שְׁלַח (she.lach)

she.lach

to send

H7972 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 13 verses

A:V

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 13 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: A:V

Word Overview

The Hebrew verb shalach simply means to send or to send out. It appears in thirteen verses across the Old Testament, with a notable concentration in the books of Ezra and Daniel. In these contexts, it describes the straightforward act of dispatching people or messengers from one place to another.

Its usage is practical rather than abstract. For example, kings and officials use it when ordering envoys to carry messages or requests to foreign rulers. The word captures the physical movement of sending someone away on a task, without necessarily implying the deeper theological weight found in other Hebrew verbs for commissioning.

Translators typically render shalach as "send" or "sent," keeping the language clear and direct. It serves as the standard term for delegation and dispatch in historical narratives, marking the beginning of a journey or mission initiated by authority.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word shalach is straightforward. It means to send or to send out. In the Old Testament, it often describes kings dispatching messengers with official letters. Ezra and Daniel use it frequently when officials communicate across empires. This simple act of sending connects people across vast distances, ensuring that messages reach their intended audience.

For your faith, this word reminds you that God also sends. In Daniel 3:28, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges that God sent His angel to deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. This shows that divine sending is not just about physical movement but about protection and presence. When you feel distant or overwhelmed, remember that God’s care is actively dispatched toward you.

You can trust that your prayers are heard and that God’s responses are timely. Whether through human messengers or divine intervention, the act of sending reflects a commitment to connection. This reliability offers comfort in uncertain times, assuring you that you are never truly alone in your struggles.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.

he sent3×
they sent2×
you sent1×
we have sent1×
let him send1×
it was sent out1×
he will stretch out1×
he has sent1×
he had sent1×
[you are] sent1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

שְׁלַ֣חוּ2×
שְׁלַ֞ח2×
שְׁלַחְתּ֖וּן1×
שְׁלַ֤ח1×
שְׁלַ֣ח1×
שְׁלַ֡ח1×
שְׁלַ֖חְנָא1×
שְׁלִ֖יַחַ1×
שְׁלִ֔יחַ1×
יִשְׁלַ֥ח1×
יִשְׁלַ֣ח1×

Key Verses

Daniel 3:28
Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God.

This verse uniquely attributes the sending of an angel to God, shifting the focus from human delegation to divine protection and deliverance.
Ezra 4:11
This is the copy of the letter that they sent: To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the people beyond the River.

Here the word establishes the formal context of political correspondence, showing how messengers carried critical information between rival powers.
Ezra 7:14
Because you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,

This occurrence highlights the authority behind the sending, as Ezra is dispatched by the king to inquire about religious law and practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does shalach mean in the Bible?

Shalach is a Hebrew verb that simply means to send or to send out. It is used in historical narratives to describe the act of dispatching people, messengers, or even divine agents like angels to carry out specific tasks.

How is shalach different from other words for sending?

While there are other terms for commissioning, shalach is the standard word for physical dispatch and delegation. It focuses on the act of sending someone away on a mission rather than the abstract concept of authority or appointment.

Where does shalach appear most often?

It appears frequently in the books of Ezra and Daniel. These texts use it to describe political correspondence, royal decrees, and divine interventions involving messengers and angels.

Every Occurrence (13 verses across 2 books)

Ezra 10 verses

Ezra 4:11

This is the copy of the letter that they sent: To King Artaxerxes, from your servants, the people beyond the River.

Ezra 4:14

Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore we…

Ezra 4:17

Then the king sent an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions…

Ezra 4:18

The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me.

Ezra 5:6

The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shetharbozenai, and his companions the…

Ezra 5:7

They sent a letter to him, in which was written: To Darius the king, all peace.

Ezra 5:17

Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at…

Ezra 6:12

May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who stretch out their hand to alter…

Ezra 6:13

Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shetharbozenai, and their companions did accordingly with all diligence,…

Ezra 7:14

Because you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the…

Daniel 3 verses