סָלָה (sa.lah)
sa.lah
to reject; to weigh
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew word salah carries a dual sense that hinges on the action of weighing. In its basic form, it means to balance or weigh something carefully, suggesting a process of evaluation where value is determined by comparison. This literal idea of measurement underpins its more figurative uses found in Scripture.
When used in the active voices, the meaning shifts toward dismissal. The Qal stem describes making light of something, as if tossing it aside on a scale because it lacks weight or importance. The Piel intensifies this to mean flouting or rejecting what is deemed insignificant. This contrast appears clearly in Lamentations 3:34, where God rejects those who scorn His laws, and in Job 6:25, where words are weighed against their impact.
Though rare, appearing only four times, salah offers a vivid image of spiritual assessment. It reminds readers that actions and attitudes are not ignored but measured. The word captures the tension between valuing what is true and discarding what is false, framing divine judgment as a precise act of weighing rather than arbitrary dismissal.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word salah invites us to consider how we assign value in our daily lives. It carries the image of placing something on a scale to see if it holds true weight. In Scripture, this measurement is not merely about price but about enduring significance. Wisdom and righteousness are described as heavier than gold or precious stones, suggesting that what truly matters cannot be bought with earthly currency.
Conversely, the word also describes the act of dismissing what lacks substance. When attitudes or actions are found to be empty, they are weighed and found wanting. This offers a sobering reminder that God sees beyond surface appearances. He evaluates the heart with precision, distinguishing between fleeting distractions and eternal truths.
For your faith, this means you can trust that nothing is overlooked. Your sincere efforts to follow God’s ways have weight in His sight. Even when the world seems chaotic, there is a steady balance in divine justice. You are encouraged to seek what endures, knowing that your devotion is measured and valued by a faithful Creator.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it will be paid2×
- you reject1×
- he has thrown away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תְסֻלֶּֽה\׃\ \פ1×
- תְ֭סֻלֶּה1×
- סָ֭לִיתָ1×
- סִלָּ֨ה1×
Key Verses
-
Job 28:16
It can’t be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
This verse uses the concept of weighing to show that wisdom cannot be purchased or balanced against material wealth like gold.
-
Psalms 119:118
You reject all those who stray from your statutes, for their deceit is in vain.
Here the word describes God actively rejecting those who abandon His laws, treating their deceit as having no spiritual weight.
-
Lamentations 1:15
“The Lord has set at nothing all my mighty men within me. He has called a solemn assembly against me to crush my young men. The Lord has trodden the virgin daughter of Judah as in a wine press.
The text portrays the Lord setting mighty men at nothing, illustrating a divine judgment that nullifies human strength and pride.