sha.khen denotes a person, group, or place characterized by nearness to another.

The attested usage describes persons and groups near a household or community, as well as regions and towns adjoining a specified place. It can identify a nearby individual, a surrounding population, or locations characterized by proximity.

1. Persons, groups, or places nearby · dominant

   The construct forms mark people in relation to a household or community: in Exodus 12:4 the APB renders the clause with a person's "nearest neighbor," and in 2 Kings 4:3 it speaks of borrowing vessels from "all your neighbors." The same relational use extends to territory and settlements: Deuteronomy 1:7 names "neighboring regions," while Jeremiah 49:18 describes Sodom and Gomorrah with their "neighboring towns." Ruth 4:17 uses a feminine plural absolute form for the women who name Naomi's son.

   Exodus 12:42 Kings 4:3Deuteronomy 1:7Jeremiah 49:18Ruth 4:17Proverbs 27:10

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the relation with "neighbor" or "neighbors," and also uses "neighboring" for regions, towns, and women. These renderings confirm the clauses' proximity relation rather than establish a separate meaning for each English expression.