שָׁלַךְ

From the study of Isaiah 38:17

Range of meaning

Shalak in the hiphil (the causative stem) means to throw, fling or discard. "Throw behind the back" is a fixed idiom for deliberately disregarding something, putting it out of sight and out of consideration.

Against the English

English "cast behind your back" is accurate and keeps the idiom. NLT's paraphrase "forgiven" gives the meaning but drops the picture.

Used elsewhere in the period

1 Kgs 14:9 (Jeroboam "cast me behind your back," meaning he disregarded God); Ezek 23:35 ("you have cast me behind your back"); Neh 9:26 ("cast your law behind their back"). In each case the person deliberately chooses not to look at or heed something. Compare Mic 7:19, "you will cast (tashlikh) all their sins into the depths of the sea."

From the study of Psalm 55:22

Range of meaning

In the causative form used here: throw, fling, hurl, cast away or cast down. Used for Moses throwing his staff down (Exod 4:3), throwing a child under a bush (Gen 21:15), casting idols away (Ezek 20:7–8), throwing corpses (Josh 8:29).

Against the English

'Cast' is accurate but can sound archaic and soft. NLT's 'Give' loses the force. The Hebrew is closer to 'heave' or 'fling'.

Used elsewhere in the period

It is a very common verb throughout the Hebrew Bible and always physical and decisive. The Septuagint uses ἐπίρριψον ('throw upon'), and 1 Peter 5:7 picks up the same verb (ἐπιρίψαντες).

From the study of Isaiah 2:20

Range of meaning

To throw, fling, hurl or cast. In the form used here (the hiphil), it often means to throw away, discard or cast off: a body thrown into a pit (Genesis 37:24), a corpse flung out (Jeremiah 22:19), people cast out of God's presence (2 Kings 17:20).

Against the English

'Cast' (KJV, ESV) and 'throw away' (NIV) are both accurate. 'Cast' can sound gentler or more formal than the Hebrew, which pictures flinging something away in disgust or panic.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 30:22 is close in spirit, though it uses a different verb: 'you will scatter them like a menstrual cloth; "Out!" you will say to it.' Isaiah 31:7 uses a related verb: 'in that day each will reject his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your hands made for you.'