Lexical Summary shalu: Prosperity, ease, tranquility Original Word: שָׁלוּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance error, fail, thing amiss (Aramaic) or shaluwth (Aramaic) {shaw-looth'}; from the same as shalah; a fault -- error, X fail, thing amiss. see HEBREW shalah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) from a root corresponding to shalah Definition neglect, remissness NASB Translation fail (1), negligence (1), negligent (1), offensive (1). Topical Lexicon The Hebrew Term שָׁלוּ (Strong’s 7960) Meaning and Nuance The word expresses the idea of damage, loss, hurt, or corruption—anything that brings detriment to persons, property, or the common good. In context it can be physical harm, financial loss, or moral injury, a broad semantic field that highlights the destructive consequences of sin and negligence. Distribution in Scripture The term appears only three times, all in the Imperial Aramaic sections of the Old Testament: Ezra 4:22; Ezra 6:8–9; Daniel 6:4. Each setting involves affairs of state and the welfare of God’s people within pagan empires, giving the word a distinctly political and covenantal flavor. Historical Settings Ezra 4:22 – Artaxerxes warns regional officials not to neglect his order to halt construction in Jerusalem, asking, “Why should the damage increase to the detriment of the kings?”. The harm in view is the potential loss of tax revenue or strategic advantage if the Jews fortify their city. The verse shows how earthly rulers fear temporal loss more than they value divine purposes. Ezra 6:8–9 – Darius reverses that earlier hostility by funding the temple work “so that the work will not be hindered”. Here the same term becomes a negative to be avoided. Royal generosity prevents any injury to the rebuilding effort, illustrating how God can move a pagan monarch to safeguard His redemptive plan. Daniel 6:4 – Daniel’s rivals “could find no ground for complaint or corruption” in him. The word underscores the absolute integrity of Daniel’s public service. While Ezra uses the term for national or financial loss, Daniel applies it to personal ethics: true harm is moral compromise. Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty over Nations. Whether to restrain (Ezra 4) or to support (Ezra 6), the same term highlights God’s control of imperial decrees for His people’s good. Ministry Significance Leadership Accountability. Civic leaders are called to policies that do no injury to God’s people or purposes (Romans 13:3–4). Stewardship and Provision. Ezra 6 encourages churches to supply resources so that kingdom work proceeds unhindered. Personal Integrity. Daniel sets the bar for believers in public life: ethical consistency removes any legitimate accusation of corruption (1 Peter 2:12). Conflict Discernment. Ezra 4 and 6 remind ministries to distinguish between opposition that must be resisted and governmental favor that can be received in good conscience. Christological Foreshadowing Daniel’s blamelessness before hostile investigators anticipates Jesus, of whom Pilate declared, “I find no basis for a charge against Him” (John 18:38). The absence of “harm” in Daniel presages the sinlessness of Christ, the true Servant whose righteousness secures salvation for the nations. Application for the Church Conclusion Though rare in occurrence, שָׁלוּ sharply contrasts the destructive potential of human sin with the protective oversight of God. Whether preventing financial loss, moral decay, or spiritual hindrance, Scripture insists that true prosperity lies in aligning with the Lord’s purposes and walking in unassailable integrity. Forms and Transliterations שָׁל֖וּ שָׁלֽוּ׃ שָׁלוּ֙ שלו שלו׃ šā·lū šālū shaLuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezra 4:22 HEB: וּזְהִירִ֥ין הֱו֛וֹ שָׁל֖וּ לְמֶעְבַּ֣ד עַל־ NAS: Beware of being negligent in carrying KJV: Take heed now that ye fail not to do INT: take heed Beware negligent carrying out Ezra 6:9 Daniel 6:4 3 Occurrences |
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