שֶׁ֫לַח (she.lach)
she.lach
Shelah; Shiloah
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun sheloah, rendered in English as Siloah or Shiloah, literally means "sent." It refers to a specific water source located just southeast of Jerusalem, known today as the Gihon Spring’s channel or the Silwan Spring. The name likely reflects the way the water was directed through tunnels and channels to provide for the city’s needs.
This word appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible. In Nehemiah 3:15, it identifies the "Pool of Siloah" as a landmark near the Sheep Gate where the repair work on Jerusalem’s walls concluded. Later, in Isaiah 8:6, the prophet uses the image of the "quiet waters of Shiloah" to contrast with the turbulent political alliances Judah was seeking. The text describes these waters as gentle and reliable, unlike the raging floods of enemy forces.
The distinction between the place name and the action of sending is subtle but important. While the root shalach generally means to send or dispatch, here it functions as a proper noun for the water source itself. Translators often keep the transliterated form "Siloah" to preserve this specific geographical reference, reminding readers that God’s provision can be found in quiet, steady sources rather than chaotic political maneuvers.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shiloah carries a quiet strength rooted in provision. It refers to a water source near Jerusalem whose waters flowed gently yet steadily, sustaining the city through tunnels carved into the rock. Unlike rushing floods that can overwhelm or destroy, these waters offered reliability and sustenance without noise or chaos.
In Isaiah 8:6, this image serves as a gentle reminder to trust in God’s steady care rather than seeking security in unstable political alliances or human schemes. The prophet contrasts the quiet waters with the raging forces of enemies, showing that true safety comes from trusting the One who provides consistently over time.
When life feels turbulent or uncertain, this word invites us to look for the quiet sources of grace and truth. It encourages a faith that rests in God’s faithful provision rather than chasing after fleeting solutions or worldly power.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ Shiloah1×
- <the>/ Shelah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שֶּׁ֙לַח֙1×
- הַ/שִּׁלֹ֔חַ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 8:6
“Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;
The prophet uses the quiet waters of Shiloah to contrast with Judah’s reliance on unstable political alliances, highlighting trust in God’s steady provision.
-
Nehemiah 3:15
Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the spring gate. He built it, covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars; and he repaired the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, even to the stairs that go down from David’s city.
This verse marks the completion of wall repairs near the pool, showing how this water source served as a practical landmark for the community’s restoration efforts.