← H7972 H7974 →

שֶׁלַח

𐤔𐤋𐤇

shelach

H7973 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שלח to send, stretch out, extend

Definition

A weapon designed for throwing or thrusting, such as a spear or javelin; in poetic or metaphorical contexts, a shoot or branch of a plant. While most commonly denoting a missile weapon in military contexts, it may figuratively refer to a branch or shoot that is 'sent out.'

Semantic Range

spear, javelin, dart, missile weapon, branch, shoot (of a plant)

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root שָׁלַח, meaning 'to send, send forth, stretch out.' The form שֶׁלַח is a nominal derivative, likely originally referring to something 'sent forth' or 'projected,' which naturally extends to weapons cast or thrust (e.g., spear, javelin), as well as to plant shoots that grow outward.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term שֶׁלַח appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible and is primarily attested in contexts involving weapons, usually translated as 'spear,' 'javelin,' or occasionally 'dart.' In poetic or metaphorical usage (e.g., Job 8:16), it refers to the 'shoots' or 'branches' of a plant, connecting conceptually to the idea of something being extended outward. Standard English translations such as 'sword' or generic 'weapon' may obscure the specificity and connection to the idea of something sent or extended. Related terms include חֲנִית (ḥănît, spear), רֹמַח (romach, javelin), and קֶרֶן (qeren, horn, but also used for projecting objects). The word is etymologically and semantically distinct from idiomatic uses of the verbal root ('to put off,' 'to stretch out'). In later Hebrew, the term's weapon-related senses diminish, with other terms becoming more prevalent. The figurative meaning of 'shoot' or 'branch' is rare and context-dependent.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁלַח; a missile of attack, i.e. spear; also (figuratively) a shoot of growth; i.e. branch; dart, plant, [idiom] put off, sword, weapon.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

שלח (š-l-ḥ) — to send, send forth, stretch out, extend

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4916 מִשְׁלוֹחַ for sending-forth of
H4917 מִשְׁלַחַת sending-forth of
H7964 שִׁלּוּחַ her sendings-away
H7971 שָׁלַח I will dispatch
H7972 שְׁלַח Sent-One

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7973-07 שִׁלְח֥/וֹ shilecho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his weapon he sent him away 2
H7973-05 שֶׁ֛לַח shelach HNcmsa weapons Sent-one 1
H7973-03 הַ/שָּֽׁלַח hashalach HTd/Ncmsa the weapon the sent-forth weapon 1
H7973-02 בְּ/שֶׁ֣לַח beshelach HR/Ncmsa by the sword with a spear 1
H7973-06 שְׁלָחַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ shelachayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs your shoots your spears 1
H7973-04 הַ/שֶּׁ֛לַח hashelach HTd/Ncmsa the-weapon the spear 1
H7973-01 בַּ/שָּֽׁלַח bashalach HRd/Ncmsa by the sword with the spear 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7973-04 Joel 2:8 הַ/שֶּׁ֛לַח hashelach HTd/Ncmsa the-weapon the spear
H7973-01 Job 33:18 בַּ/שָּֽׁלַח bashalach HRd/Ncmsa by the sword with the spear
H7973-02 Job 36:12 בְּ/שֶׁ֣לַח beshelach HR/Ncmsa by the sword with a spear
H7973-06 Song of Songs 4:13 שְׁלָחַ֨יִ/ךְ֙ shelachayikhe HNcmpc/Sp2fs your shoots your spears
H7973-03 Nehemiah 4:11 הַ/שָּֽׁלַח hashalach HTd/Ncmsa the weapon the sent-forth weapon
H7973-07 Nehemiah 4:17 שִׁלְח֥/וֹ shilecho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his-weapon he sent him away
H7973-07 2 Chronicles 23:10 שִׁלְח֣/וֹ shilecho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his weapon he sent him away
H7973-05 2 Chronicles 32:5 שֶׁ֛לַח shelach HNcmsa weapons Sent-one
← H7972 Hebrew Lexicon H7974 →