שָׁלָל (H7998) — Hebrew Lexicon

שָׁלָל

𐤔𐤋𐤋

shâlâl

H7998 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Material goods, livestock, or persons captured or taken during a military conflict, raid, or violent encounter; refers to the tangible possessions seized from defeated opponents. In certain contexts, may also refer more generally to prey in a non-military sense. The term can encompass anything of value confiscated as a result of victory, including property, livestock, and occasionally people or prisoners.

Semantic Range

booty, spoils of war, prey, goods or livestock seized in battle or raids, property taken by force, captured persons or animals, metaphorically prey taken by animals

Root / Etymology

Root: שלל. Derived from the verb שלל (shalal), meaning 'to plunder, spoil, take by force.' The noun form שָׁלָל is a direct derivative indicating the things or persons successfully plundered or taken as spoils of war.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the ancient Israelite context, שָׁלָל primarily denotes items seized as the result of military campaigns. It appears frequently in narratives concerning conquest and war (e.g., Joshua, Samuel, Kings), as well as in prophetic and poetic passages. Distribution of שָׁלָל among warriors was a formal, often regulated process (see 1 Samuel 30). The use of the word overlaps with terms like מַלְקוֹחַ (malqôach, 'booty, something taken'), but שָׁלָל is more commonly used for general spoils, while מַלְקוֹחַ can emphasize the act of taking or specifically refer to persons captured. In non-military contexts, the word may also be used metaphorically to describe prey seized by animals (cf. Isaiah 33:23). Standard English translations like 'spoil,' 'booty,' or 'prey' capture aspects of the meaning but do not always reflect distinctions between types of property or the processes by which שָׁלָל was distributed or sanctified. In later periods (post-exilic), the term retains the sense of seized goods but is less central in the literature. English translations and some tradition employ the term 'spoils,' which may not fully convey the diverse objects or implications of the Hebrew term within its socio-historical context.

Translation Consistency

primary "spoils" 51 occurrences

H7998 chiefly denotes goods or property taken in victory; the idiom “spoils” (as in “the spoils of war”) is the most natural, immediately clear English rendering and matches the majority of existing renderings (spoil/plunder). It covers booty, captured livestock, and seized property in ordinary usage.

Alternatives (23 occurrences):

"spoils-of" (7x) "plunder-spoils of" (7x) "plunder" (5x) "spoil" (2x) "plundered goods" (1x) "plunder of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from שָׁלַל; booty; prey, spoil.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שלל (sh-l-l) — to plunder, to carry off, to spoil

Root שלל to plunder, to carry off, to spoil

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H4122	מַהֵר שָׁלָל חָשׁ בַּז	plunder
H7758	שׁוֹלָל	stripped one
H7997	שָׁלַל	they stripped themselves bare

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H7998-06`	שָׁלָֽל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils	18
`H7998-01`	הַ/שָּׁלָ֔ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils	the plundered spoils	10
`H7998-03`	לְ/שָׁלָֽל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	for spoil	for plunder-spoil	for spoils	7
`H7998-07`	שְׁלַ֣ל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of	plunder-spoils of	7
`H7998-16`	וּ/שְׁלַ֥ל	ushelal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and spoil	and plunder-of	and spoils-of	5
`H7998-08`	שְׁלָלָ֗/הּ	shelalah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its spoil	her plunder	her spoils	5
`H7998-04`	מֵ/הַ/שָּׁלָ֛ל	mehashalal	`HR/Td/Ncmsa`	from-the-spoil	from the plunder	from the spoils	3
`H7998-09`	שְׁלָלָ֔/ם	shelalam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their spoil	their plundered goods	their spoils	3
`H7998-19`	וְ/שָׁלָ֥ל	veshalal	`HC/Ncmsa`	and spoil	plundered spoil	and spoils	3
`H7998-12`	שְׁלָל֑/וֹ	shelalo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	of his spoil	his plunder	his plunder	2
`H7998-17`	וּ/שְׁלָלָ֖/ם	ushelalam	`HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp`	and their spoil	and their plunder	and their spoils	2
`H7998-05`	מִ/שְּׁלַ֥ל	mishelal	`HR/Ncmsc`	from-spoil-of	from plunder-of	from spoils-of	2
`H7998-15`	וּ/מִ/שְּׁלַ֛ל	umishelal	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and from the spoil of	and from plunder-of	and from plunder of	1
`H7998-11`	שְׁלַלְ/כֶ֔ם	shelalekhem	`HNcmsc/Sp2mp`	your spoil	your plunder	your spoil	1
`H7998-02`	לַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	lashalal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	to the spoil	to the plunder	to the plunder	1
`H7998-10`	שְׁלָלֵ֖/ךְ	shelalekhe	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	your spoil	your plunder	your spoil	1
`H7998-14`	וּ/מִ/שָּׁלָ֔ל	umishalal	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and-from-spoil	and from plundered goods	and from plundered goods	1
`H7998-13`	שלל	shll	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plunder	plunder	1
`H7998-18`	בַ/שָּׁלָ֡ל	vashalal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	among the spoil	in the plunder	in the plunder	1

Occurrences in Scripture

74 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H7998-06`	Genesis 49:27	שָׁלָֽל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-06`	Exodus 15:9	שָׁלָ֑ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-01`	Numbers 31:11	הַ/שָּׁלָ֔ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils	the plundered spoils
`H7998-01`	Numbers 31:12	הַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils	the plundered spoils
`H7998-16`	Deuteronomy 2:35	וּ/שְׁלַ֥ל	ushelal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and spoil	and plunder-of	and spoils-of
`H7998-16`	Deuteronomy 3:7	וּ/שְׁלַ֥ל	ushelal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and the spoil	and plunder-of	and spoils-of
`H7998-08`	Deuteronomy 13:17	שְׁלָלָ֗/הּ	shelalah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its-spoil	her plunder	her spoils
`H7998-08`	Deuteronomy 13:17	שְׁלָלָ/הּ֙	shelalah-2	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its-spoil	her plunder	her spoils
`H7998-08`	Deuteronomy 20:14	שְׁלָלָ֖/הּ	shelalah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its spoil	her plunder	her spoils
`H7998-07`	Deuteronomy 20:14	שְׁלַ֣ל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of	plunder-spoils of
`H7998-18`	Joshua 7:21	בַ/שָּׁלָ֡ל	vashalal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	among the spoil	in the plunder	in the plunder
`H7998-08`	Joshua 8:2	שְׁלָלָ֥/הּ	shelalah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its spoil	her plunder	her spoils
`H7998-16`	Joshua 8:27	וּ/שְׁלַל֙	ushelal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and the spoil	and plunder-of	and spoils-of
`H7998-07`	Joshua 11:14	שְׁלַ֞ל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of	plunder-spoils of
`H7998-07`	Joshua 22:8	שְׁלַל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of	plunder-spoils of
`H7998-06`	Judges 5:30	שָׁלָ֗ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-07`	Judges 5:30	שְׁלַ֤ל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of	plunder-spoils of
`H7998-07`	Judges 5:30	שְׁלַ֥ל	shelal-2	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of	plunder-spoils of
`H7998-06`	Judges 5:30	שָׁלָֽל	shalal-2	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-12`	Judges 8:24	שְׁלָל֑/וֹ	shelalo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	of his spoil	his plunder	his plunder
`H7998-12`	Judges 8:25	שְׁלָלֽ/וֹ	shelalo	`HNcmsc/Sp3ms`	of his spoil	his plunder	his plunder
`H7998-05`	1 Samuel 14:30	מִ/שְּׁלַ֥ל	mishelal	`HR/Ncmsc`	from the spoil	from plunder-of	from spoils-of
`H7998-13`	1 Samuel 14:32	שלל	shll	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plunder	plunder
`H7998-01`	1 Samuel 14:32	הַ/שָּׁלָ֔ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils	the plundered spoils
`H7998-01`	1 Samuel 15:19	הַ/שָּׁלָ֔ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils	the plundered spoils
`H7998-04`	1 Samuel 15:21	מֵ/הַ/שָּׁלָ֛ל	mehashalal	`HR/Td/Ncmsa`	from the spoil	from the plunder	from the spoils
`H7998-01`	1 Samuel 30:16	הַ/שָּׁלָ֣ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils	the plundered spoils
`H7998-14`	1 Samuel 30:19	וּ/מִ/שָּׁלָ֔ל	umishalal	`HC/R/Ncmsa`	and-from-spoil	and from plundered goods	and from plundered goods
`H7998-07`	1 Samuel 30:20	שְׁלַ֥ל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	spoil	plunder-spoil of	plunder-spoils of
`H7998-04`	1 Samuel 30:22	מֵ/הַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	mehashalal	`HR/Td/Ncmsa`	of the spoil	from the plunder	from the spoils
`H7998-04`	1 Samuel 30:26	מֵֽ/הַ/שָּׁלָ֛ל	mehashalal	`HR/Td/Ncmsa`	from-the-spoil	from the plunder	from the spoils
`H7998-05`	1 Samuel 30:26	מִ/שְּׁלַ֖ל	mishelal	`HR/Ncmsc`	from-spoil-of	from plunder-of	from spoils-of
`H7998-19`	2 Samuel 3:22	וְ/שָׁלָ֥ל	veshalal	`HC/Ncmsa`	and spoil	plundered spoil	and spoils
`H7998-15`	2 Samuel 8:12	וּ/מִ/שְּׁלַ֛ל	umishelal	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and from the spoil of	and from plunder-of	and from plunder of
`H7998-16`	2 Samuel 12:30	וּ/שְׁלַ֥ל	ushelal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and spoil	and plunder-of	and spoils-of
`H7998-02`	2 Kings 3:23	לַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	lashalal	`HRd/Ncmsa`	to the spoil	to the plunder	to the plunder
`H7998-07`	Isaiah 8:4	שְׁלַ֣ל	shelal	`HNcmsc`	the spoil	plunder-spoil of	plunder-spoils of
`H7998-06`	Isaiah 9:2	שָׁלָֽל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-09`	Isaiah 10:2	שְׁלָלָ֔/ם	shelalam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their spoil	their plundered goods	their spoils
`H7998-06`	Isaiah 10:6	שָׁלָל֙	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-11`	Isaiah 33:4	שְׁלַלְ/כֶ֔ם	shelalekhem	`HNcmsc/Sp2mp`	your spoil	your plunder	your spoil
`H7998-06`	Isaiah 33:23	שָׁלָל֙	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-06`	Isaiah 53:12	שָׁלָל֒	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-03`	Jeremiah 21:9	לְ/שָׁלָֽל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	as spoil	for plunder-spoil	for spoils
`H7998-03`	Jeremiah 38:2	לְ/שָׁלָ֖ל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	as-spoil	for plunder-spoil	for spoils
`H7998-03`	Jeremiah 39:18	לְ/שָׁלָ֔ל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	for-spoil	for plunder-spoil	for spoils
`H7998-03`	Jeremiah 45:5	לְ/שָׁלָ֔ל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	as spoil	for plunder-spoil	for spoils
`H7998-03`	Jeremiah 49:32	לְ/שָׁלָ֔ל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	for spoil	for plunder-spoil	for spoils
`H7998-03`	Jeremiah 50:10	לְ/שָׁלָ֑ל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	for spoil	for plunder-spoil	for spoils
`H7998-03`	Ezekiel 7:21	לְ/שָׁלָ֑ל	leshalal	`HR/Ncmsa`	for spoil	for plunder-spoil	for spoils
`H7998-08`	Ezekiel 29:19	שְׁלָלָ/הּ֙	shelalah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its spoil	her plunder	her spoils
`H7998-06`	Ezekiel 38:12	שָׁלָ֖ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-06`	Ezekiel 38:13	שָׁלָל֙	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-06`	Ezekiel 38:13	שָׁלָ֥ל	shalal-2	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-06`	Zechariah 2:13	שָׁלָ֖ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	plunder	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-10`	Zechariah 14:1	שְׁלָלֵ֖/ךְ	shelalekhe	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	your spoil	your plunder	your spoil
`H7998-06`	Psalms 68:13	שָׁלָֽל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-06`	Psalms 119:162	שָׁלָ֥ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-06`	Proverbs 1:13	שָׁלָֽל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-06`	Proverbs 16:19	שָׁ֝לָ֗ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-19`	Proverbs 31:11	וְ֝/שָׁלָ֗ל	veshalal	`HC/Ncmsa`	of gain	plundered spoil	and spoils
`H7998-17`	Esther 3:13	וּ/שְׁלָלָ֖/ם	ushelalam	`HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp`	and-their-spoil	and their plunder	and their spoils
`H7998-17`	Esther 8:11	וּ/שְׁלָלָ֖/ם	ushelalam	`HC/Ncmsc/Sp3mp`	and their spoil	and their plunder	and their spoils
`H7998-19`	Daniel 11:24	וְ/שָׁלָ֛ל	veshalal	`HC/Ncmsa`	and spoil	plundered spoil	and spoils
`H7998-16`	1 Chronicles 20:2	וּ/שְׁלַ֥ל	ushelal	`HC/Ncmsc`	and spoil	and plunder-of	and spoils-of
`H7998-01`	1 Chronicles 26:27	הַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils	the plundered spoils
`H7998-06`	2 Chronicles 14:12	שָׁלָ֖ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-01`	2 Chronicles 15:11	הַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils	the plundered spoils
`H7998-09`	2 Chronicles 20:25	שְׁלָלָ/ם֒	shelalam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their spoil	their plundered goods	their spoils
`H7998-01`	2 Chronicles 20:25	הַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils	the plundered spoils
`H7998-09`	2 Chronicles 24:23	שְׁלָלָ֥/ם	shelalam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their spoil	their plundered goods	their spoils
`H7998-06`	2 Chronicles 28:8	שָׁלָ֥ל	shalal	`HNcmsa`	spoil	plundered goods	spoils
`H7998-01`	2 Chronicles 28:8	הַ/שָּׁלָ֖ל	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils	the plundered spoils
`H7998-01`	2 Chronicles 28:15	הַ/שָּׁלָל֒	hashalal	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the spoil	the plundered spoils	the plundered spoils

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