Lexical Summary
cakak: To cover, to hedge, to protect, to overshadow
Original Word: סָכַךְ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: cakak
Pronunciation: sah-KAHK
Phonetic Spelling: (saw-kak')
KJV: cover, defence, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up
Word Origin: [a primitive root]
1. (properly) to entwine as a screen
2. (by implication) to fence in, cover over
3. (figuratively) to protect
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
cover, defense, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up
Or sakak (Exod. 33:22) {saw-kak'}; a primitive root; properly, to entwine as a screen; by implication, to fence in, cover over, (figuratively) protect -- cover, defence, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up.
Brown-Driver-Briggs
II. [, ] ("" form of probably not connected with Arabic
👁 Image Ethiopic
👁 Image thorns; possibly compare Syr,
👁 Image finish, Pa`el
👁 Image finish, conclude, comprehend, and Arabic
👁 Image close, close up, stop, stop up, lock up Lane
1386); —
(al.
, but compare ) Imperfect3masculine singular Job 3:23, with accusative + instrumental Job 38:8 and (who) shut in the sea with doors ? (Bi Bu , Me ).
I. [] ("" √ to I. (which is probably original, compare Arabic 👁 Image
, and Frä90); Late Hebrew cover, and perhaps roof over); —
Perfect only 2 masculine singular Exodus 40:3, Lamentations 3:43,44, Psalm 140:8; Imperfect3masculine plural 1 Kings 8:7, suffix Job 40:22; Participle active Ezekiel 28:14,16, plural Exodus 25:20 2t.; —
screen, cover, usually co. of thing covered, 1 Kings 8:7; 1 Chronicles 28:18; + accusative of covering Exodus 40:3 (P); + of covering Exodus 25:20; Exodus 37:9 (both P); with of thing covered Psalm 140:8; so (+ instrumental) Lamentations 3:44 thou hast screened thyself with the clouds; with accusative Job 40:22 lotus-trees, as its shade, screen it; absolute Ezekiel 28:14,16 (difficult, text probably corrupt, Co Toy strike out as gloss).
cover oneself Lamentations 3:43 thou hast covered (clothed, panoplied) thyself with anger (si vera lectio; compare Lamentations 3:44 above.).
Imperfect. 3 masculine singular Psalm 91:4, Exodus 40:1 2t.; 2 masculine singular Psalm 5:12; Infinitive construct. 1 Samuel 24:4; Participle Judges 3:24 (Ges§ 67v); — screen, cover,
specifically with , i.e. with long garments, euphemism for evacuating the bowels, from posture assumed, so infinitive Judges 3:24, participle 1 Samuel 24:4 (compare Late Hebrew , and see GFM, HPS).
(explained as Qal BaZMG xliii (1889), 178), with Exodus 40:21, of protection Psalm 5:12; with person + instrumental Psalm 91:4 (of protection).
, denominative, see below
.
II. [] ("" form of II. ; Late Hebrew Hiph`il weave, , booth,); —
Perfect2masculine singular suffix Psalm 139:13 thou didst weave me together in my mother's womb.
; — technical term of structure shielding stormers of city (Latin testudo) Nahum 2:6; .
I. [] , so as to screen (compare "" √ I. ); —
Perfect1singular Exodus 33:22 (JE).
II. [] (compare "" √ II. );
Imperfect2masculine singular suffix Job 10:11 with bones and sinews thou weavest me together..
III. (√ of following; compare I. . II. ).
IV. [] (compare Arabic 👁 Image
pierce (perhaps denominative from) 👁 Image
thorn, 👁 Image
point of spear, etc.; Ethiopic 👁 Image
thorn); — prick or spur on, accusative of person: Perfect1singular Isaiah 19:2 (+ against); Imperfect3masculine singular Isaiah 9:10.
Topical Lexicon
Semantic Range and Core Idea סָכַךְ portrays the act of spreading over, screening, or hedging in. The gesture may be gentle (as a bird draws its wings), architectural (a curtain or winged cherubim), military (a defensive shield), or judicial (a dark cloud of wrath). Across its twenty-four occurrences the verb signals either (1) benevolent shelter or (2) restrictive concealment, both administered under God’s sovereign hand.
Cultic and Sanctuary Contexts
1. Cherubim over the Ark – Exodus 25:20; 37:9; 40:3, 21; 1 Kings 8:7; 1 Chronicles 28:18.
“The cherubim are to have wings spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat” (Exodus 25:20). Here סָכַךְ defines the secure locale of atonement where holy presence meets sinful humanity. The verb thus anchors the theology of propitiation: God’s glory is both veiled and made accessible through an appointed covering.
2. The Veil – Exodus 40:3, 21. The veil “screened” the Ark, illustrating the necessary mediation later fulfilled in Jesus Christ, “whom God presented as an atoning sacrifice” (Romans 3:25).
3. The “Covering Cherub” – Ezekiel 28:14, 16. The guardian of Eden “walked among the fiery stones” until pride perverted his protective commission. סָכַךְ therefore contributes to the Biblical doctrine of angelic stewardship and fall.
Personal and Creational Protection
1. Job 10:11; Psalm 139:13. “For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). The verb frames the miracle of prenatal life: God “weaves” bones and sinews as a secret canopy.
2. Avian Metaphor – Psalm 91:4. “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.” Divine refuge is intimate, warm, and immediate—contrasting with pagan deities who remain distant.
3. Military Shield – Psalm 5:11; 140:7. “Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You” (Psalm 5:11). Prayer appropriates סָכַךְ as present-tense defense for the righteous.
Judgment and Concealment
1. Isaiah 9:11; 19:2. God “strengthens the adversaries” or sets Egyptians against Egyptians, a dark covering of providence that restrains light.
2. Lamentations 3:43-44. “You covered Yourself with anger and pursued us… You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can get through.” The same verb that shelters the penitent can shroud the unrepentant in unrelieved wrath.
3. Nahum 2:5. Armies “cover” their commanders—imagery of chaotic mustering before Nineveh’s fall.
Narrative Snapshots
• Judges 3:24 – Palace attendants suppose the king is “relieving himself in the cool room,” literally “covering his feet,” an idiom of privacy.
• 1 Samuel 24:3 – Saul enters the cave to “cover his feet,” allowing David the opportunity to demonstrate mercy. In both scenes the verb reinforces the motif of hiddenness within God’s unfolding providence.
• Job 38:8 – At creation the sea is born when God “shut it in with doors when it burst forth from the womb,” a cosmic act of covering.
Theological Synthesis
סָכַךְ binds together sanctuary, creation, providence, and eschatology. The motion of divine wings over the mercy seat prefigures the incarnate Son who “tabernacled” among us (John 1:14). The womb imagery validates the sacredness of life from conception. The defensive sense urges believers to seek refuge in God alone (Psalm 91), while the judicial sense warns that the same God can place an impenetrable cloud between Himself and obstinate sinners (Lamentations 3).
Pastoral and Devotional Applications
1. Assurance: Believers can claim the promise, “He will cover you with His feathers,” in intercession for family, church, and nation.
2. Worship: The cherubic covering calls for reverent awe in corporate liturgy; songs and prayers should celebrate both God’s nearness and holiness.
3. Sanctity of Life: Psalm 139:13 equips the church to defend unborn life as divinely “covered” workmanship.
4. Spiritual Warfare: Psalm 140:7 invites petition for God’s shielding in temptation and persecution.
5. Evangelism: Lamentations 3 warns of a day when the opportunity for prayer may be barricaded; now is the acceptable time to preach reconciliation.
Eschatological Horizon
Isaiah saw a future when a “canopy” (the cognate סֻכָּה) will cover Mount Zion with glory (Isaiah 4:5-6). The consummation will transform the provisional coverings of the wilderness and temple into an everlasting shelter in the New Jerusalem, where “the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Revelation 21:22). Until then, every occurrence of סָכַךְ points to the One who cried, “O Jerusalem… how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings” (Matthew 23:37).
Forms and Transliterations
הַסֹּכֵ֔ךְ הַסֹּכֵֽךְ׃ הַסּוֹכֵ֑ךְ הסוכך הסכך הסכך׃ וְסִכְסַכְתִּ֤י וְסַכֹּתָ֥ וְסֹכְכִ֖ים וְשַׂכֹּתִ֥י וְתָסֵ֣ךְ וַיָּ֕סֶךְ וַיָּ֖סֶךְ וַיָּ֣סֶךְ וַיָּסֹ֧כּוּ ויסך ויסכו וסככים וסכסכתי וסכת ושכתי ותסך יְסַכְסֵֽךְ׃ יְסֻכֻּ֣הוּ יָ֣סֶךְ יסך יסכהו יסכסך׃ לְהָסֵ֣ךְ להסך מֵסִ֥יךְ מסיך סַכֹּ֤תָה סַכֹּ֥תָה סַכּ֤וֹתָה סֹֽכְכִ֤ים סֹכְכִ֤ים סכותה סככים סכתה תְּ֝סֻכֵּ֗נִי תְּסֹכְכֵֽנִי׃ תסככני׃ תסכני has·sō·ḵêḵ has·sō·w·ḵêḵ hassoChech hassōḵêḵ hassōwḵêḵ lə·hā·sêḵ lehaSech ləhāsêḵ mê·sîḵ meSich mêsîḵ sak·kō·ṯāh sak·kō·w·ṯāh sakKotah sakkōṯāh sakkōwṯāh sō·ḵə·ḵîm socheChim sōḵəḵîm tə·sō·ḵə·ḵê·nî tə·suk·kê·nî tesocheCheni təsōḵəḵênî tesukKeni təsukkênî vaiYasech vaiyaSokku vesakkoTa vesakkoTi vesichsachTi vesocheChim vetaSech way·yā·seḵ way·yā·sōk·kū wayyāseḵ wayyāsōkkū wə·sak·kō·ṯā wə·śak·kō·ṯî wə·siḵ·saḵ·tî wə·sō·ḵə·ḵîm wə·ṯā·sêḵ wəsakkōṯā wəśakkōṯî wəsiḵsaḵtî wəsōḵəḵîm wəṯāsêḵ yā·seḵ Yasech yāseḵ yə·saḵ·sêḵ yə·suk·ku·hū yesachSech yəsaḵsêḵ yesukKuhu yəsukkuhū
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