סְלֵק (se.liq)
se.liq
to ascend
A:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sâlaq is a straightforward term meaning "to ascend" or "to come up." It appears only five times in the Old Testament, primarily within the books of Daniel and Ezra. In these contexts, it describes physical movement upward, such as climbing a hill or rising from a lower place to a higher one.
Unlike more complex Hebrew verbs that carry metaphorical weight, sâlaq focuses on the literal act of going up. Its usage is limited but clear, often marking a change in elevation during travel or construction projects described in these historical texts. The word does not typically appear in poetic or theological discourses.
Translators generally render sâlaq as "go up" or "ascend," maintaining the simple physical sense found in the original language. This consistency helps readers visualize the actions of biblical figures moving through landscapes or engaging in building activities without adding unintended spiritual connotations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word sâlaq simply means to go up or ascend. It appears in only five verses of the Old Testament, mostly in the books of Daniel and Ezra. In these texts, it describes physical movement from a lower place to a higher one. You might see it used when people travel over hills or when animals rise from the sea. The word itself does not carry deep spiritual metaphors on its own.
However, this simple action often sets the stage for important biblical events. In Daniel 7, for example, great beasts come up from the sea, leading to visions of future kingdoms. When you read these passages, remember that God is present in both the ordinary movements of people and the dramatic symbols of prophecy. Your daily steps upward, whether literal or metaphorical, are part of a larger story where God remains sovereign.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- they came up2×
- it came up2×
- [were] coming up1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- סָלְקָ֖ן1×
- סִלְקָ֣ת1×
- סִלְקַ֔ת1×
- סְלִ֙קוּ֙1×
- סְלִ֔קוּ1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 7:3
Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another.
This verse uses sâlaq to describe four great beasts rising from the sea, establishing the source of chaotic powers in Daniel's vision.
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Daniel 7:8
“I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking arrogantly.
Here the word highlights the sudden emergence of a little horn among others, signaling a shift in power dynamics within the prophetic imagery.
-
Ezra 4:12
Be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you have come to us to Jerusalem. They are building the rebellious and bad city, and have finished the walls and repaired the foundations.
This occurrence grounds the political conflict by noting that the Jews who came up from the king's land were rebuilding Jerusalem.