Lexical Summary sheleg: Snow Original Word: שֶׁלֶג Strong's Exhaustive Concordance snowy From shalag; snow (probably from its whiteness) -- snow(-y). see HEBREW shalag NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition snow NASB Translation snow (18), snowy (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שֶׁלֶ֫ג noun masculineIsaiah 55:10 snow; — absolute ׳שׁ Isaiah 1:18 +, שָׁ֑לֶג Exodus 4:6 +; construct שֶׁ֫לֶג Jeremiah 18:14; — snow, 2 Samuel 23:20 (׳יוֺם הַשּׁ) = 1 Chronicles 11:22; Job 6:16; Job 37:6 ("" גֶּשֶׁם מָטָר) Psalm 147:16; Psalm 148:8 ( + אֵשׁ, בָּרָד, קִיטוֺר); ׳מֵימֵי שׁ Job 24:19, compare Job 9:30 Qr (בְּמֵי, < Qr בְּמוֺ De Di Bu and others, snow as purifying; see also [מַי]; in poetry ׳אִצְרוֺת שׁ Job 38:22 ("" בָּרָד ׳א); symbolic of cold Proverbs 31:21; as moistening, fertilizing Isaiah 55:10 ("" גֶּשֶׁם); on mountains, figurative of normal habit, לְבָנוֺן ׳שׁ Jeremiah 18:14; simile of whiteness, of leprosy Exodus 4:6 (J), Numbers 12:10(E), 2 Kings 5:27; with מִן comp,, of fair skin Lamentations 4:7 ("" חָלָב); simile of sins, יַלְבִּינוּ ׳כַּשּׁ Isaiah 1:18, compare Psalm 51:9 (מִן compare); simile of refreshment Proverbs 25:13 (drink cooled by snow, see references in DeToy), of the unfitting בַּקַיִץ ׳כַּשּׁ Proverbs 26:1 ("" מָטָר). — On snow in Palestine see NicolHast. DB SNOW. תְּלַג noun [masculine] snow (ᵑ7 Syriac; Biblical Hebrew שֶׁלֶג); — absolute ׳ת Daniel 7:9 (simile). Topical Lexicon Physical Setting and Natural Observation Snow falls infrequently in the lowlands of Israel and Judah, but the higher elevations of Lebanon, Mount Hermon, Ephraim, and Judah’s hill country receive periodic coverings. Its rarity in most Israelite experience made it a striking phenomenon. Snow provided seasonal moisture (Isaiah 55:10) and cooled drinking water harvested from mountain run-off (Proverbs 25:13). The meltwaters of Lebanon were famed for their perennial flow (Jeremiah 18:14). Because snowfall could trap travelers or livestock, it also became a shorthand for sudden hardship (Job 24:19; 2 Samuel 23:20). Literal Occurrences and Historical Events 1. Miraculous judgment: Moses (Exodus 4:6), Miriam (Numbers 12:10), and Gehazi (2 Kings 5:27) each experienced skin “white as snow,” a visible sign of divine displeasure or authentication. Symbol of Purity and Forgiveness “Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7). David’s plea sets snow as the benchmark of moral cleanness. Isaiah extends the promise corporately: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). The contrast between crimson guilt and dazzling snow underscores the totality of God’s cleansing when repentance and atonement meet. Figure of Divine Judgment and Sovereignty Snow answers God’s sovereign word: “For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’” (Job 37:6). It is stored in heavenly treasuries (Job 38:22), released at His command, and “spread…like wool” (Psalm 147:16). By regulating its fall and melt, the Lord displays both power and providence, watering the earth (Isaiah 55:10) or hindering harvests (Proverbs 26:1). Imagery of Cold and Hardship Snow represents adversity that reveals character. “Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him” (Proverbs 25:13); reliability refreshes weary laborers just as snow-cooled drink revives harvesters. The noble wife “is not afraid for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet” (Proverbs 31:21); foresight replaces fear when winter strikes. Leprosy and Whiteness in Biblical Theology The recurring description “white as snow” for leprous skin (Exodus 4:6; Numbers 12:10; 2 Kings 5:27) links physical corruption with counterfeit purity. What appears white actually signals defilement that only God can heal (cf. Naaman in 2 Kings 5). The motif anticipates a greater cleansing, culminating in the “great multitude…clothed in white robes” of Revelation. Prophetic and Eschatological Echoes Snow’s dazzling whiteness foreshadows visions of heavenly beings: Daniel’s “Ancient of Days” with clothing “white as snow” and the transfigured Christ “whose clothes became dazzling white.” Thus snow functions typologically, pointing from temporal purity to eternal glory. Pastoral and Homiletical Application • Assurance of forgiveness: Snow’s unmatched whiteness offers a concrete image for preaching the completeness of Christ’s atonement (Psalm 51:7; Isaiah 1:18). Summary שֶׁלֶג (sheleg) weaves through Scripture as a tangible demonstration of God’s authority over creation, a vivid emblem of absolute purity available through divine grace, and a practical metaphor for faithfulness amid difficulty. Its nineteen appearances invite worship, repentance, and resilient obedience. Forms and Transliterations הַשָּֽׁלֶג׃ השלג׃ וְהַשֶּׁ֜לֶג וּמִשֶּׁ֥לֶג והשלג ומשלג כַּשֶּׁ֣לֶג כַּשֶּׁ֤לֶג ׀ כַּשָּֽׁלֶג׃ כַּשָּׁ֑לֶג כשלג כשלג׃ לַשֶּׁ֨לַג ׀ לשלג מִשֶּׁ֔לֶג מִשָּׁ֑לֶג משלג שֶׁ֗לֶג שֶׁ֣לֶג שֶׁ֨לֶג ׀ שָֽׁלֶג׃ שָׁ֑לֶג שלג שלג׃ haš·šā·leḡ hashShaleg haššāleḡ kaš·šā·leḡ kaš·še·leḡ kashShaleg kashSheleg kaššāleḡ kaššeleḡ laš·še·laḡ lashShelag laššelaḡ miš·šā·leḡ miš·še·leḡ mishShaleg mishSheleg miššāleḡ miššeleḡ šā·leḡ šāleḡ še·leḡ šeleḡ Shaleg Sheleg ū·miš·še·leḡ umishSheleg ūmiššeleḡ vehashSheleg wə·haš·še·leḡ wəhaššeleḡLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 4:6 HEB: יָד֖וֹ מְצֹרַ֥עַת כַּשָּֽׁלֶג׃ NAS: his hand was leprous like snow. KJV: [was] leprous as snow. INT: his hand was leprous snow Numbers 12:10 2 Samuel 23:20 2 Kings 5:27 1 Chronicles 11:22 Job 6:16 Job 24:19 Job 37:6 Job 38:22 Psalm 51:7 Psalm 147:16 Psalm 148:8 Proverbs 25:13 Proverbs 26:1 Proverbs 31:21 Isaiah 1:18 Isaiah 55:10 Jeremiah 18:14 Lamentations 4:7 19 Occurrences |
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