שִׁלּוּחַ

שִׁלּוּחַ

(only in plural) a dismissal, i.e. (of a wife) divorce (especially the document); also (of a daughter) dower

Definition

The Hebrew noun שִׁלּוּחַ (shillûwach) refers to a formal act of sending away or dismissal. In its biblical usage, it most specifically denotes the legal dismissal of a wife, i.e., a divorce, including the written certificate of divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1, 3). In Exodus 18:2, it describes the act of Moses sending his wife Zipporah back to her father, Jethro. A distinct, related meaning appears in 1 Kings 9:16, where it refers to the 'dowry' or bridal gift Pharaoh gave when his daughter was sent to marry Solomon. Thus, the core idea is a formal sending away, which context determines as either a severance (divorce) or a provision upon departure (dowry).

Biblical Usage

This word is used only three times in the Old Testament, always in the plural form. It appears in narrative contexts concerning family and political relationships. In Exodus 18:2, it describes Moses sending his wife away for safety. In 1 Kings 9:16, it refers to a political dowry (the city of Gezer) accompanying Pharaoh's daughter. In Micah 1:14, it is used metaphorically, where the town of Moresheth-gath is called a 'dowry' or 'parting gift' to Israel's kings, likely signifying its loss or tribute.

Etymology

Derived from the common Hebrew root שָׁלַח (shalach, H7971), meaning 'to send' or 'to stretch out.' The noun form שִׁלּוּחַ specifically denotes the act or product of sending. Cognate nouns from this root can refer to a shoot or branch (something sent out) or a discharge. Here, it focuses on the formal sending away of a person, which developed the specialized meanings of divorce and dowry.

Semantic Range

This word touches on key biblical concepts of covenant, law, and social justice. Its primary use for 'divorce' connects directly to Mosaic law (Deuteronomy 24:1-4), framing divorce not as a casual separation but as a formal, legal act with societal and covenantal implications. Understanding this formal, documented nature contrasts with modern informal separations and highlights the seriousness with which marriage covenants were viewed. The dowry sense in 1 Kings 9:16 also reflects the intertwining of family, property, and political alliances in Israel's covenant history. In ancient Israel, a שִׁלּוּחַ for a wife was not a simple abandonment but a regulated legal procedure requiring a written document (a 'bill of divorcement'), granting the woman the legal right to remarry. This provided some protection for the dismissed wife. As a dowry, it represents the property or gift given by a bride's father to her or to her husband, cementing the marriage alliance and providing for the woman's future, which was a standard cultural practice in the ancient Near East. כְּרִיתוּת (kerîythûth, H3748) — the more common term for 'divorce,' specifically the act of cutting off the marriage covenant. גֵּט (get) — the later, post-biblical Hebrew term for the divorce document itself.

Word Details