English · KJV
H7958

שְׂלָו

sᵉlâv /sel-awv'/ Ask about this word
Rootor שְׂלָיו · by orthographical variation from שָׁלָה through the idea of sluggishness
Meaningthe quail collectively (as slow in flight from its weight)
KJV usagequails.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of sᵉlâv — 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 word sᵉlâv, represented by H7958, refers to quails. The term is derived from an idea of sluggishness, reflecting the quail's slow flight due to its weight. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses, always describing the birds collectively.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H7958 is exclusively associated with God's miraculous provision for the Israelites in the wilderness. After the people asked H7592, God brought H935 quails H7958 to satisfy H7646 them Psalms 105:40. These birds would arrive at even H6153 and cover H3680 the camp H4264 Exodus 16:13. In one instance, a wind H7307 from the LORD H3068 brought H1468 the quails H7958 from the sea H3220, letting them fall in and around the camp to a height of two cubits H520 Numbers 11:31. The people then gathered H622 them in immense quantities, with even the person who gathered least H4591 collecting ten homers H2563 Numbers 11:32.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand on the events surrounding the provision of quails:

  • H7307 rûwach (wind): This word, also meaning spirit, describes the force from the LORD H3068 that miraculously brought H1468 the quails Numbers 11:31.
  • H4264 machăneh (camp): This refers to the Israelite encampment, the central location where the quails arrived and covered H3680 the area Exodus 16:13.
  • H622 ʼâçaph (to gather): This is the action the people H5971 took to collect the abundant provision of quails that God had sent Numbers 11:32.
  • H7646 sâbaʻ (to sate, i.e. fill to satisfaction): This word describes the result of God's gift, as He satisfied the people with quails Psalms 105:40.

Theological Significance

The theological importance of H7958 is centered on God's direct interaction with His people.

  • Divine Provision: The appearance of the quails is a clear act of God providing for His people in the wilderness. They are sent in direct response to the people's request for food Psalms 105:40.
  • Miraculous Power: The event demonstrates God's sovereignty over nature. He commands a wind H7307 to transport a massive quantity of quails H7958 from the sea H3220 and deposit them at the Israelite camp H4264 Numbers 11:31.
  • God's Abundance: The provision of quails was not merely sufficient but overwhelmingly abundant. They covered H3680 the camp Exodus 16:13, were piled up two cubits H520 high, and the least amount anyone gathered H622 was ten homers H2563 Numbers 11:31-32.

Summary

In summary, H7958 is far more than a simple reference to a bird. The word sᵉlâv is intrinsically linked to the narrative of God's faithfulness to a wandering people. Each appearance of quails in the text serves as a powerful and tangible symbol of divine intervention, miraculous provision, and the overwhelming nature of God's response to the cries of His people. It illustrates how God can use the natural world to accomplish His supernatural purposes.

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 4 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.

  • שְּׂלָו
  • שַׂלְוִים

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.

H7592 שָׁאַל or שָׁאֵל; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand; ask (counsel, on), beg, bo H935 בּוֹא a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] H7646 שָׂבַע or שָׂבֵעַ; a primitive root; to sate, i.e. fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively); have enough, fill (full, s H6153 עֶרֶב from עָרַב; dusk; [phrase] day, even(-ing, tide), night. H3680 כָּסָה a primitive root; properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy); clad sel H4264 מַחֲנֶה from חָנָה; an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dan

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

Appears in 4 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Numbers (2 verses); never once in the other 36.

1
Exodus
2
Numbers
1
Psalms

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.