Hebrew word · H7980

שָׁלַט

shalat

to domineer

In its basic form: to have mastery, to rule, to hold control or authority over something or someone (Neh 5:15; Esth 9:1; Eccl 2:19; 8:9). In the causative form used here (hishlit): to give someone that mastery, authorize them, empower them (Ps 119:133; Eccl 5:19; 6:2).

Appears 8 times in 7 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to domineer, exercise power over, dominate, have mastery, be master, lord it over

1a) (Qal) to domineer, lord it over, become master

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to give power of

1b2) to get mastery of

Aramaic equivalent: she.let (שְׁלֵט "to rule" H7981)

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 Ecclesiastes 5:19

Range of meaning

In its basic form: to have mastery, to rule, to hold control or authority over something or someone (Neh 5:15; Esth 9:1; Eccl 2:19; 8:9). In the causative form used here (hishlit): to give someone that mastery, authorize them, empower them (Ps 119:133; Eccl 5:19; 6:2). Related noun: shallit, 'ruler, one who has authority' (Gen 42:6, of Joseph; Eccl 7:19; 8:8).

Against the English

KJV/WEB/YLT 'given him power', ESV 'power', NASB 'empowered', NIV 'the ability', BSB 'enabled', NLT 'good health'. 'Power' and 'empowered' keep the idea of authority. 'Ability' and 'enabled' turn it into a matter of capacity. 'Good health' makes it a physical condition, which the Hebrew does not say.

How it drifted

Modern English 'ability' or 'enable' is about personal capacity. The Hebrew is about being granted control, the right of disposal over goods. The legal and administrative edge of the word falls away in most modern versions.

Used elsewhere in the period

Mostly a late Hebrew word, common in Aramaic. Daniel 2:38 (Aramaic) uses the same causative form when God 'made you ruler over them all' (of Nebuchadnezzar). C. L. Seow points out that in Persian-period Aramaic legal papyri (e.g. from Elephantine) the related term shallit means 'to have the legal right' to dispose of property. The Septuagint renders this verse with exousiazō, 'give authority'.

From the study of Ecclesiastes 6:2

Range of meaning

"To have power, rule, have control." The causative form means "give power, empower, give control." The word belongs to late Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic (compare Aramaic shalliṭ, "ruler," Daniel 2:10; Arabic sulṭān).

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT: "giveth him not power to eat." BSB: "does not allow him to enjoy." Other versions use "power" or "ability" to enjoy. "Allow" sounds like permission. The Hebrew is about control or capacity.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ecclesiastes 5:18 (5:19 in English) is the exact positive counterpart: God gives someone "riches and possessions" ('osher unekhasim) "and empowers him [hishlito] to eat from it." Qohelet also uses shalat for whoever will "have control over" a man's work after him (2:19) and for power under kings (8:4, 8:8–9). The Septuagint uses the verb exousiazō, "have authority over."

From the study of Nehemiah 5:15

Range of meaning

To have power over, to rule or domineer, to have control. It mostly appears in later Biblical Hebrew and in Aramaic. The word family includes shallit 'ruler' and shilton 'authority,' and the Arabic cognate gives 'sultan.'

Against the English

KJV 'bare rule' and WEB 'ruled' are flat. BSB 'oppressed' brings out the abuse. 'Lorded it over,' used by several modern versions, fits the tone best: power used for its own sake.

Used elsewhere in the period

'Man has ruled (shalat) over man to his hurt' (Ecclesiastes 8:9). The enemies of the Jews 'hoped to gain power (lishlot) over them' (Esther 9:1). The word is common in the Aramaic of Daniel (for example Daniel 2:39, 5:7).

Similar words

Where it appears

Nehemiah · 1

  1. Nehemiah 5:15 שָׁלְט֣וּ they domineered

    The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.

    Here: 'Exercised power over, lorded it over.' This is a late Hebrew word (related to the Aramaic and Arabic behind 'sultan'). Here it carries the sense of throwing their weight around.

Esther · 2

  1. Esther 9:1 לִשְׁל֣וֹט יִשְׁלְט֧וּ to domineer, they domineered

    On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the king’s command and edict were to be executed. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but their plan was overturned and the Jews overpowered those who hated them.

Psalms · 1

  1. Psalm 119:133 תַּשְׁלֶט־ it have power

    Order my steps in Your word; let no sin rule over me.

    Here: A causative form: "cause to rule" or "give mastery." Most naturally God is addressed: "do not give any wickedness power over me" (see textual notes). It is the language of a master over a subject.

Ecclesiastes · 4

  1. Ecclesiastes 2:19 וְיִשְׁלַט֙ so he may have power

    And who knows whether that man will be wise or foolish? Yet he will take over all the labor at which I have worked skillfully under the sun. This too is futile.

  2. Ecclesiastes 5:19 וְהִשְׁלִיט֨וֹ and he has given power him

    Furthermore, God has given riches and wealth to every man, and He has enabled him to enjoy them, to accept his lot, and to rejoice in his labor. This is a gift from God.

    Here: 'And has empowered him', literally 'made him master over it'. God gives not only the wealth but the right and the control to use it. This is the turning point of the verse. In 6:2 God gives a man wealth but does *not* do this, and a stranger eats it.

  3. Ecclesiastes 6:2 יַשְׁלִיטֶ֤נּוּ he gives power him

    God gives a man riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires; but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous affliction.

    Here: "He does not give him mastery over it." This late verb means having control or authority. Owning the wealth and having power to use it are treated as two separate gifts.

  4. Ecclesiastes 8:9 שָׁלַ֧ט he domineers

    All this I have seen, applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun; there is a time when one man lords it over another to his own detriment.

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