שָׁלַךְ
𐤔𐤋𐤊
shâlak
H7993 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To throw, cast, or hurl something physically from one place to another; also used figuratively to denote the act of rejecting, expelling, or disposing of something or someone. In various contexts, it can convey the idea of forcibly tossing an object or a person, or symbolically of dismissing, abandoning, or forsaking.
Semantic Range
to physically throw or cast (an object, a person), to hurl with force, to cast aside, to dispose of, to expel or reject, to dump, to abandon
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root שׁ־ל־ךְ (שלך), whose core meaning relates to the act of throwing or casting. The word שָׁלַךְ is a verb in the Qal stem with the basic sense of physically propelling something away from oneself. Related forms extend the semantic field to broader meanings such as disposing or rejecting.
Historical & Contextual Notes
שָׁלַךְ appears throughout the Hebrew Bible in narratives involving literal throwing (e.g., casting objects into water, casting persons into pits or prisons) as well as metaphorical expulsion (e.g., YHWH 'casting away' Israel due to disobedience). It is occasionally synonymous with verbs like הִשְׁלִיךְ (hishlikh), which also means 'to throw/cast,' but שָׁלַךְ tends to emphasize the physical, forceful aspect. In exilic and post-exilic texts, it often connotes rejection or abandonment, and some later translations (Septuagint, Vulgate) sometimes render it with terms meaning 'send out' or 'exile.' However, unlike terms derived from גָּרַשׁ (to drive out, expel), שָׁלַךְ retains the sense of a sudden or violent action. The nuances can vary across poetic texts, where the imagery may relate to chaos or divine action. English translations vary; 'cast' is most frequent but sometimes narrows the forceful sense. The word is associated with both animate and inanimate objects.
Translation Consistency
"Throw" is a simple, natural English verb that covers the primary physical sense (to cast or hurl) and the common figurative senses (to throw away/out, to reject or abandon). It is broadly usable across contexts and reads naturally in modern English while preserving the range of שָׁלַךְ.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively); adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), hurl, pluck, throw.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
שלך (sh-l-k) — to throw, to cast, to hurl
Word Forms
56 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7993-33 |
וַ/יַּשְׁלֵ֨ךְ | vayashelekhe | HC/Vhw3ms |
and he threw | and he hurled | and he threw | 16 |
H7993-36 |
וַ/יַּשְׁלִ֥כוּ | vayashelikhu | HC/Vhw3mp |
and they threw | and they hurled away | and they threw | 12 |
H7993-12 |
הִשְׁלִ֥יךְ | hishelikhe | HVhp3ms |
He has cast | he hurled | he threw | 6 |
H7993-01 |
אַשְׁלִ֨יךְ | ashelikhe | HVhi1cs |
I cast | I will cast out | I will throw out | 5 |
H7993-14 |
הִשְׁלִ֥יכוּ | hishelikhu | HVhp3cp |
did they cast away | they caused to be thrown | they caused to be thrown | 4 |
H7993-21 |
מֻשְׁלֶ֣כֶת | mushelekhet | HVHsfsa |
thrown | cast-out one | thrown-out one | 4 |
H7993-05 |
הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣/הוּ | hashelikhehu | HVhv2ms/Sp3ms |
throw it | Hurl him | Throw him | 4 |
H7993-44 |
וְ/הִשְׁלִ֨יךְ | vehishelikhe | HC/Vhq3ms |
and cast | and he caused to cast away | and he caused to throw away | 4 |
H7993-34 |
וַ/יַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥/הוּ | vayashelikhehu | HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3ms |
and cast him | and he hurled him | and he threw him | 3 |
H7993-29 |
וַ/תַּשְׁלֵ֣ךְ | vatashelekhe | HC/Vhw3fs |
and threw | and she hurled | and she threw | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
125 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7993-29 |
Genesis 21:15 | וַ/תַּשְׁלֵ֣ךְ | vatashelekhe | HC/Vhw3fs |
she cast | and she hurled | and she threw |
H7993-49 |
Genesis 37:20 | וְ/נַשְׁלִכֵ֨/הוּ֙ | venashelikhehu | HC/Vhh1cp/Sp3ms |
and throw him | let us cast him away | let us throw him |
H7993-06 |
Genesis 37:22 | הַשְׁלִ֣יכוּ | hashelikhu | HVhv2mp |
cast/throw | Cast out! | Throw out! |
H7993-36 |
Genesis 37:24 | וַ/יַּשְׁלִ֥כוּ | vayashelikhu | HC/Vhw3mp |
and threw | and they hurled away | and they threw |
H7993-23 |
Exodus 1:22 | תַּשְׁלִיכֻ֔/הוּ | tashelikhuhu | HVhi2mp/Sp3ms |
you shall cast, | you will hurl him | you shall cast him |
H7993-05 |
Exodus 4:3 | הַשְׁלִיכֵ֣/הוּ | hashelikhehu | HVhv2ms/Sp3ms |
throw it | Hurl him | Throw it |
H7993-34 |
Exodus 4:3 | וַ/יַּשְׁלִיכֵ֥/הוּ | vayashelikhehu | HC/Vhw3ms/Sp3ms |
and he threw it | and he hurled him | and he threw it |
H7993-38 |
Exodus 7:9 | וְ/הַשְׁלֵ֥ךְ | vehashelekhe | HC/Vhv2ms |
and cast it | and hurl away | and cast |
H7993-33 |
Exodus 7:10 | וַ/יַּשְׁלֵ֨ךְ | vayashelekhe | HC/Vhw3ms |
and cast down | and he hurled | and he threw |
H7993-36 |
Exodus 7:12 | וַ/יַּשְׁלִ֨יכוּ֙ | vayashelikhu | HC/Vhw3mp |
For they cast down | and they hurled away | and they threw |