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שׇׁלְטָן

𐤔𐤋𐤈𐤍

sholṭân

H7985 noun

SILEX Entry

Root שלט to rule, have authority, govern, exercise power

Definition

Authority to rule, dominion, sovereignty—referring to the right or power to govern or control, and in many cases the abstract concept of rulership or governing power. Used for both human and divine rule, typically designating high status or dominating authority rather than mere administrative control.

Semantic Range

sovereignty, authority to rule, right to govern, supreme power, dominion, rule (abstract or concrete), sovereignty of an empire or king, divine dominion

Root / Etymology

From the root שׁלט, meaning 'to rule, have authority, govern' in Aramaic. The nominal form שׇׁלְטָן (sholṭân) denotes the quality or state of possessing authority or sovereignty. The root is cognate with Hebrew שׁלט, which carries the sense of 'having dominion' or 'ruling' but appears more commonly as verbs or adjectives in Biblical and post-Biblical Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שׇׁלְטָן appears exclusively in the Aramaic sections of Daniel (e.g., Dan 2:37–38; 4:31). It is used principally to describe the rule or dominion granted by divine decree to kings or empires, emphasizing the source and extent of their authority. It often depicts sovereignty in an absolute or universal sense—applied to Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom as well as to God's rule. The term contrasts with Hebrew מַלְכוּת (malkhut, 'kingdom'), which focuses more on jurisdiction or the territory ruled, while שׇׁלְטָן highlights the power or capacity to rule. In late Biblical Aramaic and post-Biblical literature, the semantic field remains stable, continuing to denote supreme authority or the right to command. English translations often render it as 'dominion,' 'sovereignty,' or 'authority,' but none fully capture its emphasis on the inherent or bestowed right to rule, especially as a function of divine assignment.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) from שְׁלֵט; empire (abstractly or concretely); dominion.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שלט (š-l-ṭ) — to rule, have authority, govern, exercise power

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7980 שָׁלַט to rule
H7981 שְׁלֵט they ruled
H7982 שֶׁלֶט the dominion-shields
H7983 שִׁלְטוֹן dominion
H7984 שִׁלְטוֹן ruling authorities of

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7985-01 שָׁלְטָ֣ן shaletan ANcmsc dominion sovereign dominion of 4
H7985-08 וְ/שָׁלְטָנֵ֖/הּ veshaletaneh AC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and-dominion-his and his sovereignty 3
H7985-03 שָׁלְטָנֵ/הּ֙ shaletaneh ANcmsc/Sp3ms his dominion his sovereignty 2
H7985-04 שָׁלְטָנְ/ה֑וֹן shaletanehon ANcmsc/Sp3mp their dominion their sovereignty 1
H7985-07 וְ/שָׁלְטָנָ֖/ךְ veshaletanakhe AC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms and your dominion and your sovereignty 1
H7985-05 וְ/שָׁלְטָ֖ן veshaletan AC/Ncmsa and dominion and sovereignty 1
H7985-02 שָׁלְטָ֣נַיָּ֔/א shaletanaya ANcmpd/Td the dominions the sovereignties 1
H7985-06 וְ/שָׁלְטָנָ֜/א veshaletana AC/Ncmsd/Td and the dominion and the sovereignty 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7985-08 Daniel 3:33 וְ/שָׁלְטָנֵ֖/הּ veshaletaneh AC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and-dominion-his and his sovereignty
H7985-07 Daniel 4:19 וְ/שָׁלְטָנָ֖/ךְ veshaletanakhe AC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms and your dominion and your sovereignty
H7985-03 Daniel 4:31 שָׁלְטָנֵ/הּ֙ shaletaneh ANcmsc/Sp3ms his-dominion his sovereignty
H7985-01 Daniel 4:31 שָׁלְטָ֣ן shaletan ANcmsc dominion sovereign dominion of
H7985-01 Daniel 6:27 שָׁלְטָ֣ן shaletan ANcmsc dominion sovereign dominion of
H7985-08 Daniel 6:27 וְ/שָׁלְטָנֵ֖/הּ veshaletaneh AC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms and-dominion-his and his sovereignty
H7985-05 Daniel 7:6 וְ/שָׁלְטָ֖ן veshaletan AC/Ncmsa and dominion and sovereignty
H7985-04 Daniel 7:12 שָׁלְטָנְ/ה֑וֹן shaletanehon ANcmsc/Sp3mp their dominion their sovereignty
H7985-01 Daniel 7:14 שָׁלְטָן֙ shaletan ANcmsa dominion sovereign dominion of
H7985-03 Daniel 7:14 שָׁלְטָנֵ֞/הּ shaletaneh ANcmsc/Sp3ms his dominion his sovereignty
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