שַׁלְאֲנָן
tranquil
Definition
The Hebrew word שַׁלְאֲנָן (shalʼănān) describes a state of being completely at ease, tranquil, and free from disturbance or anxiety. It conveys a sense of secure, undisturbed prosperity and peace. In its single biblical occurrence in Job 21:23, it depicts a person who dies in full vigor, 'wholly at ease and secure,' highlighting a life untouched by suffering or want. The term emphasizes not just external calm, but an internal, settled contentment.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Job 21:23. It appears in the context of Job's speech, where he describes the seemingly prosperous and peaceful end of the wicked. The usage is poetic and serves to contrast the apparent external tranquility of the unrighteous with their inward spiritual state, questioning simplistic views of divine retribution.
Etymology
שַׁלְאֲנָן is a variant or by-form of the more common Hebrew word שַׁאֲנָן (sha'anan, H7600), which also means 'at ease' or 'secure.' Both words derive from the root שָׁאַן (sha'an), conveying the idea of being at rest or leaning on something for support. The development of meaning moves from physical support to a metaphorical state of supported, carefree security.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it probes the complex relationship between outward prosperity, divine justice, and true blessedness. In Job 21:23, it describes the deceptive peace of the wicked, challenging the retribution principle that suffering always indicates sin. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting the Bible's nuanced exploration of false security versus the true, God-given peace (shalom) that endures through trials.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, visible prosperity and a peaceful death were often seen as direct blessings from the gods and evidence of a righteous life. Job's use of this word to describe the wicked subverts this cultural assumption, forcing listeners to reconsider where true security and ease are found.
שָׁלוֹם (shalom, H7965) — broader term for peace, wholeness, and well-being, often relational. שַׁאֲנָן (sha'anan, H7600) — the more common direct synonym, meaning at ease or secure. נָח (nach, H5117) — emphasizes rest, settling down, or being quiet.
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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