7886. Shiloh
Lexical Summary
Shiloh: Shiloh

Original Word: שִׁילֹה
Part of Speech: noun
Transliteration: Shiyloh
Pronunciation: SHEE-loh
Phonetic Spelling: (shee-lo')
KJV: Shiloh
NASB: Shiloh
Word Origin: [from H7951 (שָׁלָה שָׁלַו - prosper)]

1. tranquil
2. Shiloh, an epithet of the Messiah

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Shiloh

From shalah; tranquil; Shiloh, an epithet of the Messiah -- Shiloh.

see HEBREW shalah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
perhaps "he whose it is," a Messianic title
NASB Translation
Shiloh (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
שִׁילֹה Genesis 49:10, apparently noun, but probably = שֶׁלּוֺ he whose it is, or that which belongs to him, see infra; views are: (1) שִׁיל (= שָׁלִיל, Late Hebrew embryo, + suffix הֹ֯ = his son, ᵑ7 Jerome Rabb Calv); -2שִׁלוּ, שִׁילוֺ proper name, of a location (q. v.) Herder De and most (until recently); (3) proper name of Messiah, AV RV Münster (1534) on basis of Talmud Sanh 98:b; groundless; -4 Jerome שׁלה = שָׁלֻחַ, qui mittendus est; (5) שֶׁלֹּה = לוֺ + שֶׁ, ᵑ7Onk whose is the kingdom, ᵑ6 whose it is, so Aphr Ephr ᵐ5 ἕως ἂν ἔλθῃ τὰ ἀποκείμενα αὐτῷ (Manuscripts ᾧ ἀπόκειται); so Samaritan שלה, compare אֲשֶׁר לוֺ הַמִּשְׁמָּט Ezekiel 21:32, Aq Symm Theod Saad; this reading best, but exact translation not certain; see DrJPhil. xiv (1885), 1 ff. Gn. 418 ff. BrMP 95 ff., intr. 238 ff. PoznanvskiSchiloh (1904).

שׁילל

see שׁלל.

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Shiloh is the prophetic title pronounced by the patriarch Jacob as he blessed his son Judah: “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and the allegiance of the nations is His” (Genesis 49:10). Although occurring only once in the Hebrew canon, the word stands at the crossroads of biblical theology, linking the promise of a coming ruler, the hope of lasting peace, and the universal reign of Messiah.

Prophetic Context

• Setting: Jacob’s deathbed oracles in Genesis 49 gather the tribes and trace their future.
• Judah’s prominence: He is promised enduring leadership—a “scepter” and “staff” that signify royal legitimacy and judicial authority.
• Temporal marker: “Until Shiloh comes” establishes a forward-looking horizon; Judah’s line retains rulership as the divinely appointed custodian until the arrival of the ultimate ruler.
• Universal scope: “The allegiance of the nations is His” extends the prophecy beyond Israel, anticipating global obedience.

Messianic Identity

• Title of person, not place: Unlike the later sanctuary town of Shiloh (Joshua 18:1), Genesis 49:10 speaks of an individual.
• Etymological hints: Traditional interpretations hear shades of “peace,” “rest,” or “His who it is,” each resonating with messianic themes—Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and rightful heir to the throne (Ezekiel 21:27).
• Rabbinic expectation: Early Jewish writings (Targum Onkelos, Targum Pseudo-Jonathan) paraphrase “until the Messiah comes,” confirming a pre-Christian identification of Shiloh with the awaited deliverer.
• Apostolic recognition: New Testament authors present Jesus of Nazareth as the son of David (Judah’s royal descendant) whose kingship draws the nations (Matthew 12:21; Revelation 5:9).

Royal Authority and Kingship

• Continuity: The Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16) develops Jacob’s promise, anchoring Judah’s scepter in an everlasting dynasty.
• Crisis: The Babylonian exile seemed to fracture this lineage, yet prophetic voices (Jeremiah 23:5-6; Ezekiel 34:23-24) reassert a future ruler.
• Realization: In the Gospels Jesus is hailed “Son of David” (Matthew 21:9) and declared heir to the throne (Luke 1:32-33), fulfilling the pledge that authority remains with Judah until transferred to Shiloh, who then wields it forever.

Peace and Rest

• Semantic thread: The root concepts of tranquility and rest converge in Christ’s offer, “Come to Me…and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
• Eschatological peace: Isaiah’s vision of nations streaming to Zion (Isaiah 2:2-4) harmonizes with Jacob’s glimpse of worldwide allegiance, underscoring that the Messiah’s reign culminates in universal shalom.

Expectation in Second Temple Judaism

• Dead Sea Scrolls: 4Q Patriarchal Blessings cites Genesis 49:10 and pairs Shiloh with the Star prophecy (Numbers 24:17), portraying a conquering yet righteous king.
• Jewish liturgy: Daily prayers for the coming of “Messiah ben David” echo Jacob’s promise, illustrating the enduring hope anchored in Shiloh.

Fulfillment in Jesus Christ

1. Genealogy: Matthew 1 and Luke 3 trace Jesus directly through Judah and David.
2. Kingship acknowledged: Magi from the nations worship the newborn “King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2).
3. Global obedience: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) extends His rule to “all nations,” echoing Genesis 49:10.
4. Eschaton: Revelation 11:15 celebrates the consummated reign—“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”

Comparison with the Place Name “Shiloh”

• Distinct lexemes: The sanctuary town belongs to a different Hebrew form and historical setting.
• Typological linkage: The tabernacle’s resting at Shiloh (Joshua 18:1) prefigures the ultimate rest in the Messiah, yet Genesis 49:10 speaks primarily of a person, not geography.

Practical Ministry Significance

• Christ-centered preaching: Shiloh furnishes a bridge from Genesis to the Gospel, showcasing Scripture’s unified account line.
• Confidence in promise: The unbroken chain from Jacob to Jesus assures believers of God’s fidelity in every age.
• Mission impetus: Because Shiloh claims “the allegiance of the nations,” evangelism is not optional but integral to His royal agenda.
• Hope of peace: In a fractured world, proclaiming Shiloh invites people into the peace He alone secures, both now and awaiting full realization in His return.

Summary

Shiloh in Genesis 49:10 crystallizes the Bible’s royal and redemptive trajectory: a promise given to Judah, sustained through centuries, and fulfilled in Jesus Christ, whose reign brings peace and commands the devotion of all peoples.

Forms and Transliterations
שִׁילֹ֔ו שילו shiLo šî·lōw šîlōw
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 49:10
HEB: [שִׁילֹה כ] (שִׁילֹ֔ו ק) וְל֖וֹ
NAS: Until Shiloh comes,
KJV: until Shiloh come;
INT: until comes Shiloh him the obedience of the peoples

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 7886
1 Occurrence


šî·lōw — 1 Occ.

7885
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