שַׁעֲלִים (sha.a.lim)
sha.a.lim
Shaalim
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
Shaalim is a proper noun referring to a specific district or region within ancient Israel, as recorded in the Old Testament. The name itself translates to "foxes," suggesting that the area was likely known for this animal or perhaps named after a local landmark associated with them.
This place appears only once in Scripture, in 1 Samuel 9:4. Here, it is mentioned during the search for King Saul’s lost donkeys. The text notes that the servant and his master passed through the land of Shaalim without finding the animals, indicating it was a recognizable territory along their journey.
Because its occurrence is so rare, little geographical detail survives in the biblical narrative itself. Scholars rely on this single reference to place Shaalim within the broader context of Saul’s tribe and the routes traveled during that period. The name serves as a small but concrete marker of the landscape through which these early Israelite figures moved.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Shaalim appears in a single verse, marking a quiet moment in the life of King Saul as he searches for lost donkeys. This tiny detail reminds us that God’s plans often unfold through ordinary days and mundane tasks. Even when we feel like we are wandering without direction, our steps are known.
It is comforting to know that the biblical narrative includes these small geographical markers. They ground the stories in real places and real people. You do not need to have all the answers or see the whole map to be part of God’s story. Faithfulness in the small things matters deeply.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Shaalim1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שַׁעֲלִים֙1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 9:4
He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they weren’t there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn’t find them.
This verse places Shaalim on Saul's route, showing how a minor location intersects with the beginning of Israel's monarchy.