סָלֵק (na.saq)
na.saq
to ascend
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb salaq means simply to go up or ascend. It appears only once in the entire Old Testament, found in Psalm 139:8. In this specific context, David uses it to describe the impossibility of reaching the highest heavens or descending to the depths, emphasizing that God’s presence is everywhere.
While other Hebrew words like alah are more common for climbing, salaq carries a sense of rising upward. Its rare usage here highlights the vastness of creation and the limits of human movement. The word serves as a poetic marker for the highest point one can imagine, contrasting with the lowest depths to show that no distance separates a person from God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word salaq means to go up or ascend. It appears just once in the Old Testament, in Psalm 139:8. David uses it to describe climbing into the highest heavens. This rare verb highlights how far we might try to travel to escape God’s presence.
Yet the psalmist finds comfort here. No matter how high you rise or how deep you fall, God is already there. His presence fills every corner of creation. You cannot outrun Him, nor can you hide from Him.
This truth brings peace rather than fear. If God is present in the highest heights and the deepest depths, then you are never alone. His nearness is constant, offering stability in a world that often feels unstable.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I will ascend1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֶסַּ֣ק1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 139:8
If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!
David uses this specific verb to describe the act of ascending into heaven, illustrating that God's presence extends to the highest possible point in creation.