Bible Word Study
שָׁלָה
shâlâh · to mislead
שָׁלָה
to mislead
Definition
The Hebrew verb שָׁלָה (shâlâh) means to mislead, deceive, or cause someone to go astray. It can also carry the sense of being negligent or remiss, implying a failure to act with proper care or attention. In 2 Kings 4:28, the Shunammite woman uses it to express her feeling of having been misled or given false hope by Elisha. In 2 Chronicles 29:11, it is used by King Hezekiah to warn the Levites not to be negligent or remiss in their duties of consecrating the temple.
Biblical Usage
This verb is used only twice in the Old Testament, in two distinct contexts. In 2 Kings 4:28, it appears in a narrative context of personal emotion and perceived deception. In 2 Chronicles 29:11, it is used in a royal command within a religious reform context, warning against negligence in sacred duties. This shows the word can apply to both interpersonal deception and formal dereliction of responsibility.
Etymology
It is considered a primitive root, likely identical with שָׁלָה (H7953, shâlâh), which means 'to draw out' or 'to draw off.' The connection may be through the idea of drawing someone away from the right path or drawing them into error, thus 'to mislead.'
Semantic Range
This word highlights the serious spiritual consequences of deception and negligence, especially among leaders. In 2 Chronicles 29:11, it underscores the gravity of failing in covenantal responsibilities before God. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by showing that misleading others isn't just an abstract lie but an active drawing away from truth, and that negligence in divine service is a form of practical deception against God's commands. In the ancient Near East, a prophet or king held immense authority. To be misled by such a figure (2 Kings 4:28) was a profound betrayal of trust. Similarly, negligence in temple duties (2 Chronicles 29:11) wasn't mere laziness but a direct affront to communal holiness and the king's divinely sanctioned order, carrying serious social and religious repercussions. תָּעָה (tāʿâ, H8582) — to wander, go astray (more general error); כָּזַב (kāzav, H3576) — to lie, deceive (focus on false speech); רָמָה (rāmâ, H7411) — to betray, deal treacherously (stronger relational breach).
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]