Lexical Summary shalah: To be at ease, to be secure, to prosper Original Word: שָׁלָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance deceive, be negligent A primitive root (probably identical with shalah through the idea of educing); to mislead -- deceive, be negligent. see HEBREW shalah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as shalah, q.v. Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [שָׁלָה] verb draw out, extract (si vera lectio; =שָׁלַל; Syriac  (e.g. Exodus 2:10), ᵑ7Jer שְׁלִי (e.g. Leviticus 11:17)); — Qal Imperfect3masculine singular with apocope (Ges§ 109k) כִי וֵ֫שֶׁל אֱלוֺהַּ נַפְשׁוֺ Job 27:8 (De); < read יָשֹׁל, or יִשּׁל (√ שׁלל) Di; Schnurrer We Siegf Bu Du יִשְׁאַל demandeth; PerlesAnal. 48 יִשָּׂא אֶלאֱֿלוֺהַּ. Topical Lexicon Overview Shalah (Strong’s Hebrew 7952) occurs only twice in the Old Testament and carries the idea of letting oneself drift into complacency, whether by misplaced confidence or by slackness of duty. Both contexts reveal the spiritual peril of easing up where God calls for vigilance. Scriptural Occurrences 2 Kings 4:28 – Shunammite woman to Elisha: “Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’”. 2 Chronicles 29:11 – Hezekiah to the Levites: “My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him and serve Him, to minister before Him and burn incense.” False Assurance versus Divine Reality In 2 Kings 4 the verb is rendered “deceive,” highlighting the pain of a promise that seemed to fracture. The Shunammite’s use of shalah exposes a tension between human expectation and divine timing; she refuses to accept sentimental comfort when confronted with the death of her son. The narrative ultimately shows that God’s word, mediated through Elisha, is neither careless nor deceptive. The miracle of resurrection vindicates genuine faith and exposes the folly of resigning to hopelessness. Negligence in Worship and Service Hezekiah’s charge in 2 Chronicles 29:11 uses shalah to warn against slackness just as temple worship is being restored. The priests and Levites, previously dormant under Ahaz, must shake off lethargy because sacred duty demands active, reverent obedience. Shalah here unmasks any assumption that divine election excuses passivity; instead, chosen status heightens responsibility. Historical Context Both settings arise during periods of covenant renewal. Elisha’s ministry occurs amid widespread idolatry in the northern kingdom; Hezekiah’s reforms follow apostasy in Judah. Shalah therefore surfaces where complacency could derail revival. The prophets and reformers call God’s people from ease to earnest trust and labor. Ministry Implications • Pulpit: Preaching should expose deceptive complacency and summon believers to resilient faith, assuring them that God’s promises are trustworthy even when circumstances contradict. New Testament Echoes Though the Hebrew term itself does not appear in Greek, themes of spiritual drowsiness recur. Compare Romans 13:11 (“It is already the hour for you to wake up from your slumber”) and Hebrews 2:1 (“We must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away”). The New Testament consistently counters shalah-like complacency with watchfulness. Practical Application Believers guard against two faces of shalah: 1. Receiving comforting words without anchoring them in God’s unchanging character (false assurance). Summary Shalah warns that complacency—whether wrapped in comforting words or manifested as negligent service—can sabotage covenant faithfulness. Scripture answers with a call to honest, expectant faith and steadfast devotion, confident that God’s promises will never mislead those who trust and obey. Forms and Transliterations תִּשָּׁל֑וּ תַשְׁלֶ֖ה תשלה תשלו ṯaš·leh tashLeh ṯašleh tiš·šā·lū tishshaLu tiššālūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Kings 4:28 HEB: אָמַ֔רְתִּי לֹ֥א תַשְׁלֶ֖ה אֹתִֽי׃ KJV: did I not say, Do not deceive me? INT: said not deceive 2 Chronicles 29:11 2 Occurrences |
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