שֶׁל
𐤔𐤋
shel
H7945 preposition
SILEX Entry
Definition
A relative particle indicating possession, association, relationship, or reason, typically corresponding to 'of', 'belonging to', 'pertaining to', or 'for' in English. Functions as a prepositional or relative marker to link a noun with a qualifier, often followed by pronominal suffixes indicating the possessor or one associated. The word can introduce a cause or reason, as in 'because of' or 'for the sake of'.
Semantic Range
of, belonging to, pertaining to, for, because of, on account of, associated with, cause, sake
Root / Etymology
Formed from the relative particle אֲשֶׁר (asher), meaning 'that, which, who', preceded by a prefixed שׁ-, possibly indicating contraction or dialectal development. The base is the relative pronoun (asher), but שֶׁל (shel) arose in Hebrew as a secondary form, likely in Late Biblical or post-biblical Hebrew. Root is uncertain, as שֶׁל is a compounded or contracted form rather than a word with a triliteral root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שֶׁל (shel) is not present in the earliest stages of Biblical Hebrew but becomes common in late Biblical (e.g., Ezekiel, Ecclesiastes, Daniel) and especially post-biblical Hebrew (e.g., Mishnaic Hebrew). In biblical texts, possession or association is most often expressed using construct state (סמיכות) rather than shel. Its rise reflects changes in Hebrew syntax, possibly influenced by Aramaic. Shel replaces the older, more synthetic means of expressing possession with a more analytic construction. In English translations, 'of', 'for', 'belonging to', or 'pertaining to' are common equivalents, but none perfectly reflects all of shel’s functions. In post-biblical Hebrew (e.g., Mishna, Modern Hebrew), shel is the default possessive preposition. The word is rarely used in narrative or poetry of the Hebrew Bible's earlier phases, highlighting its late innovation. The English word 'for' in translations of shel sometimes obscures its syntactic relationship and ought not be confused with other prepositions like לְ (le, 'to, for').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
for the rel. אֲשֶׁר; used with prepositional prefix, and often followed by some pronominal affix; on account of, whatsoever, whichsoever; cause, sake.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אשר (compound form) (ʾ-š-r) — relation, association, possession, linkage
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7945-03 |
בְ/שֶׁ/לִּ֔/י | vesheli | HR/Tr/R/Sp1cs |
because of me | in what belongs to me | 1 |
H7945-02 |
מִ/שֶּׁ/לָּ֖/נוּ | mishelanu | HR/Tr/R/Sp1cp |
of us | belonging to us | 1 |
H7945-01 |
בְּ֠/שֶׁ/ל | beshel | HR/Tr/R |
in relation to | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7945-02 |
2 Kings 6:11 | מִ/שֶּׁ/לָּ֖/נוּ | mishelanu | HR/Tr/R/Sp1cp |
of us | belonging to us |
H7945-03 |
Jonah 1:12 | בְ/שֶׁ/לִּ֔/י | vesheli | HR/Tr/R/Sp1cs |
because of me | in what belongs to me |
H7945-01 |
Ecclesiastes 8:17 | בְּ֠/שֶׁ/ל | beshel | HR/Tr/R |
in relation to |