שָׁקַר

# H8266 שָׁקַר (sha.qar): Meaning and Usage The Hebrew verb *sha.qar* appears only six times in the biblical text, making it a relatively rare term. Its definition as "to deal" is intentionally broad, suggesting the word carries multiple related meanings depending on context. This range is typical of Hebrew verbs that express actions involving interpersonal or transactional interaction, though the precise nature of the "dealing" shifts with usage. The rarity of this word—appearing in just six biblical passages—limits our ability to establish a comprehensive semantic profile. However, the surviving occurrences would provide the clearest picture of how ancient Hebrew speakers actually employed it. Without access to those specific contexts, we can only note that "dealing" encompasses various forms of human conduct or commercial exchange, likely carrying negative connotations in certain contexts based on the general semantic field of similar Hebrew terms. For biblical interpretation, *sha.qar*'s infrequency suggests it was not a standard term for common concepts, yet it was deemed significant enough to be preserved and used on multiple occasions. This selective usage pattern indicates the term filled a specific communicative need in biblical Hebrew, though its exact function would require examination of each individual occurrence in context.