Lexical Summary shilyah: Afterbirth, placenta Original Word: שִׁלְיָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance young one Feminine from shalah; a fetus or babe (as extruded in birth) -- young one. see HEBREW shalah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom shalah Definition afterbirth NASB Translation afterbirth (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שִׁלְיָה] noun feminine after-birth (= Arabic  , Aramaic שִׁילְיְתָא,  ); — suffix שִׁלְיָתָהּ Deuteronomy 28:57. Topical Lexicon Meaning and Physical Background שִׁלְיָה denotes the afterbirth or placenta, the membranous organ that nourishes and protects the unborn child in the womb and is expelled following birth. In the ancient Near East the afterbirth was widely recognized as a sign of completed gestation and the transition from pregnancy to post-natal life. Though normally discarded, some cultures ascribed medicinal or ritual value to it; Scripture is silent on such practices but does acknowledge its existence, showing that biblical revelation is grounded in the realities of human biology. Occurrence in Scripture The term appears once, in Deuteronomy 28:57, within the catalogue of covenant curses: “and against her afterbirth that comes out from between her legs and the children she bears, for in dire need she will eat them secretly during the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within your gates.” Theological Implications in Deuteronomy 28 1. Covenant Sanctions: The afterbirth is mentioned in the context of the most extreme judgment upon covenant infidelity. Moses warns that disobedience will bring such desperate famine that the most tender mother will violate every natural instinct, treating both child and afterbirth as food (Deuteronomy 28:53-57). Historical and Cultural Considerations Siege cannibalism is documented historically (cf. 2 Kings 6:28-29; Lamentations 4:10) and archaeologically. Moses’ prophecy was literally fulfilled during the Babylonian siege (586 BC) and, later, during the Roman siege of Jerusalem (AD 70) as reported by Josephus. The presence of the afterbirth in the diet lists the last possible “food,” illustrating total devastation. Israel’s law otherwise regards childbirth as a time requiring purification (Leviticus 12:2-5), not desecration, highlighting how sin perverts created order. Pastoral and Ministry Applications • Warning against Covenant Drift: The singular use of shilyah serves as a sober reminder that complacency toward God’s Word invites catastrophic consequences (Hebrews 2:1-3). Connections with Biblical Themes of Life and Blessing The placenta, invisible yet vital, mirrors God’s unseen providential care (Psalm 139:13-16). Where sin brings famine and death, the new covenant offers abundant life (John 10:10). The afterbirth once tied to judgment becomes, by contrast, a signpost to the miracle of birth that God redeems for His glory. Prophetic Foreshadowing and Christological Reflections Jesus Christ entered the world through ordinary birth, sharing fully in human biology (Luke 2:7; Galatians 4:4). He experienced poverty and threat (Matthew 2:13-18), yet did not succumb to the curse; instead, He swallowed it at the cross. Thus, even the mention of shilyah under judgment highlights the depth from which redemption lifts humanity. Summary שִׁלְיָה appears once, but its placement in a passage of dire covenant warnings powerfully juxtaposes God’s design for life with the horrors that result from rebellion. The afterbirth, normally a discarded yet life-affirming by-product of birth, becomes a symbol of how sin devastates the most sacred human bonds. Yet, in the full counsel of Scripture, the God who judges also restores, turning curses into blessings through the saving work of His Son. Forms and Transliterations וּֽבְשִׁלְיָתָ֞הּ ובשליתה ū·ḇə·šil·yā·ṯāh ūḇəšilyāṯāh uveshilyaTahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 28:57 HEB: וּֽבְשִׁלְיָתָ֞הּ הַיּוֹצֵ֣ת ׀ מִבֵּ֣ין NAS: and toward her afterbirth which issues KJV: And toward her young one that cometh out INT: her afterbirth issues between 1 Occurrence |
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