שָׁלַל (sha.lal)
sha.lal
to take; to loot
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb sha.lal describes the act of taking spoil or plundering, often with a specific nuance of drawing out goods from their owner. While it generally denotes the seizure of property in contexts of war or conflict, its usage is sparse and varied across the Old Testament, appearing in only five verses.
A striking example occurs in Ruth 2:16, where Boaz instructs his workers to pull out handfuls of grain from the bundles and leave them for Ruth to gather. Here, the word shifts from violent conquest to charitable provision, illustrating how the same action—drawing something out—can serve either exploitation or kindness depending on the heart behind it.
In prophetic literature like Isaiah and Habakkuk, the term reverts to its darker sense, describing nations being stripped of their wealth as judgment. The sources note a distinct form, the Hithpolel, which emphasizes the state of being plundered rather than the act itself, highlighting the vulnerability of those who lose what they hold dear.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word sha.lal captures the raw reality of taking what belongs to another. In most biblical contexts, this verb describes the harsh outcome of war, where nations are stripped bare and left vulnerable. It serves as a sobering reminder that injustice eventually meets its reckoning, and those who exploit others will face their own loss.
Yet Scripture also reveals a different heart behind the same action. In Ruth 2:16, Boaz uses this word to instruct his workers to pull out handfuls of grain from the bundles for Ruth. Here, the act of taking is transformed into an act of generosity. The physical motion remains identical, but the purpose shifts from exploitation to kindness.
This contrast invites us to examine our own hands. Are we drawing things out for selfish gain, or are we creating space for others to thrive? The Bible suggests that how we handle what is given to us reflects the condition of our hearts. May we choose to be channels of provision rather than agents of loss.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will pull out1×
- you have plundered1×
- to/ plunder1×
- they will plunder/ you1×
- indeed <pull out>1×
- [was] plundered1×
- [those who] plunder/ it1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תָּשֹׁ֥לּוּ1×
- שֹׁלְלֶ֥י/הָ1×
- שֹׁל\־1×
- שַׁלּ֙וֹתָ֙1×
- מִשְׁתּוֹלֵ֑ל1×
- לִ/שְׁלֹ֤ל1×
- יְשָׁלּ֖וּ/ךָ1×
Key Verses
-
Ruth 2:16
Also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it. Let her glean, and don’t rebuke her.”
This verse uniquely repurposes a term usually associated with war booty into an instruction for charitable gleaning, showing how the act of taking can be an expression of mercy.
-
Isaiah 10:6
I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people who anger me I will give him a command to take the plunder and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
Here the word defines the military command to seize spoil, illustrating its primary context as a tool of divine judgment against ungodly nations.
-
Habakkuk 2:8
Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples will plunder you because of men’s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all who dwell in it.
This occurrence highlights the principle of retribution, where those who plundered others become the prey themselves due to their violence and bloodshed.