English · KJV
H5555

סֶלַע הַמַּחְלְקוֹת

Çelaʻ ham-machlᵉqôwth /seh'-lah hammakh-lek-oth'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom סֶלַע and the plural of מַחֲלֹקֶת with the article interposed
Meaningrock of the divisions; Sela-ham-Machlekoth, a place in Palestine
KJV usageSela-hammalekoth.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of Çelaʻ ham-machlᵉqôwth — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew term Çelaʻ ham-machlᵉqôwth, represented by H5555, identifies a specific location in Palestine known as the Sela-hammalekoth. The name is derived from words meaning rock of the divisions. It is a unique geographical marker, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The singular appearance of H5555 is in 1 Samuel 23:28, where it memorializes a critical moment of deliverance for David H1732. In the narrative, King Saul H7586 was pursuing H7291 David and had him cornered. However, Saul was forced to return H7725 from the chase and go H3212 against the Philistines H6430 who had launched an attack. Because of this sudden and decisive separation, the narrative states that "they called H7121 that place H4725 Selahammahlekoth" 1 Samuel 23:28.

Related Words & Concepts

Several key words from the surrounding text illuminate the meaning and context of this place name:

  • H7586 Shâʼûwl (Saul): The Israelite king whose pursuit of David was halted, leading to the naming of the location 1 Samuel 23:28.
  • H1732 Dâvid (David): The one being pursued by Saul who experiences deliverance at this spot 1 Samuel 23:28.
  • H7291 râdaph (pursue): A root word that means to run after, often with hostile intent, which describes Saul's relentless hunt for David.
  • H7725 shûwb (return): This verb, meaning to turn back or retreat, marks the pivotal action of Saul that gives the "rock of the divisions" its name.

Theological Significance

The significance of H5555 is tied directly to the event it commemorates.

  • A Monument to Deliverance: The naming of the place H4725 serves as a lasting reminder of how David was saved from Saul's grasp, not by his own strength, but by an external conflict demanding Saul's attention 1 Samuel 23:28.
  • The "Rock of Divisions": The name itself is a literal description of the event. It signifies the physical separation that occurred between Saul's and David's forces and, figuratively, the division of Saul's attention between his personal obsession and his national responsibilities.
  • Providential Interruption: The Philistine attack functions as a providential interruption. The naming of Selahammahlekoth freezes this moment in time, highlighting a turning point where a political crisis became the means of personal rescue for David.

Summary

In summary, Çelaʻ ham-machlᵉqôwth H5555 is not merely a word but a geographical monument within the biblical narrative. Its sole appearance in 1 Samuel 23:28 permanently links it to the story of David's escape from Saul. The name "rock of the divisions" perfectly encapsulates the event, symbolizing the sudden separation that spared David's life. This place name thus stands as a testament to a key moment of conflict and deliverance in Israel's history.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • הַמַּחְלְקוֹת
  • סֶלַע

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1732 דָּוִד rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David. H7586 שָׁאוּל passive participle of שָׁאַל; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Saul, Shaul. H7291 רָדַף a primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by); chase, put to flight, foll H7725 שׁוּב a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily H3212 יָלַךְ a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idio H6430 פְּלִשְׁתִּי patrial from פְּלֶשֶׁת; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth; Philistine.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in 1 Samuel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.