1), earnestly asked leave (1), greet* (5), greeted* (1), inquire (6), inquired (18), inquires (1), making (2), medium* (1), pray (1), questioned (2), questioned particularly (1), request (2), request* (1), requested (7), require (1), required (1), sought (1), surely ask (1).

שָׁאַל verb ask, inquire (Late Hebrew id.; Assyrian ša°âlu, Arabic , Ethiopic Sabean מסאל request petition, Hom^Chrest.124 Levy-Os^{ZMG xix(1865), 165}; Aramaic , שְׁאֵיל; Old Aramaic Zinjirli שאל Ldzb³⁷¹, Nabataean Hiph`il lend Id^ib.; — on ׳שׁ compare Jastr^{JBL xix (1900), 82 ff.}); —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular׳שׁ Judges 5:25 +, שָׁאָ֑ל Judges 8:26 2t.; consecutive וְשָׁ֫אַל לוֺ Numbers 27:21; suffix וּשְׁאֵלְךָ consecutive Genesis 32:18 (Ges^{§ 64f}), וּשְׁאֵלֵךְ consecutive Judges 4:20; 1singular suffix שְׁאִלְתִּיו 1 Samuel 1:20, שְׁאִלְתִּיהוּ Judges 13:16; 3plural suffix שְׁאֵלוּנוּ Psalm 137:3; 2masculine plural שְׁאֶלְתֶּם 1 Samuel 12:13 (strike out ᵐ5 Th We Dr and most), Job 21:29, וּשְׁאֶלָתֶּםֿ consecutive 1 Samuel 25:5, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁאַל Exodus 22:13 + ,etc.; Imperative שְׁאַל Isaiah 7:11 +, שְׁאָלוּנִי Isaiah 45:11 ( < תִּשְׁאְֵלוּנִי Weir Che and others), etc.; Infinitive absolute שָׁאוֺל Genesis 43:7 +; construct לִשְׁאֹל Judges 1:14 +, etc.; Participle active שֹׁאֵל 2 Samuel 3:13 +, feminine singular שֹׁאֶלֶת 1 Kings 2:20,22, masculine plural הַשֹּׁאֲלִים 1 Samuel 8:10; passive שָׁאוּל 1 Samuel 1:28; 2 Kings 6:5; —

1. a. ask, ask for, accusative of thing (or person) Judges 5:25; Judges 8:26; 1 Kings 3:10; Psalm 122:6 (= pray for) +; אֶתנַֿפְשׁוֺ לָמוּת ׳שׁ 1 Kings 19:4; Jonah 4:8, i. e. pray for death, but Job 31:30 demand the life of another בְּאָלָה by a curse; with ל person 1 Kings 2:22 (twice in verse) + (ל person reflexive) 1 Samuel 12:17,19 +; with מִן person Judges 8:24 (accusative of congnate meaning with verb), Ezra 8:22; Zechariah 10:1+; followed by infinitive 1 Kings 3:11; followed by clause מָה אֶתֶּןלָֽֿךְ׃ ׳שׁ 1 Kings 3:5 2Chronicles 1:7, compare 2 Kings 2:9; with accusative + מֵאֵת person 1 Samuel 8:10; Psalm 27:4(from ׳י) +; + מֵעִם person Isaiah 7:11 (from ׳י) +; with accusative of person (from whom) + of thing Psalm 137:3; accusative omitted Isaiah 7:12; 1 Samuel 12:20; 1 Kings 2:20, with מִן person Psalm 2:8; absolute Micah 7:3; Psalm 105:40 (of prayer); הִקְשִׁיתָ לִשְׁאוֺל 2 Kings 2:10, i.e. thou hast asked for a difficult thing. — 1 Samuel 2:20 see

Hiph`il b. specifically ask as a favour, for temporary use, i.e. borrow (compare לָוָה, as matter of business, see Bu<sup>1Samuel 1:28</sup>), Exodus 22:13 (E; accusative of thing + מֵעִם person), 2 Kings 4:3 (accusative of thing + מִן of source + ל person reflexive), 2 Kings 6:5 (passive participle absolute); so also (according to many), with accusative of thing Exodus 3:22( + מִן person), Exodus 11:2; Exodus 12:35 (both + מֵאֵת person; all E), — it is, however, not clear that there was any pretext of mere temporary use; passive participle ׳שָׁאוּל לי 1 Samuel 1:28 (lent, granted,) made over to ׳י (in effect passive of Hiph`il, q. v.).

c. in weakened sense, seek, desire (late), with accusative 2 Chronicles 11:23; Ecclesiastes 2:10 (subject עֵינַי); Proverbs 20:4 in harvest he shall look [for a crop], וָאָ֑יִן and there shall be none.

2. a. inquire of, with accusative of person + לֵאמֹר before inquiry Genesis 32:18 (E), Genesis 44:19 (J) +; with וְאָמַר Judges 4:20, וַיּאִמֶר, etc., Genesis 24:47(J), Jeremiah 37:13; followed by וְאָמַר without accusative of person Genesis 32:30 (J), compare 1 Samuel 19:22, followed by לֵאמֹר Joshua 4:6 (JE); with accusative of person + עַל of thing Nehemiah 1:2; עַל of thing alone, Ecclesiastes 7:10 ( + מֵחָכְמָה, i. e. prompted by wisdom); with accusative of person + of thing (about which) 2 Samuel 14:18; Isaiah 45:11 4t.; accusative of person + indirect question Judges 13:6; with accusative of person only, Judges 8:14; 1 Samuel 25:8; Deuteronomy 32:7 +, inquire of beasts (accusative) Job 12:7; with accusative of thing only, Jeremiah 50:5; with ל person = accusative 2 Kings 8:6 (Kö^{Synt. § 289 h}); with ל of thing about which Genesis 26:7 (J), Genesis 32:30 (J), Judges 13:18; 2 Samuel 11:7; Jeremiah 6:16; Job 8:8, also ( + לאמר before the inquiry) Genesis 43:7 (J), and (followed by direct question) Deuteronomy 4:32; with ל person about whom, Genesis 43:27 (J), compare phrase of greeting, אִישׁ לְרֵעֵהוּ לְשָׁלוֺם ׳שׁ Exodus 18:7 (E) ask each for (or about) his fellow as to welfare, compare Judges 18:15; 1 Samuel 10:4; 1 Samuel 17:22; 1 Samuel 25:5; 1 Samuel 30:21 [read וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ לוֺ ᵐ5 ᵑ6 We Dr HPS Bu] 2 Samuel 8:10; Jeremiah 15:5; 1 Chronicles 18:10; followed by direct question only, 1 Samuel 17:56; Jeremiah 18:13 (with ב location), followed by indirect question only (c.אִם) Jeremiah 30:6; אֶתמִּֿי ׳שׁ ׳פ Genesis 24:57(J); absolute make inquiry Deuteronomy 13:15 ( + דָּרַשׁ, חָקַר).

b. inquire of, consult, deity, oracle, etc. (Jastr^{JBL xix (1900) 88 ff.}), followed by accusative ׳מִּי י Joshua 9:14 (JE), Isaiah 30:2 ׳י Isaiah 65:1 ("" בִּקֵּשׁ); elsewhere in Hexateuch only (accusative omitted), Numbers 27:21 (P; with ל person for whom, + ב instrumental), compare Joshua 19:50; also אוֺב ׳שׁ Deuteronomy 18:11 (participle as substantive; Jäger^{BAS ii. 292} compare Assyrian maššaku ša šâ°ili, i. e. skin-vessel of the oracle-seeker, compare Jastr^{JBL xix (1900), 96 ff.}); with accusative of human agent 1 Samuel 28:16; Jeremiah 38:14,27; usually (ancient usage, chiefly Judges, Samuel) לֵאמֹר ׳בי ׳שׁ (בְּ perhaps originally local, so GFM, or instrumental), Judges 1:1; Judges 20:23; 1 Samuel 23:2; 1 Samuel 30:8; 2 Samuel 2:1; 2 Samuel 5:19 = 1 Chronicles 14:10; לֵאמֹר omitted 1 Samuel 10:22 (followed by direct question), 1 Samuel 22:10 (ל person for whom), 1 Samuel 23:4; 1 Samuel 28:6; 2 Samuel 5:23 = 1 Chronicles 14:14; Judges 20:27; בֵּאלֹהִים ׳שׁ Judges 18:5; Judges 20:18; 1 Samuel 14:37; (followed by direct question), also (ל person for whom), 1 Samuel 22:13,15; ׳שׁ ׳בִּדְבַר הָא 2 Samuel 16:23; likewise בְּעֵצוֺ ׳שׁ Hosea 4:12 (i.e. his idol), בַּתְּרָפִים Ezekiel 21:26, בָּאוֺב 1 Chronicles 10:13; perhaps = receive as oracle Deuteronomy 18:16 (׳מֵעִם י, Jastr^l.c.

Niph`al ask for oneself (Ges^{§ 51e}), specifically ask leave of absence, with מִן person: Perfect3masculine singular + Infinitive absolute נִשְׁאֹל נִשְׁאַל 1 Samuel 20:6 (followed by infinitive), 1 Samuel 20:28 (followed by עַד; ? insert ל infinitive HPS); Perfect1singular נִשְׁאַלְתִּי מִןהַֿמֶּלֶךְ Nehemiah 13:6 (absolute).

Pi`el 1. inquire carefully: Imperfect3masculine plural +

Qal Infinitive absolute שָׁאוֺל יְשָֽׁאֲלוּ 2 Samuel 20:18 (Bu proposes

Qal Imperfect יִשְׁאֲלוּ), with ב location; on following context see We Dr HPS Bu.

2 beg, practise beggary, ,Perfect3plural וְשִׁאֵ֑לוּ (consecutive) Psalm 109:10.

Hiph`il (properly let one ask [successfully], give, or lend, on request, then) grant, make over to (as a favour, with or without request): Perfect1singular suffix הִשְׁאִלְתִּהוּ ׳לי 1 Samuel 1:28 I have made him over to ׳י (compare Dr HPS Bu and

Qal Passive participle, ib.); perhaps also read 3 feminine singular ׳הִשְׁאִילָה לי 1 Samuel 2:20 (whom) she hath made over to ׳י (for ׳שָׁאַל לי) Bu HPS (after ᵐ5. in part; other conjectures in Dr); Imperfect3masculine plural suffix of thing וַיַּשְׁאִלוּם Exodus 12:36 (E) and they handed them over.

שְׁאֵל verb ask (see Biblical Hebrew); —

Pe`al Perfect3masculine singular ׳שׁ Daniel 2:10; plural שְׁאֵ֫לְנָא Ezra 5:9,10; Imperfect3masculine singular suffix יִשְׁאֲלֶנְכוֺ Ezra 7:21; Participle active שָׁאֵל Daniel 2:11,27; —

1 ask for, request, accusative of thing Daniel 2:10 (ל person), Daniel 2:11; Daniel 2:27; Ezra 7:21 (suffix person).

2 inquire about, for, accusative of thing Ezra 5:9 (ל person); followed by oratio recta [direct speech] Ezra 5:10 (id.).

ask counsel, on, beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire,

Or shael {shaw-ale'}; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand -- ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, X earnestly, enquire, + greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, + salute, X straitly, X surely, wish.

אֶ֝שְׁאָלְךָ֗ אֶשְׁאֲלָ֤ה אֶשְׁאַ֥ל אלו אלת אלתם אשאל אשאלה אשאלך הֲשָׁאַ֥לְתִּי הִשְׁאִלְתִּ֙הוּ֙ הַשֹּׁאֲלִ֥ים השאלים השאלתהו השאלתי וְ֝אֶשְׁאָלְךָ֗ וְאֶשְׁאָלֵ֖ם וְיִשְׁאֲל֞וּ וְנִשְׁאֲלָ֖ה וְשִׁאֵ֑לוּ וְשַֽׁאֲלִי־ וְשַׁאֲל֣וּ ׀ וְשָׁ֥אַל וְשָׁא֥וֹל וְשָׁאֲל֥וּ וְשָׁאֲלָ֨ה וְשָׁאַ֧לְתָּ וְשָׁאַלְתָּ֖ וְשֹׁאֵ֥ל וְשָׁאַ֖ל וִשְׁאֵֽלְךָ֙ וַֽיִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ וַֽיִּשְׁאֲלוּ֙ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֤וּ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֥וּ וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ־ וַיִּשְׁאַ֕ל וַיִּשְׁאַ֖ל וַיִּשְׁאַ֞ל וַיִּשְׁאַ֣ל וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל וַיִּשְׁאַ֥ל וַיִּשְׁאַ֨ל וַיִּשְׁאַל֩ וַיִּשְׁאַל־ וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֑הוּ וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֧הוּ וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֨הוּ וַיַּשְׁאִל֑וּם וַתִּֽשְׁאַל־ וָאֶשְׁאַ֣ל וָאֶשְׁאָלֵ֞ם וּשְׁאֵלֵ֗ךְ וּשְׁאֶלְתֶּם־ ואשאל ואשאלך ואשאלם וישאל וישאל־ וישאלהו וישאלו וישאלו־ וישאלום ונשאלה ושאול ושאל ושאלה ושאלו ושאלי־ ושאלך ושאלת ושאלתם־ ותשאל־ יְשָׁאֲל֛וּ יִשְׁאַ֥ל יִשְׁאַל־ יִשְׁאָ֔ל יִשְׁאָ֔לוּ יִשְׁאָל֙וּנִי֙ יִשְׁאָל֨וּן יִשְׁאָלְךָ֥ יִשְׁאָלְךָ֩ יִשְׁאָלֽוּנִי׃ ישאל ישאל־ ישאלו ישאלון ישאלוני ישאלוני׃ ישאלך ל֥וֹ ל֨וֹ לִֽשְׁאָל־ לִשְׁא֑וֹל לִשְׁא֤וֹל לִשְׁא֥וֹל לִשְׁאָל־ לִשְׁאֹ֖ל לִשְׁאֹ֣ל לִשְׁאֹ֥ל לִשְׁאָל־ לו לשאול לשאל לשאל־ נִשְׁאַ֥ל נִשְׁאַ֥לְתִּי נִשְׁאַ֨ל נִשְׁאֹ֨ל נִשְׁאֹל֩ נשאל נשאלתי שְֽׁאֵל֪וּנוּ שְׁ֭אֶלְתֶּם שְׁאִלְתִּ֙יהוּ֙ שְׁאִלְתִּֽיו׃ שְׁאֶלְתֶּ֑ם שְׁאַ֖ל שְׁאַ֣ל שְׁאַ֤ל שְׁאַ֨ל שְׁאַל֙ שְׁאַל־ שְׁאָל֔וּנִי שַֽׁאֲלוּ־ שַׁ֭אֲלוּ שַׁאֲל֨וּ שַׁאֲלִ֣י שַׁאֲלִי־ שַׁאֲלוּ־ שָֽׁאֲל֣וּ שָֽׁאַל־ שָׁ֠אַלְתָּ שָׁ֣אֲלוּ שָׁא֖וּל שָׁא֣וֹל שָׁאֲל֖וּ שָׁאַ֔ל שָׁאַ֖ל שָׁאַ֖לְתְּ שָׁאַ֖לְתִּי שָׁאַ֖לְתָּ שָׁאַ֙לְתָּ֙ שָׁאַ֜לְתָּ שָׁאַ֣ל שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי שָׁאַ֤לְתָּ שָׁאַ֥לְתָּ שָׁאַ֨לְתָּ שָׁאָ֑לְתָּ שָׁאָ֑לוּ שָׁאָ֔ל שָׁאָ֔לָה שָׁאָ֔לוּ שָׁאָֽלְתָּ׃ שָׁאָֽל׃ שָׁאָֽלוּ׃ שָׁאֹ֧ל שָׁאֽוּל׃ שֹׁאֵ֔ל שֹׁאֵ֖ל שֹׁאֵ֣ל שֹׁאֵ֨ל שֹׁאֶ֜לֶת שֹׁאֶ֣לֶת שאול שאול׃ שאל שאל־ שאל׃ שאלה שאלו שאלו־ שאלו׃ שאלונו שאלוני שאלי שאלי־ שאלת שאלת׃ שאלתי שאלתיהו שאלתיו׃ שאלתם תִּֽשְׁאָלְךָ֖ תִּשְׁאַ֣ל תִּשְׁאָלֵ֑נִי תשאל תשאלך תשאלני ’ă·lū ’al·tā ’altā ’ălū ’el·tem ’eltem ’eš’al ’eš’ălāh ’eš’āləḵā ’eš·’ă·lāh ’eš·’ā·lə·ḵā ’eš·’al alta alu eltem eshAl eshaLah eshalcha hă·šā·’al·tî haš·šō·’ă·lîm hăšā’altî hashaAlti hashshoaLim haššō’ălîm hiš’iltihū hiš·’il·ti·hū hishilTihu liš’āl- liš’ōl liš’ōwl liš·’āl- liš·’ō·wl liš·’ōl lishol lo lōw niš’al niš’altî niš’ōl niš·’al niš·’al·tî niš·’ōl nishAl nishAlti nishOl šā’al šā’āl šā’al- šā’ālāh šā’ālətā ša’ălî ša’ălî- šā’alt šā’altā šā’altî ša’ălū šā’ălū šā’ālū ša’ălū- šā’ōl šā’ōwl šā’ūl šā·’ā·lāh šā·’ā·lə·tā ša·’ă·lî ša·’ă·lî- ša·’ă·lū šā·’ă·lū šā·’ā·lū ša·’ă·lū- šā·’al šā·’āl šā·’al- šā·’al·tā šā·’al·tî šā·’alt šā·’ō·wl šā·’ōl šā·’ūl šə’al šə’al- šə’ālūnî šə’eltem šə’êlūnū šə’iltîhū šə’iltîw šə·’ā·lū·nî šə·’al šə·’al- šə·’ê·lū·nū šə·’el·tem šə·’il·tî·hū šə·’il·tîw shaal shaAlah shaAleta shaaLi shaAlt shaAlta shaAlti shaAlu shaol shaUl sheal sheaLuni sheelTem sheeLunu sheilTihu sheilTiv shoEl shoElet šō’êl šō’eleṯ šō·’e·leṯ šō·’êl tiš’al tiš’āləḵā tiš’ālênî tiš·’ā·lə·ḵā tiš·’ā·lê·nî tiš·’al tishAl tishaleCha tishaLeni ū·šə·’ê·lêḵ ū·šə·’el·tem- ūšə’êlêḵ ūšə’eltem- usheeLech usheeltem vaeshAl vaeshaLem vaiyashiLum vaiyishAl vaiyishaLehu vaiyishaLu vattishal veeshalcha veeshaLem venishaLah veShaal veshaaLah veshaali veshaalTa veshaaLu veshaol veshiElu veshoEl veyishaLu visheleCha wā’eš’al wā’eš’ālêm wā·’eš·’ā·lêm wā·’eš·’al wat·tiš·’al- wattiš’al- way·yaš·’i·lūm way·yiš·’ā·lê·hū way·yiš·’ă·lū way·yiš·’ă·lū- way·yiš·’al way·yiš·’al- wayyaš’ilūm wayyiš’al wayyiš’al- wayyiš’ālêhū wayyiš’ălū wayyiš’ălū- wə’eš’āləḵā wə’eš’ālêm wə·’eš·’ā·lə·ḵā wə·’eš·’ā·lêm wə·niš·’ă·lāh wə·šā·’ă·lāh wə·ša·’ă·lî- wə·ša·’ă·lū wə·šā·’ă·lū wə·šā·’al wə·šā·’al·tā wə·šā·’ō·wl wə·ši·’ê·lū wə·šō·’êl wə·yiš·’ă·lū wəniš’ălāh wəšā’al wəšā’ălāh wəša’ălî- wəšā’altā wəša’ălū wəšā’ălū wəšā’ōwl wəši’êlū wəšō’êl wəyiš’ălū wiš’êləḵā wiš·’ê·lə·ḵā yə·šā·’ă·lū yəšā’ălū yeshaaLu yiš’al yiš’āl yiš’al- yiš’āləḵā yiš’ālū yiš’ālūn yiš’ālūnî yiš·’ā·lə·ḵā yiš·’ā·lū yiš·’ā·lū·nî yiš·’ā·lūn yiš·’al yiš·’āl yiš·’al- yishAl yishaleCha yishAlu yishaLun yishaLuniInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts