שָׁלָל (H7998) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלָל

𐤔𐤋𐤋

shâlâl

H7998 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שלל to plunder, to carry off, to spoil

Definition

Material goods, livestock, or persons captured or taken during a military conflict, raid, or violent encounter; refers to the tangible possessions seized from defeated opponents. In certain contexts, may also refer more generally to prey in a non-military sense. The term can encompass anything of value confiscated as a result of victory, including property, livestock, and occasionally people or prisoners.

Semantic Range

booty, spoils of war, prey, goods or livestock seized in battle or raids, property taken by force, captured persons or animals, metaphorically prey taken by animals

Root / Etymology

Root: שלל. Derived from the verb שלל (shalal), meaning 'to plunder, spoil, take by force.' The noun form שָׁלָל is a direct derivative indicating the things or persons successfully plundered or taken as spoils of war.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the ancient Israelite context, שָׁלָל primarily denotes items seized as the result of military campaigns. It appears frequently in narratives concerning conquest and war (e.g., Joshua, Samuel, Kings), as well as in prophetic and poetic passages. Distribution of שָׁלָל among warriors was a formal, often regulated process (see 1 Samuel 30). The use of the word overlaps with terms like מַלְקוֹחַ (malqôach, 'booty, something taken'), but שָׁלָל is more commonly used for general spoils, while מַלְקוֹחַ can emphasize the act of taking or specifically refer to persons captured. In non-military contexts, the word may also be used metaphorically to describe prey seized by animals (cf. Isaiah 33:23). Standard English translations like 'spoil,' 'booty,' or 'prey' capture aspects of the meaning but do not always reflect distinctions between types of property or the processes by which שָׁלָל was distributed or sanctified. In later periods (post-exilic), the term retains the sense of seized goods but is less central in the literature. English translations and some tradition employ the term 'spoils,' which may not fully convey the diverse objects or implications of the Hebrew term within its socio-historical context.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁלַל; booty; prey, spoil.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שלל (sh-l-l) — to plunder, to carry off, to spoil

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4122	מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז	plunder
H7758	שׁוֹלָל	stripped one
H7997	שָׁלַל	they stripped themselves bare

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H7998-06`	שָׁלָֽל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	18
`H7998-01`	הַ/שָּׁלָ֔ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils	10
`H7998-03`	לְ/שָׁלָֽל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	for spoil	for plunder-spoil	7
`H7998-07`	שְׁלַ֣ל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of	7
`H7998-16`	וּ/שְׁלַ֥ל	ushelal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and spoil	and plunder-of	5
`H7998-08`	שְׁלָלָ֗/הּ	shelalah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its spoil	her plunder	5
`H7998-04`	מֵ/הַ/שָּׁלָ֛ל	mehashalal	`HR/Td/Ncmsa`	from-the-spoil	from the plunder	3
`H7998-09`	שְׁלָלָ֔/ם	shelalam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their spoil	their plundered goods	3
`H7998-19`	וְ/שָׁלָ֥ל	veshalal	`HC/Ncmsa`	and spoil	plundered spoil	3
`H7998-12`	שְׁלָל֑/וֹ	shelalo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	of his spoil	his plunder	2
`H7998-17`	וּ/שְׁלָלָ֖/ם	ushelalam	`HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp`	and their spoil	and their plunder	2
`H7998-05`	מִ/שְּׁלַ֥ל	mishelal	`HR/Ncmsc`	from-spoil-of	from plunder-of	2
`H7998-15`	וּ/מִ/שְּׁלַ֛ל	umishelal	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and from the spoil of	and from plunder-of	1
`H7998-11`	שְׁלַלְ/כֶ֔ם	shelalekhem	`HNcmsc/Sp2mp`	your spoil	your plunder	1
`H7998-02`	לַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	lashalal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	to the spoil	to the plunder	1
`H7998-10`	שְׁלָלֵ֖/ךְ	shelalekhe	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	your spoil	your plunder	1
`H7998-14`	וּ/מִ/שָּׁלָ֔ל	umishalal	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and-from-spoil	and from plundered goods	1
`H7998-13`	שלל	shll	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plunder	1
`H7998-18`	בַ/שָּׁלָ֡ל	vashalal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	among the spoil	in the plunder	1

Occurrences in Scripture

74 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H7998-06`	Genesis 49:27	שָׁלָֽל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-06`	Exodus 15:9	שָׁלָ֑ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-01`	Numbers 31:11	הַ/שָּׁלָ֔ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils
`H7998-01`	Numbers 31:12	הַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils
`H7998-16`	Deuteronomy 2:35	וּ/שְׁלַ֥ל	ushelal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and spoil	and plunder-of
`H7998-16`	Deuteronomy 3:7	וּ/שְׁלַ֥ל	ushelal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and the spoil	and plunder-of
`H7998-08`	Deuteronomy 13:17	שְׁלָלָ֗/הּ	shelalah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its-spoil	her plunder
`H7998-08`	Deuteronomy 13:17	שְׁלָלָ/הּ֙	shelalah-2	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its-spoil	her plunder
`H7998-08`	Deuteronomy 20:14	שְׁלָלָ֖/הּ	shelalah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its spoil	her plunder
`H7998-07`	Deuteronomy 20:14	שְׁלַ֣ל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of
`H7998-18`	Joshua 7:21	בַ/שָּׁלָ֡ל	vashalal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	among the spoil	in the plunder
`H7998-08`	Joshua 8:2	שְׁלָלָ֥/הּ	shelalah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its spoil	her plunder
`H7998-16`	Joshua 8:27	וּ/שְׁלַל֙	ushelal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and the spoil	and plunder-of
`H7998-07`	Joshua 11:14	שְׁלַ֞ל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of
`H7998-07`	Joshua 22:8	שְׁלַל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of
`H7998-06`	Judges 5:30	שָׁלָ֗ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-07`	Judges 5:30	שְׁלַ֤ל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of
`H7998-07`	Judges 5:30	שְׁלַ֥ל	shelal-2	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of
`H7998-06`	Judges 5:30	שָׁלָֽל	shalal-2	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-12`	Judges 8:24	שְׁלָל֑/וֹ	shelalo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	of his spoil	his plunder
`H7998-12`	Judges 8:25	שְׁלָלֽ/וֹ	shelalo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	of his spoil	his plunder
`H7998-05`	1 Samuel 14:30	מִ/שְּׁלַ֥ל	mishelal	`HR/Ncmsc`	from the spoil	from plunder-of
`H7998-13`	1 Samuel 14:32	שלל	shll	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plunder
`H7998-01`	1 Samuel 14:32	הַ/שָּׁלָ֔ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils
`H7998-01`	1 Samuel 15:19	הַ/שָּׁלָ֔ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils
`H7998-04`	1 Samuel 15:21	מֵ/הַ/שָּׁלָ֛ל	mehashalal	`HR/Td/Ncmsa`	from the spoil	from the plunder
`H7998-01`	1 Samuel 30:16	הַ/שָּׁלָ֣ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils
`H7998-14`	1 Samuel 30:19	וּ/מִ/שָּׁלָ֔ל	umishalal	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and-from-spoil	and from plundered goods
`H7998-07`	1 Samuel 30:20	שְׁלַ֥ל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of
`H7998-04`	1 Samuel 30:22	מֵ/הַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	mehashalal	`HR/Td/Ncmsa`	of the spoil	from the plunder
`H7998-04`	1 Samuel 30:26	מֵֽ/הַ/שָּׁלָ֛ל	mehashalal	`HR/Td/Ncmsa`	from-the-spoil	from the plunder
`H7998-05`	1 Samuel 30:26	מִ/שְּׁלַ֖ל	mishelal	`HR/Ncmsc`	from-spoil-of	from plunder-of
`H7998-19`	2 Samuel 3:22	וְ/שָׁלָ֥ל	veshalal	`HC/Ncmsa`	and spoil	plundered spoil
`H7998-15`	2 Samuel 8:12	וּ/מִ/שְּׁלַ֛ל	umishelal	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and from the spoil of	and from plunder-of
`H7998-16`	2 Samuel 12:30	וּ/שְׁלַ֥ל	ushelal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and spoil	and plunder-of
`H7998-02`	2 Kings 3:23	לַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	lashalal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	to the spoil	to the plunder
`H7998-07`	Isaiah 8:4	שְׁלַ֣ל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	the spoil	plunder-spoil of
`H7998-06`	Isaiah 9:2	שָׁלָֽל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-09`	Isaiah 10:2	שְׁלָלָ֔/ם	shelalam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their spoil	their plundered goods
`H7998-06`	Isaiah 10:6	שָׁלָל֙	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-11`	Isaiah 33:4	שְׁלַלְ/כֶ֔ם	shelalekhem	`HNcmsc/Sp2mp`	your spoil	your plunder
`H7998-06`	Isaiah 33:23	שָׁלָל֙	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-06`	Isaiah 53:12	שָׁלָל֒	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-03`	Jeremiah 21:9	לְ/שָׁלָֽל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	as spoil	for plunder-spoil
`H7998-03`	Jeremiah 38:2	לְ/שָׁלָ֖ל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	as-spoil	for plunder-spoil
`H7998-03`	Jeremiah 39:18	לְ/שָׁלָ֔ל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	for-spoil	for plunder-spoil
`H7998-03`	Jeremiah 45:5	לְ/שָׁלָ֔ל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	as spoil	for plunder-spoil
`H7998-03`	Jeremiah 49:32	לְ/שָׁלָ֔ל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	for spoil	for plunder-spoil
`H7998-03`	Jeremiah 50:10	לְ/שָׁלָ֑ל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	for spoil	for plunder-spoil
`H7998-03`	Ezekiel 7:21	לְ/שָׁלָ֑ל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	for spoil	for plunder-spoil
`H7998-08`	Ezekiel 29:19	שְׁלָלָ/הּ֙	shelalah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its spoil	her plunder
`H7998-06`	Ezekiel 38:12	שָׁלָ֖ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-06`	Ezekiel 38:13	שָׁלָל֙	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-06`	Ezekiel 38:13	שָׁלָ֥ל	shalal-2	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-06`	Zechariah 2:13	שָׁלָ֖ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	plunder	plundered goods
`H7998-10`	Zechariah 14:1	שְׁלָלֵ֖/ךְ	shelalekhe	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	your spoil	your plunder
`H7998-06`	Psalms 68:13	שָׁלָֽל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-06`	Psalms 119:162	שָׁלָ֥ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-06`	Proverbs 1:13	שָׁלָֽל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-06`	Proverbs 16:19	שָׁ֝לָ֗ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-19`	Proverbs 31:11	וְ֝/שָׁלָ֗ל	veshalal	`HC/Ncmsa`	of gain	plundered spoil
`H7998-17`	Esther 3:13	וּ/שְׁלָלָ֖/ם	ushelalam	`HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp`	and-their-spoil	and their plunder
`H7998-17`	Esther 8:11	וּ/שְׁלָלָ֖/ם	ushelalam	`HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp`	and their spoil	and their plunder
`H7998-19`	Daniel 11:24	וְ/שָׁלָ֛ל	veshalal	`HC/Ncmsa`	and spoil	plundered spoil
`H7998-16`	1 Chronicles 20:2	וּ/שְׁלַ֥ל	ushelal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and spoil	and plunder-of
`H7998-01`	1 Chronicles 26:27	הַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils
`H7998-06`	2 Chronicles 14:12	שָׁלָ֖ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-01`	2 Chronicles 15:11	הַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils
`H7998-09`	2 Chronicles 20:25	שְׁלָלָ/ם֒	shelalam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their spoil	their plundered goods
`H7998-01`	2 Chronicles 20:25	הַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils
`H7998-09`	2 Chronicles 24:23	שְׁלָלָ֥/ם	shelalam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their spoil	their plundered goods
`H7998-06`	2 Chronicles 28:8	שָׁלָ֥ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods
`H7998-01`	2 Chronicles 28:8	הַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils
`H7998-01`	2 Chronicles 28:15	הַ/שָּׁלָל֒	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils

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