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שָׁלַט

𐤔𐤋𐤈

shâlaṭ

H7980 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שלט to control, to have power, to rule, to dominate

Definition

To have mastery or control over, to exercise authority, rule, or dominion; used of holding power or sway over people, land, possessions, or circumstances. May also denote having the capacity or right to act, grant authority, or permit action.

Semantic Range

to rule, to have dominion, to govern, to have authority, to exercise power, to permit, to allow, to overpower, to prevail

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁ־ל־ט (שָׁלַט), likely conveying the sense of wielding or holding authority or power. The root meaning centers on the exercise or possession of control or dominion. The actual lexical meaning develops into the acts of governing, ruling, permitting, or having mastery.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁלַט is used to describe various forms of human authority or control—not only over people (Genesis 42:6, 'Joseph was the ruler [שֹׁלֵט] over the land'), but also abstractly over circumstances or attributes (e.g., Ecclesiastes 8:8, 'no man has power [שַׁלִּיט] over the spirit'). Unlike other Hebrew roots for ruling (e.g., מלך 'to reign' connoting kingship or government), שָׁלַט often stresses practical or direct control, sometimes even temporary or situational mastery rather than formal kingship. In post-biblical Hebrew and Aramaic, derivatives of this root (שַׁלִּיט, etc.) become common as terms for authority. The verb is not restricted to formal rulers; it can refer to anyone with capacity or right to act, including judges, administrators, or individuals in a position of advantage. In some contexts, especially in later biblical books, the root acquires broader usage, such as granting permission ('to allow') or having influence. English translations often use 'have power,' 'rule,' or 'dominion,' but these may miss nuances of practical control versus titular authority. The word appears in narrative, legal, and wisdom contexts, with no evidence of major conceptual shift across periods, though its extension to the act of permitting is more pronounced in later usage. The English translation 'to permit' reflects a derived nuance, not the term's core sense. The term does not imply the institutional authority of kingship but rather the capacity to exercise control or sway.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to dominate, i.e. govern; by implication, to permit; (bear, have) rule, have dominion, give (have) power.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שלט (š-l-ṭ) — control, dominion, authority, mastery

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7981 שְׁלֵט they ruled
H7982 שֶׁלֶט the dominion-shields
H7983 שִׁלְטוֹן dominion
H7984 שִׁלְטוֹן ruling authorities of
H7985 שׇׁלְטָן sovereign dominion of

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7980-05 וְ/הִשְׁלִיט֨/וֹ vehishelito HC/Vhp3ms/Sp3ms he granted him dominion 1
H7980-04 תַּשְׁלֶט tashelet HVhj3fs have dominion let her exercise dominion 1
H7980-08 יִשְׁלְט֧וּ yisheletu HVqi3mp they-ruled they rule 1
H7980-03 שָׁלְט֣וּ shaletu HVqp3cp lorded they ruled 1
H7980-02 שָׁלַ֧ט shalat HVqp3ms he ruled 1
H7980-06 וְ/יִשְׁלַט֙ veyishelat HC/Vqi3ms he will rule 1
H7980-07 יַשְׁלִיטֶ֤/נּוּ yashelitenu HVhi3ms/Sp3ms he will grant him dominion 1
H7980-01 לִ/שְׁל֣וֹט lishelot HR/Vqc to-rule to rule 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7980-04 Psalms 119:133 תַּשְׁלֶט tashelet HVhj3fs have dominion let her exercise dominion
H7980-06 Ecclesiastes 2:19 וְ/יִשְׁלַט֙ veyishelat HC/Vqi3ms he will rule
H7980-05 Ecclesiastes 5:18 וְ/הִשְׁלִיט֨/וֹ vehishelito HC/Vhp3ms/Sp3ms he granted him dominion
H7980-07 Ecclesiastes 6:2 יַשְׁלִיטֶ֤/נּוּ yashelitenu HVhi3ms/Sp3ms he will grant him dominion
H7980-02 Ecclesiastes 8:9 שָׁלַ֧ט shalat HVqp3ms he ruled
H7980-01 Esther 9:1 לִ/שְׁל֣וֹט lishelot HR/Vqc to-rule to rule
H7980-08 Esther 9:1 יִשְׁלְט֧וּ yisheletu HVqi3mp they-ruled they rule
H7980-03 Nehemiah 5:15 שָׁלְט֣וּ shaletu HVqp3cp lorded they ruled
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