Aramaic word · H6744

צְלַח

umatzlechin

to prosper

In this causative-looking form, used intransitively, it means 'to succeed, make progress, get on well'. In the Aramaic of Daniel the same form describes people who 'prosper' in office (Dan 3:30; 6:28). The Hebrew cognate ṣālaḥ means 'to succeed, advance, be effective'.

A Biblical Aramaic word, from the parts of the Old Testament written in Aramaic. Why Aramaic?

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Aramaic of the Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to prosper

1a) (Aphel)

1a1) to cause to prosper

1a2) show prosperity, be prosperous, have success, be successful

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Ezra 5:8

Range of meaning

In this causative-looking form, used intransitively, it means 'to succeed, make progress, get on well'. In the Aramaic of Daniel the same form describes people who 'prosper' in office (Dan 3:30; 6:28). The Hebrew cognate ṣālaḥ means 'to succeed, advance, be effective'.

Against the English

KJV, WEB, BSB: 'prospers/prospering'. Others: 'succeeding', 'making progress'.

How it drifted

In modern English, 'prosper' mostly suggests financial gain. In 1611 it still carried its older sense of 'go well, succeed'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ezra 6:14 uses the same root of the same builders: 'the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai and Zechariah.' The Hebrew equivalent is common for God granting success to a task (Gen 24:21; Neh 1:11; 2:20).

From the study of Ezra 6:14

Range of meaning

Aramaic ṣəlaḥ, in the causative form used here: 'to make prosper, cause to succeed', and by extension 'to prosper, succeed, make progress'. Elsewhere it is used of Daniel 'prospering' under the king (Daniel 3:30; 6:29) and of the work 'prospering in their hands' (Ezra 5:8). The Hebrew cognate ṣālaḥ has the same core sense: to accomplish something, carry it through successfully.

Against the English

KJV, ESV and BSB have 'prospered'. YLT's 'prospering' keeps the ongoing sense. Some modern versions use 'were successful' or 'made progress', which is closer for today's ear.

How it drifted

English 'prosper' has narrowed toward financial well-being, and modern 'prosperity' language links it with wealth. In the biblical period the word meant succeeding at an undertaking: a journey, a plan, a building.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ezra 5:8 (Tattenai's report: the work 'is succeeding in their hands'); Daniel 3:30; 6:29. The Hebrew ṣālaḥ appears in Genesis 24:21, 40 (a journey made successful) and Joshua 1:8.

Where it appears

Ezra · 2

  1. Ezra 5:8 וּמַצְלַ֥ח and [is] prospering

    Let it be known to the king that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. The people are rebuilding it with large stones and placing timbers in the walls. This work is being carried out diligently and is prospering in their hands.

    Here: 'And is succeeding, making headway'. It means the project is going well and advancing. It has nothing to do with wealth.

  2. Ezra 6:14 וּמַצְלְחִ֔ין and prospering

    So the Jewish elders built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.

    Here: A participle from a causative form: 'making it succeed' or 'succeeding'. It means the building project was moving forward successfully, as the governor's report in 5:8 had said ('this work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands'). Wealth is not in view.

Daniel · 2

  1. Daniel 3:30 הַצְלַ֛ח he caused to prosper

    Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

  2. Daniel 6:28 הַצְלַ֖ח he prospered

    So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.