שָׁלַח
shâlach · H7971 · Hebrew · 847 occurrences
Meanings
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Causative action by which humans or deities commission one or more agents to go to a certain individual or place in order to perform a certain task (to send (a messenger to someone))
ExamplesGenesis 19:13 for we are about to destroy this place, because their outcry has become so great before the LORD that the LORD has sent us to destroy it.”
Genesis 20:2 And Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar sent men and took Sarah.
Genesis 24:7 “The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give this land’—He will send His angel ahead of you, and you will take a wife for my son from there.
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Causative action by which humans or deities commission people to travel through a certain area or among a certain nation in order to perform a certain task (to send (messengers through an area), to send (messengers among people))
ExamplesJudges 15:5 When he had set fire to the torches, he released the jackals into the standing grain of the Philistines and set fire to both the bundled heaps and the standing grain, along with the vineyards and olive groves.
1 Samuel 31:9 They cut off his head and stripped off his weapons, and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to bring the good news to the house of their idols and to the people.
1 Chronicles 10:9 So they stripped him and took his head and his armor and sent messengers around the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people.
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Causative action by which deities commission one or more people to go to a certain individual or place to inflict punishment (to send (messengers) against (someone))
ExamplesLeviticus 26:22 ‘I will also let loose among you the animals of the field, which will deprive you of your children and eliminate your cattle, and reduce your number so that your roads become deserted.
Deuteronomy 7:20 “Indeed, the LORD your God will send the hornet against them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you perish.
Deuteronomy 28:48 you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, thirst, nakedness, and devoid of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.
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Causative action by which humans or deities send people -- though the people sent are not mentioned explicitly -- to summon another person or group (to send for (someone), to summon)
ExamplesEzra 8:16 So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, teachers.
Jeremiah 16:16 “Behold, I am going to send for many fishermen,” declares the LORD, “and they will fish for them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain and every hill and from the clefts of the rocks.
Ezekiel 23:40 “Furthermore, they have even sent for men who come from a great distance, to whom a messenger was sent; and behold, they came—for whom you bathed, put makeup on your eyes, and adorned yourselves with jewelry;
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Causative action by which humans send a message, (supposedly) in the form of a written document to someone else (to send (a letter to someone))
ExamplesJudges 11:28 But the king of the sons of Ammon disregarded the message which Jephthah sent him.
2 Samuel 11:14 So in the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
2 Samuel 15:36 “Behold their two sons are there with them, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything that you hear.”
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Causative action by which humans or deities send an object to (other) humans, usually through the mediation of a messenger (to send (something to someone))
ExamplesGenesis 37:32 and they sent the multicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, “We found this; please examine it to see whether it is your son’s tunic or not.”
Genesis 38:17 He said, therefore, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She then said, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?”
Genesis 38:20 When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her.
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to send away, to divorce, to expel, to remove, to cast out
Causative action by which humans or deities force (other) humans to go away from a certain location and/or position; due to a lack of affection, as punishment, or for other reasons
ExamplesGenesis 3:23 therefore the LORD God sent him out of the Garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken.
Genesis 12:20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him.
Genesis 19:29 So it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the surrounding area, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the destruction, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived.
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to send out, to shoot
Causative action by which humans or deities shoot something at a particular target
Examples1 Samuel 20:20 “And I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target.
2 Samuel 22:15 “And He shot arrows and scattered them, Lightning, and routed them.
Psalm 18:14 He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them.
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Causative action by which humans or deities allow (other) humans to leave a certain place and go home (to let go, to dismiss, to send (someone) on his way, to free, to release)
ExamplesGenesis 18:16 Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off.
Genesis 24:54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they got up in the morning, he said, “Send me away to my master.”
Genesis 24:56 However, he said to them, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away so that I may go to my master.”
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to let down
Causative action by which humans allow an object to sink slowly into a place situated below oneself, usually with the help of ropes
ExamplesJeremiah 38:6 So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchijah the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guardhouse; and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. Now in the cistern there was no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud.
Jeremiah 38:11 So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went into the king’s palace to a place beneath the storeroom, and took from there worn-out clothes and worn-out rags, and let them down by ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah.
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to cause to run
Causative action by which deities cause water to move from a certain location
ExamplesPsalm 104:10 He sends forth springs in the valleys; They flow between the mountains;
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to give birth
Literally: to send out (one's young); hence: process by which animals give birth
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to set fire
Literally: to send in the fire; hence: causative action by which humans set fire to an object
ExamplesJudges 1:8 Then the sons of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.
Judges 20:48 The men of Israel then turned back against the sons of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city with the cattle and all that they found; they also set on fire all the cities which they found.
2 Kings 8:12 And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?” And he answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the sons of Israel: you will set their fortified cities on fire, you will kill their young men with the sword, their little ones you will smash to pieces, and you will rip up their pregnant women.”
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to cast off, to throw off
Causative action by which humans remove an object that is attached to part of their body
ExamplesJob 30:11 “Because He has undone my bowstring and afflicted me, They have cast off the bridle before me.
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to release, to let go, to let loose, to set free
Causative action by which humans allow (other) humans or animals to move away freely from a place where they have been confined
ExamplesGenesis 8:7 and he sent out a raven, and it flew here and there until the water was dried up from the earth.
Genesis 8:8 Then he sent out a dove, to see if the water was low on the surface of the land;
Genesis 8:10 So he waited another seven days longer; and again he sent out the dove from the ark.
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Literally: to release one's mouth; hence: causative action by which humans allow their mouth to utter certain words (to give (one's) mouth free rein)
ExamplesPsalm 50:19 “You let your mouth loose in evil, And your tongue harnesses deceit.
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to send, to cause to happen, to stir up
Literally: to send; hence: causative action by which deities cause an event to happen
ExamplesExodus 9:14 “For this time I am going to send all My plagues on you and your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.
Exodus 15:7 “And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You; You send out Your burning anger, and it consumes them like chaff.
Exodus 23:27 “I will send My terror ahead of you, and throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
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to send out, to extend
Literally: to send out one's branches or roots; hence: causative action by which plants cause their branches or roots to grow and extend in a certain direction
ExamplesPsalm 80:11 It was sending out its branches to the sea And its shoots to the Euphrates River.
Jeremiah 17:8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water That extends its roots by a stream, And does not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought, Nor cease to yield fruit.
Ezekiel 17:6 “Then it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine with its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced shoots and sent out branches.
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to let one's hair grow long
Literally: to send out one's hair; hence: causative action by which humans allow their hair to grow long
ExamplesEzekiel 44:20 “Also they shall not shave their heads, yet they shall not let their locks grow long; they shall only trim the hair of their heads.
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Action by which humans stretch out their hand, right hand, or finger in order to do point with it or to put it in position for another action (to stretch out (one's) hand, to stretch out (one's) right hand, to lay (one's) hand)
ExamplesGenesis 3:22 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out with his hand, and take fruit also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—
Genesis 8:9 but the dove found no resting place for the sole of its foot, so it returned to him in the ark, for the water was on the surface of all the earth. Then he put out his hand and took it, and brought it into the ark to himself.
Genesis 19:10 But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door.
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to stretch out, to extend, to wield
Action by which humans stretch out their hand, which holds an object, in order to do something with that object
ExamplesJudges 6:21 Then the angel of the LORD put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire came up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.
1 Samuel 14:27 However, Jonathan had not heard it when his father put the people under oath; so he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
Psalm 110:2 The LORD will stretch out Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
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Literally: to send away one's feet; hence, possible: causative action by which humans thrust aside the feet of someone who is standing up, in order to make that person fall down; seen as an act of aggression (to thrust aside (someone's) feet > to send (someone) sprawling)
ExamplesJob 30:12 “On the right hand their mob arises; They push aside my feet and pile up their ways of destruction against me.
Isaiah 32:20 How blessed will you be, you who sow beside all waters, Who let the ox and the donkey out freely.
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to deliver, to give over, to forsake
Action by which humans or deities stop caring for (other) humans or objects as if that person or object has been sent away from their presence
ExamplesJob 8:4 “If your sons sinned against Him, Then He turned them over to the power of their wrongdoing.
Psalm 81:12 “So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk by their own plans.
Proverbs 29:15 The rod and a rebuke give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.
How it’s used In 12 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Who or what does itSubject
828 occurrences in 102 groups
- Not stated: he, she or it 202
- Not stated: I 106
- Not stated: you (one person) 78
- יְהֹוָהthe LORD, YHWH 48
- Not stated: they 43
- Not stated (infinitive) 40
- Other words · 70 groups that occur once or twice (87) 87
What it acts on, or what is saidObject
606 occurrences in 197 groups
- מֲלְאָךְmessenger, angel 56
- יָדhand, power 55
- נִיme 49
- וֹhim 44
- הֶםthem 42
- ךָּyou 28
- Other words · 160 groups that occur once or twice (196) 196
Second objectAs in “call him Lord”
10 occurrences in 2 groups
- חׇפְשִׁיfree 8
- כָּסָהto cover 2
With prepositionsPrepositional phrases
505 occurrences in 310 groups
- לto/for+ אָמַרto say 76
- בin/on/with+ יָדhand, power 20
- אֵלto, toward+ מֶלֶךְking 19
- אֵלto, toward+ נִיme 16
- אֵלto, toward+ כֶםyou 14
- לto/for+ פָּנִיםface, presence, before 14
- Other words · 254 groups that occur once or twice (295) 295
With adverbsAdverbs
66 occurrences in 15 groups
- לֹאnot 42
- אַלnot, do not 5
- רֵיקָםempty-handed, empty 4
- שָׁםthere 4
- מָחָרtomorrow 3
- עַתָּהnow 3
- Other words · 9 groups that occur once or twice (12) 12
Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive
6 occurrences in 4 groups
- נִיme 2
- וֹhim 2
- רֶגֶלfoot, leg 1
- ךָyour 1
Named alongside itApposition
4 occurrences in 2 groups
- מֶלֶךְking 3
- לוּץinsolent person 1
What it doesIt is the subject
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- כָּבַסto wash 1
What is done to itIt is the object
23 occurrences in 10 groups
- יָדַעto know 8
- אָמַרto say 3
- רָאָהto see 3
- Other words · 7 groups that occur once or twice (9) 9
Second object ofSecond object
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- יָדַעto know 1
What is said to be itIt is the predicate
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- אֵלֶּהthese 1
After prepositionsPrepositional phrases
44 occurrences in 6 groups
- לto/for 33
- בin/on/with 6
- כlike/as 3
- אַחַרafter, behind 1
- מִןfrom 1
- עַדto, as far as, until 1
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
In the other Testament 3 words
- ἀποστέλλω apostéllō · G649 · to send, to send a message, to send word
- Greek ἀποστέλλω (apostéllō, G649) specializes in commissioned sending with authoritative mission focus, while Hebrew שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) covers broader spectrum including casual dispatch, dismissal, and idiomatic extensions beyond sending per se; ἀποστέλλω (apostéllō, G649) represents the LXX's standard rendering choice for שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971)'s core 'send' sense when mission/commission context is salient.
- ἐξαποστέλλω exapostéllō · G1821 · to send, to send out, to send forth
- Greek ἐξαποστέλλω is an intensified compound (ἐκ + ἀποστέλλω) emphasizing dispatch outward or away, typically rendering Hebrew שָׁלַח in contexts of formal sending forth, mission, or dismissal, whereas שָׁלַח covers the broader semantic range of sending/letting go in any direction or manner.
- ἐπιφέρω epiphérō · G2018 · to bring upon, to impose upon
- Greek ἐπιφέρω specifically denotes bringing/bearing upon in the sense of imposing or inflicting something (accusations, judgments, consequences), corresponding to the judicial and causative infliction senses within Hebrew שָׁלַח's broad sending/bringing semantic range, though ἐπιφέρω lacks the simple neutral sending/dispatching core that dominates שָׁלַח usage.
Semantic domains 10 entries
- Move002002001012
- The verb's core sense of sending, directly shown in the LORD sending the man out of Eden (Genesis 3:23), Noah sending out the raven (Genesis 8:7) and the dove (Genesis 8:8).
- Birth002002002003
- This domain reflects the "grow long" sense named in the gloss (as of hair or branches sent forth in growth), not directly shown by this entry's own five sampled citations.
- Burn002001001009
- This domain reflects a further idiomatic extension named in the gloss (as in "sending" fire upon something), not directly shown by this entry's own sampled citations, which describe expulsion and sending out birds.
- Non-Whole002003001021
- This domain reflects the "cast away/off" sense named in the gloss, not directly shown by this entry's own five sampled citations.
- Free002003002012
- The sense of releasing or letting depart, loosely reflected in the man being sent out of the Garden to fend for himself (Genesis 3:23) and the dove eventually released to fly freely once the waters receded (Genesis 8:8).
- Speak002004001009008
- This domain reflects the common use of this verb for sending a message or word, not directly shown by this entry's own five sampled citations, which describe sending people and birds rather than messages.
- Happen002002003003
- This domain reflects a further extension of this verb's broad semantic range, not directly shown by this entry's own five sampled citations.
- Stage002001001060
- This domain reflects a further extension of this verb's broad semantic range, not directly shown by this entry's own five sampled citations.
- Stance002001001061
- The physical act of reaching out, directly shown in the LORD's concern that the man might "reach out with his hand" and take from the tree of life (Genesis 3:22) and Noah putting out his hand to take the dove (Genesis 8:9).
- Unwilling002001002031
- The sense of forced expulsion against one's will, reflected in the man being driven out of Eden rather than choosing to leave (Genesis 3:23).
Word family 8 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H7971. shalach I. שָׁלַח844 verb send (Late Hebrew id.; Ecclus 48:18 +; Aramaic שְׁלַךְ,…
I. שָׁלַח844 verb send (Late Hebrew id.; Ecclus 48:18 +; Aramaic שְׁלַךְ, , SoBuhl BaEs 41 compare Arabic (r = l), send forth, drive cattle to pasture, send messenger, etc., but then different √ for I. שֶׁלַךְ, Arabic , weapon; Assyrian probably šalû (send, hurl?), whence tešlitu, command); —
Qal562 Perfect3masculine singular ׳שׁ Gen 42:4 Gen 42:2masculine singular suffix שְׁלַחְתָּ֑נִי Exo 5:22, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁלַח Gen 3:22 +, 2 feminine plural תִּשְׁלַ֫חְנָה Eze 23:40 (Jdg 5:26 read תִּשְׁלָחֶנָּה? Ges § 47 k); Imperative masculine singular שְׁלַךְ 1Sa 20:31 +, masculine plural שְׁלָ֑חוּ 2Ki 2:17; Infinitive abs. שָׁל(וֺ)ךְַ Num 22:37 +; construct שְׁלֹתַ Num 22:15 +, שְׁלַךְ Isa 58:9, suffix שָׁלְחֶ֑ךָ Gen 38:17 etc.; Participle act. שֹׁלֵךְַ Exo 9:14 +, etc.; שָׁלוּחַ 1Ki 14:6 +, etc., —
1 send: human subject, especially
a. accusative of person Gen 42:4; Gen 43:8 (both J; with אֵת with, person) Num 22:15 (E) + often, with ל of thing for which Jer 14:3; followed by אֶל person Gen 37:13(J), 2Sa 11:6; Neh 6:5 +; rarely with ל person Gen 32:19 (J; pass.), אֶל, of location 2Ch 16:4, ב of location 1Sa 11:3, ל of location 1 Kings 5:28, accusative of location 2Ki 22:3, ה- locative + מֵעַל person 2Sa 13:17, מִן local Gen 37:14 (J), Num 13:3 (P), etc.; followed by infinitive purpose 1Sa 25:14 ( + מִן local), 2Ki 1:16; Jer 40:14 +, אֶל person with infinitive purpose 2Sa 10:3; Jer 42:9 +, with ו subordinate 2Ki 5:6, with finite verb actionis Exo 2:5 (E), sent her maid and took, +, etc. (many combinations); accusative of person alone Exo 24:5 (E), Jos 7:22(E), 2Sa 10:7 +?
b. less often accusative of thing (sometimes with בְּיַד of agent), with אֶל person 1Sa 16:20; 2Ki 5:5; 2Ki 20:12 +, 1 Kings 5:23 (= designate by sending unto), ל person Jdg 3:15; 1 Kings 5:22 +, אֶל location Est 1:22, שָׁ֫מָּה 2Ki 6:14; + infinitive purpose 1Ch 19:4; Est 4:4; + finite verb action. Psa 105:28; accusative of kid, alone, Gen 38:23 also (accusative omitted) Gen 38:17, etc.
c. very oft,. without object: + finite verb action., send and do so and so, Gen 27:45(E), 2Ki 11:14; Job 1:5 +; with אֶל person Hos 5:13; 2Sa 11:6 +, especially + לֵאמֹר Gen 38:25(J), 1Ki 20:5 (often in Samuel Kings), Jer 29:28 +; with infinitive purpose Gen 32:6 (J), Num 21:32 (J), 1Sa 22:11 +, etc. (and so 1Sa 31:9 reading וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ, for
Pi`el, Th We Dr Now, not HPS Bu); absolute 2Ki 2:16-17, 2Sa 14:29; = send to inquire 1Ki 20:17, etc.
2 send: subject ׳י (God),
a. accusative of person Gen 45:5; (E; לִפְנֵי person), 1Sa 15:18 (בְּדָ֑רֶךְ), + אֶל person 2Sa 12:1; accusative of angel, לִפְנֵי person Gen 24:7; Exo 33:2 (both J), אֵת with Gen 24:40(J), etc.; with accusative of person = commission Exo 3:12 (E), Jdg 6:14; Isa 6:8; Jer 14:14-15, +? Jeremiah; Zec 2:13 +; also (with אֶל person) Exo 3:13 (E), Jer 25:4; Eze 3:6 +, etc.; especially of sending prophet, (שָׁלַךְ), וְשָׁלוֺחַ הַשְׁכֵּם Jer 7:25 + (see [שָׁרַם]); accusative of person + infinitive purpose 1Sa 15:1; Jer 19:14 +; + עַד location 2Ki 2:2, accusative of location 2Ki 2:4, ָ ה locative 2Ki 2:6, etc.
b. with accusative of thing, plagues Exo 9:14 (with ב אֶללֵֿב, person), figurative arrows 2Sa 22:15 = Psa 18:15( + verb finite action.), Psa 144:6, compare Jer 25:16 and elsewhere; his word Isa 9:7 (ב of a people), Isa 55:11 (אשׁר to which), Zec 7:12 (ב agent.), Psa 107:20 (+ finite verb action.), Psa 147:15 (+ accusative אֶרֶץ); accusative help Psa 20:3 (מִן local), light and truth Psa 43:3 (+ finite verb action.), compare Psa 57:4
3 stretch out, especially accusative hand:
a. human subject, with ב person against, Gen 37:22(E), 1Sa 24:11; Est 2:21+; with ב of thing (property of others) Exo 22:7; Exo 22:10 (E), Est 9:10 +, בַּחַלָּמִישׁ Job 28:9; with אֶל person against Gen 22:12 (E), 2Sa 18:12, עַל person 1Ki 13:4, etc.; אֶל of thing (for good) 2Sa 6:6 (יָד omitted); from outside; inward, Son 5:4 (מִן local); absolute Job 30:24 (read טֹבֵעַ for בְּעִי Di Bi Bu). + infinitive purpose 1Sa 22:17, 1Sa 22:17; 2Sa 1:14; 1Ch 13:9; + verbfin.active Gen 3:22 (J) Deu 25:11; Jdg 15:15; +; ׳שׁ אֶצְבַּע Isa 58:9, in token of scorn; with accusative of rod 1Sa 14:27; מַגָּל שִׁלְחוּ Joel 1Sa 4:13 stretch out (the) sickle.
b. ׳י subject, accusative hand, + אֶל person against Exo 24:(E), compare (עַל) Psa 138:7; + finite verb active Exo 3:20 (JE), Exo 9:15(J), Job 1:11; Job 2:5; in favour, Jer 1:9, absolute Psa 144:7 (מִן local), also (passive) Eze 2:9 and accusative יָד תַּבְנִית), Eze 8:3.
c. accusative hand, subject angel, + accusative of location, infinitive purpose 2Sa 24:16, cherub, אֶל of thing, מִן local Eze 10:7; adversary, אֶל person Job 1:12; subject angel, accusative rod Jdg 6:21.
d. stretched out, slender, of tree Gen 49:21 (poem in J), see I. אֵלָה above.
e. perhaps extend, direct, accusative of thing Eze 8:17 (see זְמוֺרָה above, also conjectures in Toy Krae).
4 rarely send away (see Pi`el): human subject, accusative of person Jdg 11:38 ( + accusative temporal), Gen 28:5 (P).
5 let loose (see
Pi`el), perhaps only Psa 50:19 (figurative) thy mouth hast thou let loose in evil.
Niph`al Infinitive absolute. סְפָרִים וְנִשְׁלוֺחַ = letters were sent (Ges§ 113z gg) Est 3:13 ( + אֶל person, בְּיַד agent., infinitive purpose).
Pi`el266 Perfect3masculine singular שִׁלַּח Exo 8:28 +, suffix שִׁלַּחֲךָ 1Sa 20:22, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יְשַׁלַּח Jer 3:1 +, יְשַׁלֵּ֑חַ Isa 45:13; Pro 6:14; Pro 6:1singular suffix אֲשַׁלֵּחֲךָ Gen 32:27, אֲשַׁלְּחֶךָּ 2Sa 11:12; 1Ki 20:34, etc.; Imperative masculine singular שַׁלַּךְ Exo 4:23, +, etc.; Infinitive absolute Deu 22:7; 1Ki 11:22; construct שַׁלַּךְ Gen 8:10 +, שַׁלֵּ֑ךְַ Exodus 7:27; +, etc.; Participle מְשַׁלֵחַ Gen 43:4 +, etc.; —
1 send off, away, human subject:
a. accusative of person + ל location Jos 24:28 (E), Jdg 7:8; 1Sa 10:23 +; + ל person Jer 48:12; + הּ+? Jdg 12:9 and (c. infinitive purpose) Gen 28:6 (P); accusative of goat, לַעֲזָאזֵל Lev 16:10 (ה- locative), Lev 16:26; send out, different ways, accusative of person, ב location Jdg 19:29; Jdg 20:6; send into exile, ׳י subject, with מִן local Jer 24:5, ה+? Jer 29:20.
b. send away, dismiss, accusative of person Gen 21:14 (E), Gen 25:6 (J; מֵעַל person), 2Sa 13:16 +; specifically, with accusative of wife (= divorce), Deu 22:19, Deu 22:29; Deu 24:1, Deu 24:3; Jer 3:1 +, absolute Mal 2:16.
c. send away empty (-handed) רֵיקָם, + accusative of person Gen 31:42 (E), Deu 15:13; Job 22:9.
d. send off, give a 'send-off' (sometimes escort part way), accusative of person, Gen 18:16; Gen 24:59; Gen 31:27 (all J), 1Sa 9:26; 2Ki 5:24; 2Ki 6:23.
e. accusative of thing 1Sa 6:8; Neh 8:12 +, with accusative of location 1Sa 5:10; 1Sa 6:3, אֶל person Jer 27:3, etc.
2. a. send away, subject ׳י, accusative of person Gen 19:29 (J; מִתּוֺךְ), 1Ki 9:7 (מְּנֵי מֵעַל).
b. give over, accusative of person Psa 81:13 (ב of evil).
c. cast out, accusative of person Jer 28:16 (מֵעַלמְּֿנֵי), Lev 18:24; Lev 20:23 (both מִמְּנֵי).
d. send out, forth, send on a mission, especially of ׳י, with accusative of hornet Deu 7:20, compare Deu 28:20; Deu 32:24 (all ב person), serpents Num 21:6 (E; ב person), lions 2Ki 17:25-26, (both id.), foes 2Ki 24:2 (twice in verse) (+ infinitive purpose); pestilence Amo 4:10; Eze 28:23 (ב person), etc.; also springs into (ב) channel Psa 104:10.
3 let go, set free (sometimes c, חָפְשִׁי) Exo 4:23; Exo 5:2 (twice in verse) (all J E), 2Sa 3:21, 2Sa 3:23, 2Sa 3:24 +; = cease to abuse Jdg 19:25; + infinitive purpose Gen 24:56 (J), Exo 5:1 (E; + 10 t. Exodus), 1Sa 5:11; with accusative of bird Gen 8:7-8, (+ מֵאִתּוֺ) +; + הַשָּׂדֶה Lev 14:7, compare Lev 14:53 (both P); = let loose, accusative of beast, Exo 22:4 (E), Lev 16:22 (ב location); accusative of bridle Job 30:11 (figurative); metaphor of strife Pro 6:14, Pro 6:19; Pro 16:28; let loose waters, subject ׳י, Job 12:15.
4 shoot forth branches, Jer 17:8; Psa 80:12; Eze 31:5 (but see I. שֶׁלַךְ
2); compare of locks (מֶּרַע) Eze 44:20 = let grow long.
5 let down, accusative of person Jer 38:6 (ב instrumental), accusative of thing Jer 38:11 (id. + אֶל person and location).
6 shoot (accusative of arrow omitted), לְמַטָּרָה ׳לְשַׁ לִי1Sa 20:20.
7 phrases: בָאֵשׁ (אֶתֿ)הָעִיר שִׁלַּח Jdg 1:8; Jdg 20:48, compare 2Ki 8:12; Psa 74:7; but also ׳שׁ בְּ אֵשׁ Amo 1:4, Amo 1:7, Amo 1:10, Amo 1:12; Amo 2:2, Amo 2:5; Hos 8:14; Eze 39:6; rare expressions are: בְּיַדמִּֿשְׁעָם וַיְשַׁלְּחֵם Job 8:4 (God subject); stretch out hand, ב of thing (for use) Pro 31:19, ל person (charity) Pro 31:20; תְּשַׁלַּחְנָה חֶבְלֵיהֶם Job 39:3 (of hinds, bearing); הַמָּ֑יִם עַלמְּֿנֵי לַחְמְךָ שַׁלַּח Ecc 11:1. — שִׁלֵּ֑חוּ רַגְלַי Job 30:12 is corrupt; Theod Ew Di שִׁלֵּ֑חוּ רַגְלָם; Me Bu Be and others dittograph from Job 30:11b.
Pu`al Perfect3masculine singular שֻׁלַּךְ Jdg 5:15; Job 18:8, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יְשֻׁלַּח Pro 17:11; Participle מְשֻׁלָח Isa 16:2 +; — be sent off (started on journey) Gen 44:3 (J); with commission, ב person Obadiah; Pro 17:11, אֶל person Dan 10:11; be put away, divorced, of wife Isa 50:1 (figurative); be impelled (?), בְּרַגְלָיו (= at his heels ?), with ב location Jdg 5:15 (verb dubious), compare בְּרַגְלָיו בְּרֶשֶׁת שֻׁלַּח Job 18:8 he is hurried into the net with his feet (? ᵐ5 Du רַגְלוֺ שֻׁלְּחָה); מְשֻׁלָּח קֵן Isa 16:2 a driven (scattered) nest (|| נוֺדֵד עוֺף), compare מְשׁ ׳נָוֶה כַּמִּדְבָּר וְנֶעֱזָב Isa 27:10; מְשׁ ׳נַעַר Pro 29:15 a boy let loose (unrestrained).
Hiph`il Perfect1singular וְהִשְׁלַחְתִּ֫י and I (׳י) will send famine, בָּאָרֶץ Amo 8:11, compare Eze 14:13, wild beasts; ב person Lev 26:22 (H); Participle מַשְׁלִיחַ, accusative of flies, ב person Exo 8:17 (J); Infinitive construct לְהַשְׁלִיחַ accusative of foe, ב of a people 2Ki 15:37.
שְׁלַח verb send (Biblical Hebrew I. שָׁלַח); —
Pe`al Perfect3masculine singular ׳שׁ Ezr 4:17 +; 3 masculine plural שְׁלַ֫חוּ Ezr 4:11 +; 2 masculine plural שְׁלַחְתּוּן Ezr 4:18; Ezr 4:1plural שְׁלַחְנָא Ezr 4:14; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁלח Ezr 5:17; Ezr 6:12; Passive participle שְׁלִיחַ Ezr 7:14; Dan 5:24; — send, accusative of letter, etc., with עַל person Ezr 4:11, Ezr 4:17, Ezr 4:18; Ezr 5:6-7, Ezr 5:17; absolute Ezr 6:13, followed by fini
Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain
Topical studies with this word 10 entries
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
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