סַלָּח
𐤎𐤋𐤇
çallâch
H5546 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Adjective denoting one who is inclined to forgive, showing readiness or willingness to pardon wrongdoing. Used specifically to characterize the deity of Israel as possessing an inherent disposition toward pardoning offenses.
Semantic Range
forgiving (as an adjective), disposed to forgive, ready to pardon, merciful (as an ongoing quality)
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root סלח (S-L-Ḥ), which has the core meaning 'to forgive, pardon.' The adjective סַלָּח is formed by adding the adjective-forming ending -ָח to the root, conveying a quality or disposition—thus, 'forgiving' or 'merciful.' The root is attested primarily in biblical Hebrew in the context of divine forgiveness.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term סַלָּח occurs only in Nehemiah 9:17 and is used exclusively as a divine epithet, describing the deity as inherently forgiving or ever ready to pardon the wrongdoings of the Israelite community. This is a rare example of an adjective used of God in the Hebrew Bible with a strongly relational sense—implying a readiness rather than simply the act of forgiving. While English translations render it with terms like 'forgiving' or 'ready to forgive,' such translations may not convey the full sense of ongoing disposition implicit in the Hebrew. The root סלח is always used in the Hebrew Bible in reference to divine, not human, forgiveness, setting it apart from other roots like מחל (māchal), which can be used in interpersonal contexts. No significant shift in meaning is attested from early to late biblical Hebrew, though in later periods and translations (including Aramaic and Greek), the concept of God as 'forgiving' became more prominent in liturgy and theology. The KJV rendering 'ready to pardon' captures some but not all of the nuance; it lacks the focus on dispositional character embedded in the Hebrew adjective.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from סָלַח; placable; ready to forgive.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סלח (s-l-ḥ) — to forgive, to pardon, to spare
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5546-01 |
וְ/סַלָּ֑ח | vesalach | HC/Aamsa |
and forgiving | and forgiving | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5546-01 |
Psalms 86:5 | וְ/סַלָּ֑ח | vesalach | HC/Aamsa |
and forgiving | and forgiving |