5558. seleph
Lexical Summary
seleph: Crookedness, perversity

Original Word: סֶלֶף
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: celeph
Pronunciation: seh'-lef
Phonetic Spelling: (seh'-lef)
KJV: perverseness
NASB: crookedness, perversion
Word Origin: [from H5557 (סָלַף - overthrows)]

1. distortion, i.e. (figuratively) viciousness

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
perverseness

From calaph; distortion, i.e. (figuratively) viciousness -- perverseness.

see HEBREW calaph

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from salaph
Definition
crookedness, crooked dealing
NASB Translation
crookedness (1), perversion (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
סֶ֫לֶף noun masculineProverbs 11:3 Qr crookedness, crooked dealing: — ׳ס absolute Proverbs 15:4 (of tongue); construct בֹּגְדִים ׳ס Proverbs 11:3.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

The term סֶלֶף appears only twice in Scripture, both times in the Book of Proverbs, and consistently portrays moral crookedness or perversity that opposes the straight path of wisdom. In each setting the word stands in sharp contrast to integrity, life-giving speech, and covenant faithfulness, highlighting the destructive power of deviance from God’s righteous standards.

Occurrences in Proverbs

1. Proverbs 11:3 – “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perverseness of the treacherous destroys them.”
2. Proverbs 15:4 – “A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”

Literary Context and Imagery

Proverbs frequently employs antithetic parallelism to sharpen moral choices. Integrity versus crookedness (11:3) and soothing speech versus a perverse tongue (15:4) present vivid contrasts that reinforce the covenant concept of walking a straight path before the LORD (compare Proverbs 3:5-6). The imagery of “crookedness” evokes a path that bends away from God’s will, while “straight” or “upright” images a roadway that leads securely to blessing.

Historical and Cultural Setting

Ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions valued ethical consistency, but Israel’s sages rooted that ideal in the fear of the LORD (Proverbs 1:7). Within the community of faith, crooked dealings violated both social order and covenant loyalty. A “perverse tongue” threatened the cohesion of families, tribes, and courts by undermining truth and justice—vital foundations for any theocratic society.

Theological Significance

1. Sin’s Deforming Power: Crookedness distorts what God created to be straight (Ecclesiastes 7:13).
2. Destructive Consequences: Treachery “destroys” (Proverbs 11:3) and “crushes the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4), underscoring the self-defeating nature of sin (Hosea 14:1).
3. Moral Accountability: Wisdom literature ties perversity to personal responsibility; no external force compels one to stray (Proverbs 14:12).
4. Ethical Speech: Words shape reality in biblical thought. A perverse tongue not only reveals inner corruption but also inflicts communal harm (James 3:5-10).

Canonical Connections

Deuteronomy 32:5 contrasts Israel’s “crooked generation” with God’s faithfulness.
Isaiah 59:8 laments that “they have made themselves crooked paths.”
Acts 2:40 and Philippians 2:15 adopt the same imagery when exhorting believers to shine amid “a crooked and perverse generation,” revealing continuity between Old and New Testament ethics.

Christological Reflection

Jesus Christ embodies the perfect antithesis of סֶלֶף. His path was entirely straight, fulfilling Isaiah 40:3’s call to “make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” In Him “no deceit was found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22), making His life and speech the ultimate standard against which all perversity is exposed.

Ministry Applications

• Character Formation: Congregations should cultivate integrity that “guides” rather than perversity that “destroys.”
• Discipleship of Speech: Small groups and households ought to practice life-giving words modeled on Proverbs 15:4, incorporating disciplines such as confession, encouragement, and Scripture reading.
• Pastoral Counseling: When crushed spirits emerge from verbal abuse, counselors can confront sin bluntly while offering the healing power of Christ’s truth and love.
• Evangelistic Witness: A community marked by upright dealings and wholesome speech stands in stark relief against a crooked world, validating the gospel’s transformative power (Matthew 5:16).

Practical Steps for Believers

1. Examine Paths: Regularly compare personal choices with the straight standards of God’s Word (Psalm 119:105).
2. Guard the Tongue: Commit to speaking only what edifies (Ephesians 4:29).
3. Seek Accountability: Invite trusted brothers or sisters to identify crooked patterns early (Proverbs 27:17).
4. Meditate on Christ: Fix eyes on the One who “committed no sin” to realign life and speech with His example (Hebrews 12:2).

Conclusion

סֶלֶף warns that even subtle deviations from integrity warp both individual character and community life. By embracing the straight path through reverence for God, reliance on His Word, and conformity to Christ, believers overcome the pervasive lure of crookedness and become agents of healing and truth in their generation.

Forms and Transliterations
וְסֶ֖לֶף וְסֶ֥לֶף וסלף veSelef wə·se·lep̄ wəselep̄
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Proverbs 11:3
HEB: יְשָׁרִ֣ים תַּנְחֵ֑ם וְסֶ֖לֶף בּוֹגְדִ֣ים [וְשַׁדָּם
NAS: will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous
KJV: shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors
INT: of the upright will guide the crookedness of the treacherous dead

Proverbs 15:4
HEB: עֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים וְסֶ֥לֶף בָּ֝֗הּ שֶׁ֣בֶר
NAS: of life, But perversion in it crushes
KJV: of life: but perverseness therein [is] a breach
INT: tree of life perversion crushes the spirit

2 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5558
2 Occurrences


wə·se·lep̄ — 2 Occ.

5557
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