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שֶׁלַח

𐤔𐤋𐤇

shelach

H7973 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A weapon designed for throwing or thrusting, such as a spear or javelin; in poetic or metaphorical contexts, a shoot or branch of a plant. While most commonly denoting a missile weapon in military contexts, it may figuratively refer to a branch or shoot that is 'sent out.'

Semantic Range

spear, javelin, dart, missile weapon, branch, shoot (of a plant)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root שָׁלַח, meaning 'to send, send forth, stretch out.' The form שֶׁלַח is a nominal derivative, likely originally referring to something 'sent forth' or 'projected,' which naturally extends to weapons cast or thrust (e.g., spear, javelin), as well as to plant shoots that grow outward.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term שֶׁלַח appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible and is primarily attested in contexts involving weapons, usually translated as 'spear,' 'javelin,' or occasionally 'dart.' In poetic or metaphorical usage (e.g., Job 8:16), it refers to the 'shoots' or 'branches' of a plant, connecting conceptually to the idea of something being extended outward. Standard English translations such as 'sword' or generic 'weapon' may obscure the specificity and connection to the idea of something sent or extended. Related terms include חֲנִית (ḥănît, spear), רֹמַח (romach, javelin), and קֶרֶן (qeren, horn, but also used for projecting objects). The word is etymologically and semantically distinct from idiomatic uses of the verbal root ('to put off,' 'to stretch out'). In later Hebrew, the term's weapon-related senses diminish, with other terms becoming more prevalent. The figurative meaning of 'shoot' or 'branch' is rare and context-dependent.

Translation Consistency

primary "spear" 2 occurrences

Shelach most often denotes a missile weapon (spear, javelin, dart) in military contexts; 'spear' is a natural, concrete, and common English rendering that covers the primary semantic range. 'Weapon' is too broad and less vivid; figurative uses (branch/shoot) are rare and can be handled contextually, so 'spear' provides the best consistent choice.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"weapon" (3x) "sword" (1x) "shoots" (1x) "weapons" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁלַח; a missile of attack, i.e. spear; also (figuratively) a shoot of growth; i.e. branch; dart, plant, [idiom] put off, sword, weapon.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שלח (š-l-ḥ) — to send, send forth, stretch out, extend

Root שלח to send, stretch out, extend
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4916 מִשְׁלוֹחַ for sending-forth of
H4917 מִשְׁלַחַת sending-forth of
H7964 שִׁלּוּחַ her sendings-away
H7971 שָׁלַח I will dispatch
H7972 שְׁלַח Sent-One

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7973-07 שִׁלְח֥/וֹ shilecho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his weapon he sent him away his weapon 2
H7973-05 שֶׁ֛לַח shelach HNcmsa weapons Sent-one weapons 1
H7973-03 הַ/שָּֽׁלַח hashalach HTd/Ncmsa the weapon the sent-forth weapon the weapon 1
H7973-02 בְּ/שֶׁ֣לַח beshelach HR/Ncmsa by the sword with a spear by the sword 1
H7973-06 שְׁלָחַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ shelachayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs your shoots your spears your shoots 1
H7973-04 הַ/שֶּׁ֛לַח hashelach HTd/Ncmsa the-weapon the spear the spear 1
H7973-01 בַּ/שָּֽׁלַח bashalach HRd/Ncmsa by the sword with the spear with the spear 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7973-04 Joel 2:8 הַ/שֶּׁ֛לַח hashelach HTd/Ncmsa the-weapon the spear the spear
H7973-01 Job 33:18 בַּ/שָּֽׁלַח bashalach HRd/Ncmsa by the sword with the spear with the spear
H7973-02 Job 36:12 בְּ/שֶׁ֣לַח beshelach HR/Ncmsa by the sword with a spear by the sword
H7973-06 Song of Songs 4:13 שְׁלָחַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ shelachayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs your shoots your spears your shoots
H7973-03 Nehemiah 4:11 הַ/שָּֽׁלַח hashalach HTd/Ncmsa the weapon the sent-forth weapon the weapon
H7973-07 Nehemiah 4:17 שִׁלְח֥/וֹ shilecho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his-weapon he sent him away his weapon
H7973-07 2 Chronicles 23:10 שִׁלְח֣/וֹ shilecho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his weapon he sent him away his weapon
H7973-05 2 Chronicles 32:5 שֶׁ֛לַח shelach HNcmsa weapons Sent-one weapons
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