Lexical Summary salaph: To twist, pervert, distort Original Word: סָלַף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance overthrow, pervert A primitive root; properly, to wrench, i.e. (figuratively) to subvert -- overthrow, pervert. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to twist, pervert, overturn NASB Translation overthrows (2), perverts (1), ruins (1), subverts (2), turning (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs סָלַף verb twist, pervert, overturn (ᵑ7 סְלַף twist (rare); Arabic  is pass, pass away, come to naught Lane1407f.); — Pi`el Imperfect3masculine singular יְסַלֵּף Job 12:19 2t., וַיְסַלֵּף Proverbs 22:12; 3feminine singular תְּסַלֵּף Proverbs 13:6; Proverbs 19:3; Participle מְסַלֵּף Proverbs 21:12; — 1 pervert, Exodus 23:8 (E) a bribe perverteth the case (cause, דִּבְרֵי) of righteous, = Deuteronomy 16:19. 2 subvert, turn upside down, ruin (only Wisdom Literature): with accusative of person Job 12:19; Proverbs 13:6 (opposed to תִּצֹּר), Proverbs 21:12; ׳אִוֶּלֶת אָדָם תּ דַּרְכּוֺ Proverbs 19:3 a man's folly subverteth his way; וַיְסַלֵּף דִּבְרֵי בֹגֵד Proverbs 22:12 and he (׳י) subverteth the affairs of a treacherous man. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Semantic Range סָלַף describes a violent twisting, overturning, or perversion of something originally straight or trustworthy. It moves beyond simple error to deliberate distortion—whether of justice, speech, character, or circumstance. English versions render it “twists,” “perverts,” “overthrows,” “subverts,” or “brings to ruin,” capturing both moral corruption and the consequential ruin that follows. Distribution and Literary Settings • Covenant Law: Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19 Placed first in Israel’s civil legislation and then echoed in the sapiential corpus, the verb links covenant justice with daily ethical living, showing that the same divine standard governs courts, homes, and personal conduct. Covenant Justice and Bribery (Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19) Both texts warn judges not to accept šōḥad (“bribe”), “for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and twists the words of the righteous” (Exodus 23:8). In the covenant framework, רִשְׁעָה (wickedness) begins when truth is bent in the courtroom. סָלַף therefore becomes a legal term for tampering with the evidence of God’s covenant people, striking at the heart of communal trust. By coupling ינְהַג (“blinds”) with סָלַף, Moses demonstrates that distortion originates in the inner person before it reaches the public record. Divine Sovereignty over Human Institutions (Job 12:19) Job declares, “He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows the established”. The imagery of barefooted clergy evokes humiliation, while “the established” (אֲזוּרִים)—authorities girded for service—are undone. סָלַף here underscores God’s prerogative to upend even sacral and political orders when they miscarry justice. What human corruption distorts, divine justice will ultimately reverse. Moral Cause and Effect in Proverbs 1. Proverbs 13:6: “Righteousness guards the blameless, but wickedness brings down the sinner.” Perversion is self-inflicted; the crooked path collapses under its own weight. Collectively, Proverbs applies סָלַף to personal folly, social systems, and divine retribution, showing its universal reach: from individual heart to national destiny. Theological Themes 1. Integrity versus Corruption: The verb accents God’s intolerance of distortion, reflecting His immutable character (Numbers 23:19; James 1:17). Historical and Social Significance In Ancient Near Eastern law codes, bribery commonly skewed verdicts. Israel’s statutes stand apart by rooting judicial integrity in Yahweh’s own holiness. Judges were not autonomous but covenant servants; to pervert justice was to rebel against the divine King (Deuteronomy 1:17). Post-exilic prophets indict the nation for “bending” judgment (Micah 3:9-11), confirming that סָלַף marked the drift toward exile. Wisdom writers then preserve these legal ideals for a community no longer governed by a theocratic court, teaching lay Israelites to guard their own hearts from distortion. Christological and Canonical Trajectory The New Testament exposes a further twisting—men “distort the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:7). Jesus embodies the antithesis of סָלַף, fulfilling the Law without the slightest deviation (Matthew 5:17-18). At the cross human authorities pervert justice (Luke 23:13-25), yet God overturns their verdict by raising His Son, the ultimate demonstration that divine fidelity answers human distortion. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Judicial Integrity: Christian attorneys, judges, and civic leaders must resist every allure of personal gain that clouds judgment. Prayer and Worship Scripture invites petitions that God would “keep steadfast love and justice” (Psalm 101:1) and expose any perversion within us (Psalm 139:23-24). Worship acknowledges a God who not only detests distortion but actively sets things straight, anchoring hope in His final, unassailable verdict. Forms and Transliterations וִֽיסַלֵּ֖ף וַ֝יְסַלֵּ֗ף ויסלף יְסַלֵּֽף׃ יסלף׃ מְסַלֵּ֖ף מסלף תְּסַלֵּ֣ף תְּסַלֵּ֥ף תסלף mə·sal·lêp̄ mesalLef məsallêp̄ tə·sal·lêp̄ tesalLef təsallêp̄ vaysalLef visalLef way·sal·lêp̄ waysallêp̄ wî·sal·lêp̄ wîsallêp̄ yə·sal·lêp̄ yesalLef yəsallêp̄Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 23:8 HEB: יְעַוֵּ֣ר פִּקְחִ֔ים וִֽיסַלֵּ֖ף דִּבְרֵ֥י צַדִּיקִֽים׃ NAS: the clear-sighted and subverts the cause KJV: the wise, and perverteth the words INT: blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just Deuteronomy 16:19 Job 12:19 Proverbs 13:6 Proverbs 19:3 Proverbs 21:12 Proverbs 22:12 7 Occurrences |
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