What does שָׁלַל mean in the Bible?
שָׁלַל is a Hebrew word meaning "to drop or strip ; by implication, to plunder".
Hebrew · H7997
שָׁלַל
To drop or strip ; by implication, to plunder
Reading a lexicon entry
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שָׁלַלH7997
What does שָׁלַל mean in the Bible?
שָׁלַל is a Hebrew word meaning "to drop or strip ; by implication, to plunder".
Full entry for שָׁלַל (H7997) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7997?
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (1), becomes prey (1), have plundered (1), in order to seize (1), lie plundered (1).
Where does שָׁלַל appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Ruth 2:16. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (7), Habakkuk (2), Isaiah (2), Ruth (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It. . .1×Ruth 2:16
becomes prey1×Isaiah 59:15
have plundered1×Habakkuk 2:8
in order to seize1×Ezekiel 38:12
lie plundered1×Psalms 76:5
pull out1×Ruth 2:16
seize1×Ezekiel 29:19
that have plundered you1×Zechariah 2:8
They will loot1×Ezekiel 39:10
They will plunder1×Ezekiel 26:12
those who looted them1×Ezekiel 39:10
to capture1×Ezekiel 38:13
to seize1×Ezekiel 38:13
to take1×Isaiah 10:6
who plunder her1×Jeremiah 50:10
will plunder you1×Habakkuk 2:8
Show sample aligned rows
Ruth 2:16שֹׁל־topull outVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteRuth 2:16תָּשֹׁ֥לּוּto. . .Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralPsalms 76:5אֶשְׁתּוֹלְל֨וּ׀tolie plunderedVerb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person common pluralIsaiah 10:6לִשְׁלֹ֤לtoto takePreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructIsaiah 59:15מִשְׁתּוֹלֵ֑לtobecomes preyVerb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singularJeremiah 50:10שֹׁלְלֶ֥יהָtowho plunder herVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularEzekiel 26:12וְשָׁלְל֣וּtoThey will plunderConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralEzekiel 29:19וְשָׁלַ֤לtoseizeConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularEzekiel 38:12לִשְׁלֹ֥לtoin order to seizePreposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructEzekiel 38:13הֲלִשְׁלֹ֤לtoto capturePreposition | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowRuth 2:16
Aligned rows16
Books represented7
Ruth2Psalms1Isaiah2Jeremiah1Ezekiel7Habakkuk2Zechariah1
Source forms
וְשָׁלְל֣וּ2xwə·šā·lə·lūEzekiel 26:12, Ezekiel 39:10
אֶשְׁתּוֹלְל֨וּ׀1x’eš·tō·wl·lūPsalms 76:5
הֲלִשְׁלֹ֤ל1xhă·liš·lōlEzekiel 38:13
הַשֹּׁלְלִ֣ים1xhaš·šō·lə·lîmZechariah 2:8
וְשָׁלַ֤ל1xwə·šā·lalEzekiel 29:19
יְשָׁלּ֖וּךָ1xyə·šāl·lū·ḵāHabakkuk 2:8
לִשְׁלֹ֤ל1xliš·lōlIsaiah 10:6
לִשְׁלֹ֥ל1xliš·lōlEzekiel 38:12
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct3xIsaiah 10:6, Ezekiel 38:12, Ezekiel 38:13
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural2xEzekiel 26:12, Ezekiel 39:10
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural1xZechariah 2:8
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xEzekiel 29:19
Preposition | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1xEzekiel 38:13
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular1xIsaiah 59:15
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person common plural1xPsalms 76:5
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural1xRuth 2:16
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. to drop or strip ; by implication, to plunder
Source Gloss
to drop or strip ; by implication, to plunder
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
to drop or strip; by implication, to plunder BDB: draw out Usage: let fall, make self a prey, × of purpose, (make a, (take)) spoil.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups2Aligned forms5
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense3×
PerfectHab 2:81×
Infinitive absoluteRuth 2:161×
ImperfectRuth 2:161×
Hithpolel2×
Participle activeIsa 59:151×
PerfectPs 76:61×
Word Origins
שָׁלַל is a primitive root - no further derivation.