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שַׁלִּיט

𐤔𐤋𐤉𐤈

shallîyṭ

H7989 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root שלט to rule, have power over, dominate

Definition

One possessing authority, power, or control; a person who rules over others, exercises governance, or holds a position of command. Can refer to a chief official, administrator, military leader, or powerful individual. In various contexts, denotes both civil and military authority.

Semantic Range

ruler, one in authority, governor, military commander, chief official, powerful person, administrator

Root / Etymology

שַׁלִּיט (shallîyṭ) derives from the root שָׁלַט (shālaṭ), meaning 'to rule, have power over, dominate.' The noun is a participial form indicating 'one who exercises power,' yielding the sense of 'ruler,' 'governor,' or 'one having mastery.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, שַׁלִּיט is used primarily in later biblical texts, especially those influenced by Aramaic, such as Daniel and Ecclesiastes. Its usage reflects a broad range of authority figures in both Israelite and foreign contexts, often in relation to imperial or court administrators (e.g., Babylonian or Persian officials). The term is distinct from מֶלֶךְ (melek, 'king'), indicating appointed or subordinate rulers, officials, or military commanders rather than sovereign monarchs. In some passages, it may imply a powerful person rather than a formal office. Traditional translations like 'governor' or 'ruler' may not always capture the nuance of both administrative and military authority the word can denote. In post-biblical Aramaic, the term continues to mean 'ruler' or 'governor.' Biblical usage does not carry the religious or ethnic connotations that developed with later titles (e.g., 'prince' or specific Judean leaders).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁלַט; potent; concretely, a prince or warrior; governor, mighty, that hath power, ruler.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שלט (š-l-ṭ) — to rule, have power over, dominate

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

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7989-01 הַ/שַּׁלִּ֣יט hashalit HTd/Aamsa the ruler the ruling one 2
H7989-02 שַׁלִּ֤יט shalit HAamsa ruling one 1
H7989-03 שַׁלִּיטִ֔ים shalitim HAampa ruling ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7989-01 Genesis 42:6 הַ/שַּׁלִּ֣יט hashalit HTd/Aamsa the ruler the ruling one
H7989-03 Ecclesiastes 7:19 שַׁלִּיטִ֔ים shalitim HAampa ruling ones
H7989-02 Ecclesiastes 8:8 שַׁלִּ֤יט shalit HAamsa ruling one
H7989-01 Ecclesiastes 10:5 הַ/שַּׁלִּֽיט hashalit HTd/Aamsa the ruler the ruling one
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