סָלָא
𐤎𐤋𐤀
çâlâʼ
H5537 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To weigh or measure by suspending, often referring to the act of placing something on a balance or scales for the purpose of assessing its weight or worth. Used metaphorically for evaluating, assessing value, or considering carefully. In some contexts, especially poetic texts, the term may take on the sense of being measured or judged.
Semantic Range
to weigh by suspending, to evaluate or consider by judging weight, to compare (by weighing), to assess value, to be weighed (passive sense in poetic/figurative usage)
Root / Etymology
Root: סָלָא (ס-ל-א). Derived from the notion of hanging or suspending in order to weigh. The verb is primitive, pointing to an original action of suspending an object to determine its weight, a practice characteristic of ancient methods of assessment or evaluation. The root is possibly related to other Semitic languages with similar meanings, but direct cognates are rare.
Historical & Contextual Notes
סָלָא appears chiefly in poetic and wisdom literature, and denotes the act of weighing or evaluating, both in a literal and figurative sense. Unlike שָׁקַל (shaqal), the more common verb for 'to weigh (on scales),' סָלָא seems to emphasize the act of suspending or hanging as part of the process. Its use often conveys a sense of careful scrutiny or judgment, which carries metaphorical weight in sapiential texts. The term is distinct from other roots for 'to weigh' or 'to judge' and is not the standardized term for commercial weighing in narrative or legal contexts. The word does not occur frequently, and in later periods, its sense was often replaced by more common terms. English translations may render the term as 'weigh,' 'consider,' or even 'compare,' but these often do not reflect the nuance of evaluating by suspension. There is no connotation of modern weighing methods; the imagery and technology reference ancient practices of using a balance.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to suspend in a balance, i.e. weigh; compare.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סלא (s-l-ʾ) — to hang, suspend, weigh
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5537-01 |
הַ/מְסֻלָּאִ֖ים | hamesulaim | HTd/VPsmpa |
weighed against | the weighed ones | the weighed ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5537-01 |
Lamentations 4:2 | הַ/מְסֻלָּאִ֖ים | hamesulaim | HTd/VPsmpa |
weighed against | the weighed ones | the weighed ones |