סָלָה
to hang up, i.e. weigh, or (figuratively) contemn
Definition
The Hebrew verb סָלָה (çâlâh) carries a primary sense of 'to weigh' or 'to measure out,' as seen in Job 28:16 and Job 28:19, where it describes the priceless value of wisdom that cannot be weighed against gold or precious stones. From this concrete meaning, it developed a figurative sense of 'to esteem' or 'to value,' implying a careful assessment. In a negative context, this assessment can shift to 'to reject' or 'to treat with contempt,' as in Psalm 119:118, where God rejects those who stray from His statutes, and Lamentations 1:15, describing the Lord trampling Judah's warriors.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only four times in the Old Testament, appearing in poetic and wisdom literature. In Job 28, it is used positively in the context of weighing and valuing wisdom (Job 28:16, 19). In Psalm 119:118 and Lamentations 1:15, it is used negatively to depict God's rejection of the faithless and His judgment in trampling down warriors. The usage pattern shows a movement from a literal, commercial action (weighing) to a metaphorical, judicial one (rejecting or devaluing).
Etymology
As a primitive root, סָלָה is not derived from another Hebrew word. Its core meaning relates to the act of lifting or hanging, likely for the purpose of weighing on a balance scale. Cognates in other Semitic languages support this sense of measuring or evaluating. The semantic development moved from the physical act of weighing to the abstract concepts of assigning value or, conversely, treating as worthless.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it connects God's judgment with perfect valuation. In Job, it highlights that divine wisdom is beyond any material measure. In the Psalms and Lamentations, it reveals God's active rejection of sin and rebellion, portraying His judgments not as arbitrary but as a precise assessment of human actions. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by showing that God's 'rejection' is a deliberate devaluation based on His perfect standard.
In the ancient Near East, weighing precious metals on scales was a fundamental commercial and judicial act, symbolizing fairness, accuracy, and determination of worth. The figurative use of 'weighing' to mean 'evaluating' or 'judging' would have been a natural cultural metaphor. The shift to 'treading down' may connect to the image of throwing something weighed and found wanting onto the ground to be trampled.
שָׁקַל (shâqal, H8254) — specifically 'to weigh' as a physical act with money or goods. בָּזָה (bâzâh, H959) — 'to despise, hold in contempt,' a stronger and more common term for scorn without the connotation of prior assessment. מָאַס (mâʼaç, H3988) — 'to reject, refuse, despise,' often used for God's rejection of people or offerings.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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