Lexical Summary shel or she: Prosperity, tranquility, security Original Word: שֶׁל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cause, sake For the rel. 'aher; used with prepositional prefix, and often followed by some pronominal affix; on account of, whatsoever, whichsoever -- cause, sake. see HEBREW 'aher NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. rel. particle Definition who, which, that NASB Translation account (2), inasmuch (1), though* (1), very (1), whatever* (1), when (2), when* (1), where (1), which (28), which* (3), who (21), whom (8), whose (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs שֶׁל Songs 1:6; Songs 3:7 and elsewhere; בְּשֶׁל Ecclesiastes 8:17; see שֶׁ 4d. Topical Lexicon Range of Meaning and Function שֶׁל appears only four times in the Old Testament yet plays a pivotal role each time by linking a person, action, or circumstance to its proper source. Whether identifying loyalty in the court of Aram (2 Kings 6:11), exposing the hidden limits of human inquiry (Ecclesiastes 8:17), or pinpointing culpability on a storm-tossed ship (Jonah 1:7, 12), the term serves as a grammatical spotlight that clarifies ultimate responsibility. Narrative Settings • 2 Kings 6:11 – In a tense military narrative Elisha repeatedly reveals the Syrian king’s plans. The king angrily demands, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” By asking “which of us,” he seeks to uncover the insider whose allegiance (“of us”) has shifted. שֶׁל underlines personal loyalty, and the account proceeds to magnify divine omniscience over human espionage. Theological Implications 1. Divine Sovereignty versus Human Agency By attributing events “because of” or “belonging to” specific agents, Scripture affirms both God’s overarching rule and creaturely accountability. In 2 Kings 6 the Lord’s prophet frustrates Syrian strategy; in Jonah the Lord appoints a storm but also holds Jonah personally liable. שֶׁל intertwines secondary causes with the primary cause, preserving the biblical tension without contradiction. Each occurrence unmasks what was concealed—political betrayal, moral guilt, or intellectual limitation. The word often introduces a turning point where hidden truth surfaces and divine purposes advance. Ecclesiastes employs שֶׁל to stress the boundary that finite minds cannot cross. Even diligent inquiry leaves mysteries “of God” unexplained, directing the reader toward reverent trust rather than speculative pride. Historical and Cultural Reflections In Near-Eastern courts loyalty could determine national survival; at sea, identifying culpability could mean the difference between life and death. The concise connective שֶׁל provided Hebrew speakers a tool to specify cause or ownership precisely, and the biblical authors harnessed it to steer readers toward moral and theological conclusions rather than mere forensic outcomes. Ministry Applications • Counseling and Accountability – Just as Jonah could not deflect blame, believers are called to own their sin and its consequences, leading to repentance and restoration. Christological Perspective Where Jonah’s guilt brings a storm upon others, Jesus bears the storm “on account” of sinners, satisfying justice through substitution. The contrast sharpens the gospel: our calamity falls upon Him, and peace comes to us. Key Takeaways 1. שֶׁל demarcates responsibility, affirming both divine providence and personal accountability. Forms and Transliterations בְּ֠שֶׁל בְּשֶׁלְּמִ֛י בְשֶׁלִּ֔י בשל בשלי בשלמי מִשֶּׁלָּ֖נוּ משלנו bə·šel bə·šel·lə·mî ḇə·šel·lî bəšel bəšelləmî ḇəšellî Beshel beshelleMi miš·šel·lā·nū mishshelLanu miššellānū veshelLiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 6:11 HEB: לִ֔י מִ֥י מִשֶּׁלָּ֖נוּ אֶל־ מֶ֥לֶךְ INT: tell which cause of the king Ecclesiastes 8:17 Jonah 1:7 Jonah 1:12 4 Occurrences |
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