שׁוֹלָל
nude (especially bare-foot); by implication, captive
Definition
The Hebrew noun שׁוֹלָל (shôwlâl) primarily describes a state of being stripped or plundered, often referring to a person who has been made naked, especially barefoot, as a sign of utter destitution and humiliation. By implication, it extends to mean a captive or spoil, someone completely deprived and taken as booty. In Job 12:17 and 12:19, it is used metaphorically for leaders who are stripped of their wisdom and authority, rendered as helpless captives. In Micah 1:8, the prophet uses it vividly to depict the coming judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem, where the people will be left as naked, plundered exiles.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only three times in the Old Testament, all in poetic or prophetic contexts emphasizing complete loss and humiliation. In Job 12:17 and 12:19, it is employed in wisdom literature to describe how God can reduce counselors and priests to a state of being 'led away stripped,' symbolizing the reversal of human power and prestige. In Micah 1:8, it occurs in a prophecy of judgment, where Micah laments that he will go 'stripped and naked' as a dramatic sign-act representing the fate of the cities of Judah and Israel, portraying them as plundered captives.
Etymology
The word derives from the root שָׁלַל (shalal, H7997), meaning 'to plunder, spoil, or strip.' This root conveys the action of taking booty or despoiling in warfare. שׁוֹלָל is a noun form that describes the resultant state—the one who has been plundered or stripped. The variant שֵׁילָל (shelal) in Micah 1:8 shares the same root and meaning, emphasizing the concept of being made a spoil or captive through divine judgment.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it vividly portrays the consequences of rebellion against God, especially in prophetic literature. It illustrates God's judgment as an act of stripping away false security, pride, and human power, reducing people to a state of utter vulnerability and captivity. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of passages like Micah 1:8, where it underscores the severity of divine justice and the complete humiliation that accompanies exile, pointing to the need for repentance and reliance on God alone.
In ancient Near Eastern warfare and law, being stripped naked, particularly barefoot, was a profound cultural symbol of total defeat, shame, and loss of status. Captives were often paraded in this state to display the victor's dominance. This practice makes the biblical usage of שׁוֹלָל powerfully evocative, as it communicates not just physical nakedness but the complete social and spiritual degradation experienced by those judged by God or overcome by enemies.
שָׁלָל (shalal, H7998) — the act of plunder or booty itself, whereas שׁוֹלָל is the person stripped or taken as spoil. בָּז (baz, H957) — spoil or plunder, focusing more on the goods taken rather than the person's state. שְׁבִי (shebi, H7628) — captivity or captives, a more general term for those taken prisoner, without the specific connotation of being stripped.
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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