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שָׁלַח

𐤔𐤋𐤇

shâlach

H7971 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To send, stretch out, or extend (one's hand, an object, or a person) to a particular purpose or place; to dispatch, commission, or release someone or something from one’s possession; in some contexts, to set loose, dismiss, expel, or shoot forth. The sense of deliberate dispatch or transfer is central, whether referring to sending persons, objects, hands, or metaphorically, actions and consequences.

Semantic Range

to send, to send away, to dispatch, to release, to expel, to extend (a hand), to lay hands (on), to commission, to shoot forth (arrows, branches), to sow (scatter seed), to stretch forth

Root / Etymology

Root שׁ־ל־ח, meaning 'to send' or 'to stretch forth.' The verb שָׁלַח is a basic stem (qal) verb derived from this root, retaining the core action of sending or extending, though context determines whether this involves people, objects, or metaphorical projections (e.g. shooting, sowing).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁלַח covers a wide range of sending-related actions. It often describes the dispatching of messengers, gifts, or threats (Genesis 32:4; Judges 6:8); the extending of a hand in aggression or protection (Genesis 22:12; Exodus 3:20); the release of individuals, animals, or captives (Deuteronomy 15:12-13; Leviticus 14:7); or even the effect of natural phenomena such as the sending forth of rivers (Job 38:26). In legal contexts, it may signify the dismissal or divorce of a spouse (Deuteronomy 24:1, 'send away' a wife). The root is flexible, allowing both literal and metaphorical applications, such as sowing seed or shooting arrows (Genesis 21:20). Although standard English translations often use 'send' or 'send away,' the verb’s scope involves broader nuances—release, expulsion, extension, or transmission—depending on narrative or legal context. Some idiomatic uses (such as 'put forth one's hand to,' i.e., to act) are not directly transparent in translation but are rooted in this broader semantic field.

Translation Consistency

primary "send" 782 occurrences

“Send” captures the central, deliberate-dispatch sense common to שָׁלַח (to send, send away, dispatch, release, send forth). It is the most natural and frequent English equivalent (e.g. sent/sending/sends) and easily covers idioms like send away, send forth (arrows/branches), send out/let go, and send someone on a mission. Using “send” ensures consistent, natural-sounding renderings across the full semantic range.

Alternatives (65 occurrences):
"dispatched" (12x) "go" (9x) "stretched out" (8x) "stretch out" (5x) "reached out" (4x) "dispatch" (3x) "sent-out one" (3x) "sent-away one" (3x) "driving out" (2x) "loose" (1x) "dispatching" (1x) "set" (1x) "extended" (1x) "stretching out" (1x) "stretch" (1x) "dispatchers of" (1x) "him go" (1x) "down" (1x) "grow" (1x) "senders" (1x) "cast off" (1x) "cast out" (1x) "put" (1x) "reach out" (1x) "dispatching ones" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שלח (sh-l-ḥ) — send, dispatch, extend, stretch out

Root שלח to send, dispatch, extend, stretch out
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4916 מִשְׁלוֹחַ for sending-forth of
H4917 מִשְׁלַחַת sending-forth of
H7964 שִׁלּוּחַ her sendings-away
H7972 שְׁלַח Sent-One
H7973 שֶׁלַח with the spear

Word Forms

180 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7971-136 וַ/יִּשְׁלַ֤ח vayishelach HC/Vqw3ms and sent and he dispatched and he sent 190
H7971-41 שַׁלַּ֥ח shalach HVpc sent to send off he sent 82
H7971-58 שְׁלָחַ֥/נִי shelachani HVqp3ms/Sp1cs has sent me He sent me He sent me 26
H7971-141 וַ/יִּשְׁלְח֤וּ vayishelechu HC/Vqw3mp and they sent and they dispatched and they sent 25
H7971-128 וַ/יְשַׁלַּ֖ח vayeshalach HC/Vpw3ms and sent and he dispatched and he sent 22
H7971-160 וְ/שִׁלַּ֤חְתִּי veshilacheti HC/Vpq1cs and-I-will-send and I will dispatch and I will send 20
H7971-87 שֹׁלֵ֜חַ sholecha HVqrmsa am sending the sending one the sending one 17
H7971-55 שְׁלַח֙ shelach HVqv2ms send Send forth! Send forth! 15
H7971-84 שִׁלְח֨וּ shilechu HVqv2mp send Send forth! Send forth! 15
H7971-177 יִשְׁלַ֣ח yishelach HVqi3ms will send he will send forth he will send forth 13

Occurrences in Scripture

847 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7971-177 Genesis 3:22 יִשְׁלַ֣ח yishelach HVqi3ms he reach out he will send forth he will send forth
H7971-130 Genesis 3:23 וַֽ/יְשַׁלְּחֵ֛/הוּ vayeshalechehu HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3ms sent him out and he dispatched him and he sent him
H7971-128 Genesis 8:7 וַ/יְשַׁלַּ֖ח vayeshalach HC/Vpw3ms and he sent out and he dispatched and he sent
H7971-128 Genesis 8:8 וַ/יְשַׁלַּ֥ח vayeshalach HC/Vpw3ms and he sent out and he dispatched and he sent
H7971-136 Genesis 8:9 וַ/יִּשְׁלַ֤ח vayishelach HC/Vqw3ms and he put out and he dispatched and he sent
H7971-41 Genesis 8:10 שַׁלַּ֥ח shalach HVpc he sent to send off to send off
H7971-128 Genesis 8:12 וַ/יְשַׁלַּח֙ vayeshalach HC/Vpw3ms and sent out and he dispatched and he sent
H7971-133 Genesis 12:20 וַֽ/יְשַׁלְּח֥וּ vayeshalechu HC/Vpw3mp and they sent and they dispatched and they sent
H7971-24 Genesis 18:16 לְ/שַׁלְּחָֽ/ם leshalecham HR/Vpc/Sp3mp to send them off to send them away to send them away
H7971-141 Genesis 19:10 וַ/יִּשְׁלְח֤וּ vayishelechu HC/Vqw3mp reached out and they dispatched and they reached out
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