שָׁלַל
to drop or strip; by implication, to plunder
Definition
The verb שָׁלַל (shâlal) primarily means 'to plunder' or 'to take spoil,' describing the act of stripping valuables from a defeated enemy, as seen in Isaiah 10:6 and Jeremiah 50:10. In a more literal sense, it can mean 'to drop' or 'let fall,' as in Ruth 2:16, where reapers are instructed to intentionally drop grain for Ruth to glean. Figuratively, it is used to depict the stripping away of strength or honor, such as in Psalm 76:5, where the 'stouthearted' are 'spoiled' (stripped of their power) by God. In Ezekiel, it frequently describes the plundering of cities like Tyre (Ezekiel 26:12) and Egypt (Ezekiel 29:19).
Biblical Usage
שָׁלַל is used 12 times in the Old Testament, predominantly in prophetic and poetic books. Its usage falls into two main contexts: literal plundering in warfare (Isaiah 10:6; Jeremiah 50:10; Ezekiel 26:12, 29:19, 38:12) and the metaphorical or literal act of dropping or stripping. The agricultural example in Ruth 2:16 is unique, showing a positive, purposeful 'letting fall' of grain. In Psalms and Isaiah, it conveys God's judgment, stripping the mighty of their spoils (Psalm 76:5) or depicting the abandonment of justice (Isaiah 59:15).
Etymology
As a primitive root, שָׁלַל is not derived from another Hebrew verb. It is related by meaning to the noun שָׁלָל (shālāl, H7998), meaning 'spoil' or 'plunder,' which directly comes from this verb's action. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Akkadian 'salālu,' meaning 'to strip off,' reinforcing the core idea of removing or taking away possessions, often by force.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it vividly portrays God's sovereignty in judgment and provision. In judgment, God is depicted as the one who plunders the plunderers (Isaiah 10:6; Psalm 76:5), asserting His ultimate authority over nations and their wealth. In grace, the same concept of 'letting fall' is used in Ruth 2:16 to describe God's providential care for the vulnerable through human obedience. Understanding שָׁלַל enriches reading by highlighting how God can use the same action—stripping or dropping—for both righteous punishment and merciful provision.
In ancient Near Eastern warfare, taking spoil (שָׁלָל) was a primary economic and psychological objective, demoralizing the defeated and enriching the victor. The act of שָׁלַל was thus a culturally familiar image of total conquest and transfer of wealth. The usage in Ruth 2:16 reflects the cultural practice of gleaning, where landowners were commanded to leave grain for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10), here intensified as a deliberate, generous act.
בָּזַז (bāzaz, H962) — also means 'to plunder,' but often implies a more violent, devastating spoil; שָׁסָה (shāsâ, H8154) — to plunder or desp oil, with a strong sense of tearing away or destroying.
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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