שָׁלָה
𐤔𐤋𐤄
shâlâh
H7952 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be at ease, to be complacent, to be careless; the primary lexical meaning involves an attitude of ease or carelessness, which in some contexts leads to negligence or an absence of due vigilance. In certain usages, the sense can extend to a careless or deceptive state, though this is secondary and context-driven.
Semantic Range
to be at ease, to become complacent, to be negligent, to be inattentive, to act carelessly; by extension, to be lulled into a false sense of safety or security
Root / Etymology
Root: שׁלה. The root fundamentally conveys the idea of being at ease, being tranquil, or experiencing ease, rest, or carelessness. The derived verb שָׁלָה generally reflects states of complacency or negligence, sometimes allowing for related senses of being misled due to inattentiveness; however, the primary sense remains one of ease or tranquility, sometimes with a negative implication of overconfidence or lack of concern.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, שָׁלָה is found in contexts describing personal or communal attitudes of ease or security, usually with a negative connotation of unwarranted complacency (e.g., Job 12:6; Psalm 73:12). It can imply a lack of appropriate concern or vigilance, and thus may result in moral or practical negligence. While English translations sometimes render the verb as 'deceive' or 'mislead,' the more appropriate sense in Hebrew is that of becoming complacent or inattentive, which can indirectly lead to deception or harm but does not primarily mean 'to deceive' in the active, deliberate sense. In post-exilic usage, and later in Rabbinic Hebrew, the term retains the nuance of being at ease or self-satisfied, often with an implicit warning about the dangers of such an attitude. The connotation is often contrasted with related roots such as שָׁלוֹם (shalom, 'peace' or 'wholeness'), in that שָׁלָה more specifically highlights an ease that may be problematic or inappropriate given the actual circumstances.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root (probably identical with שָׁלָה through the idea of educing); to mislead; deceive, be negligent.
Bantu Hebrew
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שׁלה (š-l-h) — ease, complacency, carelessness
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7952-01 |
תַשְׁלֶ֖ה | tasheleh | HVhi2ms |
deceive | you will lull into complacency | 1 |
H7952-02 |
תִּשָּׁל֑וּ | tishalu | HVNj2mp |
be negligent | may you become complacent | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7952-01 |
2 Kings 4:28 | תַשְׁלֶ֖ה | tasheleh | HVhi2ms |
deceive | you will lull into complacency |
H7952-02 |
2 Chronicles 29:11 | תִּשָּׁל֑וּ | tishalu | HVNj2mp |
be negligent | may you become complacent |