שִׁלּוּחַ
𐤔𐤋𐤅𐤇
shillûwach
H7964 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A sending away, expulsion, or dismissal; commonly used for the act of sending away a person, especially a wife (divorce or separation), but also of gifts or dowry provided upon a woman's departure. The term denotes both the abstract action of sending away and the concrete items (such as gifts) associated with the act.
Semantic Range
sending away, dismissal, expulsion, act of separation (especially in marital context), divorce (the act, not necessarily the document), gifts or dower given at separation
Root / Etymology
From the root שָׁלַח (to send, send away, stretch out). שִׁלּוּחַ is a noun form signifying the result or process of sending away—i.e., a dismissal, expulsion, separation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Used almost exclusively in the plural (שִׁלּוּחִים), this term appears primarily in contexts related to marriage and family. In Deuteronomic and prophetic literature, it refers to the act of dismissing a wife, commonly interpreted as divorce, though sometimes the focus is on the separation rather than on legal procedures or documentation. In some cases, the term refers to the gifts or dowry given at the time of sending away a daughter or wife, reflecting ancient Near Eastern marital customs. English translations sometimes narrow the word to 'divorce' or 'divorce document', but its semantic breadth includes the broader act of sending away and tangible elements (presents, dower) involved in such social transactions. In post-exilic contexts, later tradition sometimes associates the word with the formal writ of divorce (get), but in biblical usage, the emphasis is more on the act and the cultural practices surrounding it than on written documentation. Not to be confused with other Hebrew terms for divorce or separation (such as כְּרֵתוּת (keritut)), which specifically refers to a written certificate.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or שִׁלֻּחַ; from שָׁלַח; (only in plural) a dismissal, i.e. (of a wife) divorce (especially the document); also (of a daughter) dower; presents, have sent back.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שלח (sh-l-ḥ) — to send, to send away, to let go, to stretch out
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4916 | מִשְׁלוֹחַ | for sending-forth of |
| H4917 | מִשְׁלַחַת | sending-forth of |
| H7971 | שָׁלַח | I will dispatch |
| H7972 | שְׁלַח | Sent-One |
| H7973 | שֶׁלַח | with the spear |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7964-02 |
שִׁלֻּחִ֔ים | shiluchim | HNcmpa |
as a dowry | sendings-away | 2 |
H7964-01 |
שִׁלּוּחֶֽי/הָ | shilucheyha | HNcmpc/Sp3fs |
her sending away | her sendings-away | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7964-01 |
Exodus 18:2 | שִׁלּוּחֶֽי/הָ | shilucheyha | HNcmpc/Sp3fs |
her sending away | her sendings-away |
H7964-02 |
1 Kings 9:16 | שִׁלֻּחִ֔ים | shiluchim | HNcmpa |
as a dowry | sendings-away |
H7964-02 |
Micah 1:14 | שִׁלּוּחִ֔ים | shiluchim | HNcmpa |
parting gifts | sendings-away |