Lexical Summary selav: Quail Original Word: שְׂלָו Strong's Exhaustive Concordance quails Or slayv {sel-awv'}; by orthographical variation from shalah through the idea of sluggishness; the quail collectively (as slow in flight from its weight) -- quails. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably of foreign origin Definition quail NASB Translation quail (3), quails (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs שְׂלָו noun feminineExodus 16:13 quail (probably foreign word; Arabic  , Syriac  , Samaritan  ); — quail, coturnix communis or vulguris (TristrNHB 229 ff. FFP 124 PostHast. DB. QUAIL, DiExodus 16:13): — absolute collective Numbers 11:32 (J), Exodus 16:13 (P), Psalm 105:40 (in all Qr שְׂלָיו); plural שַׂלְוִים Numbers 11:31 (J; as if from singular שַׂלְוֶה). שַׂלְמָא, I. שַׂלְמָה see שַׂלְמוֺן. below II. שַׂלְמָה = שִׂמְלָה see below שׂמל. Topical Lexicon OverviewStrong’s Hebrew 7958 designates the quail, a migratory game bird the LORD employed as food for the wilderness generation. Though mentioned only four times, the episodes in which שְׂלָו appears illuminate the character of God, the condition of His people, and enduring lessons for faith and ministry. Occurrences in Scripture • Exodus 16:13 — “That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.” Geographical and Natural Setting Quail migrate annually across the eastern Mediterranean, flying low and landing exhausted along the Sinai coast. Their natural behavior made them an ideal instrument for God’s provision. The biblical text attributes their arrival not to chance migratory patterns but to a “wind sent by the LORD,” underscoring divine sovereignty over natural phenomena. Divine Provision in the Wilderness The appearance of quail complements the daily gift of manna. Together they form a complete diet—meat at dusk, bread at dawn—testifying that “man does not live on bread alone” (compare Deuteronomy 8:3) yet is graciously supplied with all necessities. The initial giving in Exodus 16 precedes Sinai, revealing the LORD’s care even before Israel receives the Torah. In Psalm 105 the gift is recalled as evidence of covenant faithfulness generations later. A Test of Faith and Contentment Numbers 11 situates the quail within Israel’s grumbling. What began as divine generosity became, through the people’s craving, a chastening. The abundance—quail stacked “about two cubits high”—exposed hearts that preferred fleshly appetite over fellowship with God. The ensuing plague (Numbers 11:33) warns against ingratitude and highlights the moral dimension of God’s gifts. Provision may bless or judge depending on response. Psalmic Remembrance and Liturgical Use Psalm 105 recounts the quail as part of a historical psalm sung to celebrate the LORD’s mighty acts. Liturgically, the narrative functions as a call to gratitude: “They asked, and He brought quail.” Worship remembers not only miracles of rescue but also daily sustenance, teaching successive generations to trust the same faithful God. Ministry Applications 1. Dependence: Leaders and congregations confronted with apparent scarcity are reminded that God commands every resource of creation. Typological and Christological Insights Manna and quail together prefigure the fullness found in Christ. In John 6 Jesus identifies Himself as the true bread from heaven, surpassing temporal food. The quail episode, situated alongside manna, anticipates the total sufficiency of the Son—meeting both physical and spiritual hunger. Moreover, the mixed reception of the quail parallels responses to the Gospel: some receive with gratitude; others, driven by self-interest, find the same gift a source of judgment. Summary שְׂלָו embodies more than a bird; it is a signpost to God’s providence, a mirror to human desire, and a template for worship and ministry. Whether supplying a nightly meal, exposing discontent, or inspiring psalmic praise, the quail episodes affirm that the LORD who once fed Israel in desolation still governs creation and satisfies His people today. Forms and Transliterations הַשְּׂלָ֔ו השלו שְׂלָ֑ו שַׂלְוִים֮ שלו שלוים haś·śə·lāw hasseLav haśśəlāw śal·wîm salVim śalwîm śə·lāw seLav śəlāwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 16:13 HEB: בָעֶ֔רֶב וַתַּ֣עַל הַשְּׂלָ֔ו וַתְּכַ֖ס אֶת־ NAS: about at evening that the quails came KJV: And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, INT: evening came the quails and covered the camp Numbers 11:31 Numbers 11:32 Psalm 105:40 4 Occurrences |
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