שִׁילֹה
𐤔𐤉𐤋𐤄
Shiloh
H7886 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Shiloh: A proper noun referring most commonly to an ancient city located in the territory of Ephraim, north of Bethel, which served as an important religious and cultic center for the Israelites during the period of the Judges. In Genesis 49:10, 'Shiloh' appears in a difficult poetic context; the precise meaning is disputed, but it may designate a person, a title, or a locality. In the majority of its uses, the term designates the physical site of Shiloh, a central place of worship and residence for the tabernacle prior to the establishment of the Temple in Jerusalem. Semantic range includes: (1) the city or sanctuary of Shiloh; (2) possible personal or titular reference, especially in poetic or prophetic texts.
Semantic Range
city or sanctuary of Shiloh; place of gathering or religious significance; possible titular or personal reference (esp. Genesis 49:10); tranquil (hypothetical meaning, not directly attested)
Root / Etymology
Root is uncertain but often connected to שָׁלָה (shalah), meaning 'to be tranquil, at ease.' The city name may denote 'tranquility' or 'rest,' but this is not linguistically certain. The meaning and derivation in Genesis 49:10 are especially uncertain; various scholarly proposals exist, but no consensus has been reached.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the historical books (especially Joshua, Judges, and Samuel), 'Shiloh' always denotes the city that housed the tabernacle and served as a major religious center during the pre-monarchic and early monarchic period. Its religious and national significance is highlighted in narratives regarding the tribal gathering, allotment of the land, annual festivals, and key episodes involving the Ark of the Covenant. In Genesis 49:10, the term's interpretation is highly contested; some read it as a messianic title, others as a reference to a person, place, or as a form of the word for 'tribute.' Later tradition, including some translations, associated it with messianic expectation and rendered it 'he to whom it belongs' or even as a proper name. The word's connection to 'tranquility' is possible but rests on uncertain etymology. The distinction between 'Shiloh' the site and any personal or titular meaning should be carefully maintained, as the contextual evidence strongly supports the place-name as the primary usage in the Hebrew Bible. Standard English translation typically uses 'Shiloh' as a proper name and does not reflect the ambiguity in Genesis 49:10.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from שָׁלָה; tranquil; Shiloh, an epithet of the Messiah; Shiloh.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שׁלה (š-l-h) — to be tranquil, to be at ease, to be quiet
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7952 | שָׁלָה | you will lull into complacency |
| H7955 | שָׁלָה | fault |
| H7987 | שְׁלִי | in the quiet seclusion |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7886-01 |
שִׁיל֔וֹ | shilo | HNp |
to him | Shiloh | 1 |
H7886-02 |
שילה | shylh | HNp |
Shiloh | Shiloh (Tranquility-Place) | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7886-02 |
Genesis 49:10 | שילה | shylh | HNp |
Shiloh | Shiloh (Tranquility-Place) |
H7886-01 |
Genesis 49:10 | שִׁיל֔וֹ | shilo | HNp |
to him | Shiloh |