Lexical Summary shelevah: Prosperity, tranquility, security, ease Original Word: שְׁלֵוָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance tranquillity (Aramaic) corresponding to shalvah; safety -- tranquillity. See also shalev. see HEBREW shalvah see HEBREW shalev NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to shalvah Definition ease, prosperity NASB Translation prosperity (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שְׁלֵוָה] noun feminine ease, prosperity; — suffix שְׁלֵוְתָךְ Daniel 4:24. Topical Lexicon Overview The term denotes a state of settled well-being—outward ease joined with a sense of inner security. Scripture treats such tranquility as a gift that can be extended or withdrawn by the LORD according to a person’s moral response to His word. Literary Setting in Daniel 4:27 Daniel addresses Nebuchadnezzar after the king’s alarming dream of a felled tree. The prophet urges repentance so that “your prosperity will be prolonged” (Daniel 4:27). The word points to more than material wealth; it embraces civic stability, personal peace, and an untroubled conscience before God. The context reveals three features: 1. It is already being enjoyed by the king (“your prosperity”). Historical Background Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar epitomized political might and economic abundance. Yet the narrative exposes how national security can evaporate when pride exalts itself above heaven. Ancient Near Eastern rulers often claimed the gods guaranteed their peace; Daniel redirects the credit to the Most High, whose dominion alone is everlasting. Moral and Prophetic Dimensions • Prosperity is a stewardship, not an entitlement. Contrasts with False Security Elsewhere Scripture warns against resting in complacent “ease” divorced from faith: Proverbs 1:32 – “the complacency of fools will destroy them.” Ezekiel 16:49 – Sodom’s sin included “prosperity and ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.” Amos 6:1 – “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion.” These passages sharpen Daniel’s message: tranquility becomes perilous when severed from obedience. Connections with Wisdom Literature The Wisdom books praise quietness rooted in righteousness (Proverbs 1:33; Ecclesiastes 4:6) and lament the fleeting nature of ease gained apart from God. Daniel’s counsel aligns with this wisdom tradition, demonstrating its relevance in royal courts as well as common life. New Testament Resonance Jesus’ parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:19-21) and Paul’s charge that the wealthy be “rich in good works” (1 Timothy 6:17-19) echo the principle that security must be coupled with generosity and humility. The Greek notion of εἰρήνη (eirēnē, peace) carries forward the same holistic wellbeing promised to those reconciled to God through Christ (John 14:27; Philippians 4:7). Practical Ministry Implications • Preaching: underscore that repentance preserves true security. Theological Summary The single Old Testament occurrence of this word stands as a theological microcosm: God grants peaceful prosperity, but its duration depends on moral alignment with His character. The passage affirms His sovereign authority over nations and individuals, while offering hope that repentance can transform threatened tranquility into lasting peace. Forms and Transliterations לִשְׁלֵוְתָֽךְ׃ לשלותך׃ liš·lê·wə·ṯāḵ lishleveTach lišlêwəṯāḵLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:27 HEB: תֶּהֱוֵ֥א אַרְכָ֖ה לִשְׁלֵוְתָֽךְ׃ NAS: there may be a prolonging of your prosperity.' KJV: a lengthening of thy tranquillity. INT: may be prolonging tranquillity 1 Occurrence |
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