שַׁלֶּכֶת
a felling (of trees)
Definition
The Hebrew noun 'shalleketh' (שַׁלֶּכֶת) refers specifically to the act or result of felling or casting down trees. It denotes a felling, a throwing down, or a casting away, particularly in the context of forestry or destruction of timber. Its single biblical occurrence in Isaiah 6:13 uses the term metaphorically, describing a stump that remains 'when cast' or 'as a felled tree,' symbolizing a remnant after judgment. The word carries a sense of forceful removal or destruction.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in Isaiah 6:13. It appears in the context of God's prophetic judgment upon Judah, where the prophet Isaiah is told that the land will be utterly devastated, leaving only a holy remnant. The term is part of an arboreal metaphor comparing the surviving remnant to a stump or terebinth mast that remains 'as a felled tree' (כְּאֵלָה וְכָאַלּוֹן אֲשֶׁר בְּשַׁלֶּכֶת מַצֶּבֶת בָּם). Its usage is singular and highly poetic.
Etymology
Derived from the root verb שָׁלַךְ (shalak, H7993), meaning 'to throw, cast, or hurl.' The noun form שַׁלֶּכֶת is a feminine noun indicating the act or result of casting down. Cognates and related words convey ideas of throwing, discarding, or laying prostrate, which directly informs this word's specific application to felled timber.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, 'shalleketh' is theologically significant within its context in Isaiah 6. It contributes to the powerful metaphor of divine judgment and the preservation of a remnant. The image of a felled tree stump represents the severe consequences of national rebellion against God, yet the remaining 'stump' signifies God's enduring commitment and the hope of future restoration through a holy seed. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Isaiah's call narrative by highlighting the contrast between total devastation and God's preserving grace.
In ancient Israelite culture, forestry and the felling of trees were common practices for agriculture, construction, and fuel. The metaphor of a felled tree would have been immediately understandable as an image of complete loss and destruction. The specific mention of the 'stump' (מַצֶּבֶת) remaining was a known agricultural reality, where some trees could resprout from the base, providing a potent cultural symbol for hope after devastation.
כָּרַת (karat, H3772) — a more general verb meaning 'to cut down' or 'cut off,' used for trees, covenants, and people. גָּדַע (gada', H1438) — to hew down or chop, often used for idols or trees in judgment contexts. נָתַץ (natats, H5422) — to break down or tear down, used for buildings, altars, and walls, implying demolition.
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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