Lexical Summary shalat: To have power, to rule, to dominate, to govern Original Word: שָׁלַט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bear, have rule, have dominion, give have power A primitive root; to dominate, i.e. Govern; by implication, to permit -- (bear, have) rule, have dominion, give (have) power. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to domineer, be master of NASB Translation control over (1), domineered (1), empowered (2), exercised authority (1), gain the mastery over (1), gained the mastery over (1), have dominion (1), mastery over (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שָׁלַט verb domineer, be master of (late) (Late Hebrew id.; Assyrian süalâ‰u, have power; Arabic  overcome, prevail;  strong, hard,  dominion, also ruler, sultan; Ethiopic  Aramaic שְׁלַט,  (especially derived species), Nabataean שלט, שלטן); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳שׁ Ecclesiastes 8:9, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יָשְׁלַט Ecclesiastes 2:19, etc.; Infinitive construct שְׁלוֺט Esther 9:1; — domineer, lord it over, עַל person, Nehemiah 5:15; ב person Ecclesiastes 8:9 (לְרַע לוֺ); ב of thing Ecclesiastes 2:19; become master of, ב person Esther 9:1 (twice in verse). Hiph`il 1. give power of: Perfect3masculine singular suffix person וְהִשְׁלִימוֺ לֶאֱכֹל Ecclesiastes 5:18, so Imperfect3masculine singular suffix יַשְׁליטֶנּוּ Ecclesiastes 6:2 (both subject God). 2. = Qal, get mastery of: jussive 3 feminine singular אַלתַּֿשְׁלֶטבִּֿי כָּלאָֿ֑וֶן Psalm 119:133. שְׁלֵט verb have power, rule (ᵑ7 Syriac; Biblical Hebrew (q. v.) late); — Pe`al Perfect3masculine singular ׳שׁ Daniel 3:27, 3masculine plural שְׁלִ֫טוּ Daniel 6:25; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁלַ֑ט Daniel 5:7, 3feminine singular תִּשְׁלַט Daniel 2:39, 2masculine singular תִּשְׁלַ֑ט Daniel 5:16; — have power upon, ב of thing, Daniel 3:27 (of fire); fall upon, assault (ᵑ7 = מָּגַע בְּ), ב person Daniel 6:25 (of lions); subject person rule, be ruler, absolute, Daniel 5:7,16, subject kingdom, ב of earth, Daniel 2:39. Haph`el make ruler: Perfect3masculine singular suffix הַשְׁלְטָח Daniel 2:38 (ב person, etc.); הַשְׁלְטֵהּ Daniel 2:48 (עַל of province). Topical Lexicon Overview of Biblical Usage The verb carries the idea of exercising dominion, mastery, or control and appears eight times across the Old Testament. Whether describing civic oppression, military reversal, personal self-discipline, or God’s enabling grace, each text presents a facet of how authority functions under the sovereign hand of the LORD. Civic and Political Authority • Nehemiah 5:15 contrasts abusive governance with God-fearing leadership: “Their servants also lorded it over the people, but because of the fear of God I did not do so.” The verb underscores how political power can be wielded either exploitatively or in reverent restraint. Personal and Spiritual Mastery Psalm 119:133 turns the concept inward: “Direct my steps in Your word; let no iniquity rule over me.” Mastery that belongs to sin apart from grace is rejected; instead, the psalmist pleads for divine governance over the heart. This prayerful posture models how believers today resist internal tyranny by submitting to Scripture. Stewardship of Possessions Ecclesiastes 5:19 depicts God enabling a man “to enjoy them, to accept his lot and rejoice in his labor.” Here, control is graciously granted so that material blessings serve joy rather than anxiety. The companion text, Ecclesiastes 6:2, portrays the opposite: “God does not allow him to enjoy them.” The same sovereign hand that bestows wealth can withhold the capacity to benefit from it, reminding readers that true mastery over resources is a gift, not an achievement. The Enigma of Succession Ecclesiastes 2:19 laments that a wise laborer’s legacy may fall under another’s rule: “Yet he will rule over all the labor into which I have poured my effort.” Transience of human authority evokes humility; one cannot secure ultimate control over the fruit of his work. Theological Themes 1. God’s sovereignty frames all human authority; He grants, redirects, or removes it. Ministry Implications • Leadership: Nehemiah models servant governance motivated by reverence for God rather than personal gain. Christian leaders imitate this restraint and compassion. Christological and Eschatological Echoes While the verb itself is not used of the Messiah, its themes converge in Christ, who exercises absolute dominion (Matthew 28:18) yet refuses worldly tyranny (Matthew 20:25-28). His kingdom fulfills the longing that no iniquity “rule over” the redeemed. Final judgment will expose every misuse of authority, and eternal life grants the saints co-reign with the Lamb (Revelation 22:5), a perfected expression of righteous שָׁלַט. Contemporary Application Churches, governments, families, and individuals continually decide whether authority will mirror Nehemiah’s fear of God or the self-destructive domination lamented in Ecclesiastes. The biblical witness around שָׁלַט calls every believer to acknowledge God as the ultimate ruler, exercise entrusted power in humility, and await the day when Christ’s benevolent mastery is universally manifest. Forms and Transliterations וְהִשְׁלִיט֨וֹ וְיִשְׁלַט֙ והשליטו וישלט יִשְׁלְט֧וּ יַשְׁלִיטֶ֤נּוּ ישלטו ישליטנו לִשְׁל֣וֹט לשלוט שָׁלְט֣וּ שָׁלַ֧ט שלט שלטו תַּשְׁלֶט־ תשלט־ liš·lō·wṭ lishLot lišlōwṭ šā·laṭ šā·lə·ṭū šālaṭ šāləṭū shaLat shalTu taš·leṭ- tashlet tašleṭ- vehishliTo veyishLat wə·hiš·lî·ṭōw wə·yiš·laṭ wəhišlîṭōw wəyišlaṭ yaš·lî·ṭen·nū yashliTennu yašlîṭennū yiš·lə·ṭū yishleTu yišləṭūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Nehemiah 5:15 HEB: גַּ֥ם נַעֲרֵיהֶ֖ם שָׁלְט֣וּ עַל־ הָעָ֑ם NAS: their servants domineered the people. KJV: their servants bare rule over the people: INT: even their servants domineered and the people Esther 9:1 Esther 9:1 Psalm 119:133 Ecclesiastes 2:19 Ecclesiastes 5:19 Ecclesiastes 6:2 Ecclesiastes 8:9 8 Occurrences |
    |