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שֶׁלֶט

𐤔𐤋𐤈

sheleṭ

H7982 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שלט to rule, have dominion, exercise authority

Definition

A large shield used as a protective device in battle, typically by warriors or soldiers. In the Hebrew Bible, שֶׁלֶט (sheleṭ) refers to a full-sized shield, often used for personal defense in warfare. The word indicates a defensive implement designed to cover and protect the body from weapons such as arrows and spears.

Semantic Range

large shield, warrior's shield, officer's or commander's shield, protective device in battle

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root שָׁלַט (shalat), meaning 'to rule, have dominion, control.' The noun שֶׁלֶט likely arose from the idea of something that exercises control or dominance, in this case functionally referring to a shield as a means of defense and control over one's own safety in conflict. The connection to the root emphasizes the shield's role in granting dominion over threats on the battlefield.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term שֶׁלֶט (sheleṭ) is relatively rare in the Hebrew Bible, found in a few poetic or descriptive passages (e.g., Jeremiah 51:11, Song of Songs 4:4, Ezekiel 27:11). Its usage tends to denote a substantial, officer- or warrior-grade shield, distinct from other types such as צִנָּה (tsinnah, a large rectangular shield favored by heavy infantry) or מָגֵן (magen, a smaller round or oval shield for general use). In later biblical and Second Temple usage, the associations of the word do not significantly shift, retaining its martial focus. English translations sometimes render שֶׁלֶט as 'buckler' or 'shield,' but 'buckler' can be misleading, as שֶׁלֶט generally implies a more substantial defensive item than the small hand-held buckler of later European warfare. There is no evidence that שֶׁלֶט ever referred to ceremonial or ornamental boards; the usage is always martial. In ancient Near Eastern context, large shields denoted both physical protection and, symbolically, status or rank in military formations. Later Greek and Latin translations typically render it with terms denoting a large shield (e.g., θυρεός/thureos or scutum), reflecting its continued identification as a defensive implement of warfare.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁלַט; probably a shield (as controlling, i.e. protecting the person); shield.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שלט (š-l-ṭ) — to rule, have dominion, exercise authority

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7980 שָׁלַט to rule
H7981 שְׁלֵט they ruled
H7983 שִׁלְטוֹן dominion
H7984 שִׁלְטוֹן ruling authorities of
H7985 שׇׁלְטָן sovereign dominion of

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7982-02 שִׁלְטֵ֣י shiletey HNcmpc shields large battle-shields of 3
H7982-01 הַ/שְּׁלָטִ֔ים hashelatim HTd/Ncmpa the large shields the dominion-shields 3
H7982-03 שִׁלְטֵי/הֶ֞ם shileteyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their shields their dominion-shields 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7982-02 2 Samuel 8:7 שִׁלְטֵ֣י shiletey HNcmpc shields large battle-shields of
H7982-01 2 Kings 11:10 הַ/שְּׁלָטִ֔ים hashelatim HTd/Ncmpa the shields the dominion-shields
H7982-01 Jeremiah 51:11 הַ/שְּׁלָטִים֒ hashelatim HTd/Ncmpa the quivers the dominion-shields
H7982-03 Ezekiel 27:11 שִׁלְטֵי/הֶ֞ם shileteyhem HNcmpc/Sp3mp their shields their dominion-shields
H7982-02 Song of Songs 4:4 שִׁלְטֵ֥י shiletey HNcmpc shields large battle-shields of
H7982-02 1 Chronicles 18:7 שִׁלְטֵ֣י shiletey HNcmpc shields large battle-shields of
H7982-01 2 Chronicles 23:9 הַ/שְּׁלָטִ֔ים hashelatim HTd/Ncmpa the large shields the dominion-shields
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