English · KJV
H7964

שִׁלּוּחַ

shillûwach /shil-loo'-akh/ Ask about this word
Rootor שִׁלֻּחַ · from שָׁלַח
Meaning(only in plural) a dismissal, i.e. (of a wife) divorce (especially the document); also (of a daughter) dower
KJV usagepresents, have sent back.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of shillûwach — 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 shillûwach, represented by H7964, describes a form of dismissal or presents. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. The word's applications range from the sending away of a wife, sometimes translated as divorce, to a dower or gift given in a significant transaction.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical contexts, H7964 signifies a definitive act of giving or sending. It is used to describe Moses having sent her back H7964, referring to his wife, Zipporah Exodus 18:2. The term also functions as a valuable gift or dowry; Pharaoh captured the city of Gezer and gave it as a present H7964 to his daughter, Solomon's wife 1 Kings 9:16. In a prophetic declaration, Micah uses the word when commanding that Israel shall give presents H7964 to Moreshethgath Micah 1:14.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the actions associated with H7964:

  • H5414 nâthan (to give): This primitive root, meaning to give, is used directly with H7964 in the accounts of Pharaoh having given H5414 Gezer as a present H7964 1 Kings 9:16 and the instruction to give H5414 presents H7964 Micah 1:14.
  • H3947 lâqach (to take): Meaning to take, this word appears when Jethro took H3947 Zipporah after Moses had sent her back H7964, showing the sequence of dismissal and reception Exodus 18:2.
  • H3920 lâkad (to capture or occupy): This verb sets up the context for the gift in 1 Kings 9:16, where Pharaoh had first taken H3920 Gezer before he gave it as a present H7964, linking a gift to an act of conquest.

Theological Significance

The significance of H7964 is tied to its role in formal, consequential acts.

  • Marital Dismissal: The term is used to signify a formal separation within a family, as when Moses had sent her back H7964, referring to his wife Exodus 18:2, highlighting the concept of a definitive dismissal.
  • Dowry and Alliance: H7964 carries the weight of a significant transactional gift, specifically a dower. Pharaoh's giving of Gezer as a present H7964 served to establish a political and familial alliance with Solomon 1 Kings 9:16.
  • Prophetic Sending: In a prophetic context, the giving of presents H7964 is symbolic. The instruction in Micah 1:14 to give H5414 presents H7964 is part of a divine oracle, signifying a final, consequential act of sending away or tribute.

Summary

In summary, H7964 is a specific term for a dismissal or present that, despite its infrequent use, marks pivotal moments in the biblical narrative. It defines actions ranging from the personal sending away of a wife Exodus 18:2 to the political bestowal of a dower to seal an alliance 1 Kings 9:16. Whether as a gift, a dower, or a form of dismissal, shillûwach consistently points to a formal and consequential act of sending or giving.

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 3 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.

  • שִׁלּוּחִים
  • שִׁלּוּחֶי

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.

H5414 נָתַן a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, a H3947 לָקַח a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, in H3920 לָכַד a primitive root; to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figurative

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 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Exodus, 1 Kings, and Micah (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1
Exodus
1
1 Kings
1
Micah

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.