### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic verb H7972 (שְׁלַח, *shᵉlach*) corresponds directly to the more frequently occurring Hebrew verb `{{H7971}}` (שָׁלַח, *shalach*). Its core meaning encompasses the action of "sending away," "sending forth," or "dispatching." The semantic range is broad, reflecting the various applications of the act of sending:
1. **To send a person:** This can involve dispatching messengers, officials, or individuals for a specific purpose or mission.
2. **To send an object or message:** Implies the transmission of items, letters, or decrees.
3. **To dismiss or let go:** Pertains to releasing someone or something, often from a state of confinement or obligation.
4. **To stretch out:** Particularly referring to extending a hand or arm, often in an act of power or aid.
The verb can be used in both active and causative senses, indicating that the subject either performs the sending or causes something/someone to be sent. Its occurrences are limited to the Aramaic sections of the Old Testament, primarily in the books of Daniel and Ezra.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of H7972 in the Aramaic portions of Scripture illustrate its diverse applications, often in contexts of royal decree, divine action, or human interaction.
In Daniel, the verb frequently describes the dispatching of individuals or the sending forth of divine agents:
* [[Daniel 2:14]]: Daniel "went out" (was sent forth) to the chief of the king's guard, seeking to understand the king's decree, highlighting a deliberate movement or dispatch.
* [[Daniel 3:28]]: Nebuchadnezzar praises God for "sending His angel" to deliver the three men from the fiery furnace, emphasizing divine intervention and deliverance through a sent messenger.
* [[Daniel 5:2]]: Belshazzar "commanded" (lit. sent forth a command) to bring the gold and silver vessels from the temple, indicating the issuance of an authoritative directive.
* [[Daniel 6:22]]: Daniel declares that God "sent His angel" to shut the lions' mouths, again illustrating God's active, salvific dispatch of a divine agent.
In Ezra, H7972 is prominent in the context of official correspondence and royal decrees:
* [[Ezra 4:17]]: King Artaxerxes "sent an answer" (a letter) to the officials concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem, underscoring the formal transmission of communication.
* [[Ezra 5:5]]: The Persian officials did not make the Jews cease their work "till the report should reach Darius and then they should send back a written answer," indicating the necessity of dispatching official correspondence for resolution.
* [[Ezra 6:11]]: Darius decrees that anyone altering his edict shall have a beam "pulled from his house and he shall be impaled on it," implying the sending forth or execution of a severe judgment.
* [[Ezra 7:14]]: King Artaxerxes "is sending" Ezra and his counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, demonstrating a royal commission and delegation of authority.
Across these contexts, H7972 consistently denotes a purposeful, often authoritative, act of dispatching, whether it be a person, a message, or an action.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most significant related word is the Hebrew `{{H7971}}` (שָׁלַח, *shalach*), from which the Aramaic H7972 is directly derived and to which it corresponds in meaning. Both verbs share the core semantic field of sending, stretching out, and dismissing. This strong correspondence allows for a seamless understanding of the concept across the Hebrew and Aramaic sections of the Old Testament.
Other related terms and concepts include:
* `{{H7973}}` (שְׁלָח, *shᵉlach*): An Aramaic noun meaning "missile" or "weapon," something that is "sent" or "thrown." This noun directly reflects the active nature of the verb.
* `{{H7965}}` (שָׁלַח, *shalach*): A Hebrew noun meaning "a sending forth," "a discharge."
* **Mission/Commission:** The act of sending implies a purpose or task for the one sent, whether divine or human.
* **Authority/Decree:** Particularly in royal contexts, "sending" often signifies the issuance and enforcement of an authoritative command.
* **Divine Providence:** God's act of "sending" angels or events demonstrates His active involvement and sovereign control over creation and history.
* **Release/Dismissal:** The nuance of "letting go" or "dismissing" also falls within this semantic range, indicating a cessation of restraint or obligation.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of H7972, mirroring that of its Hebrew counterpart `{{H7971}}`, lies primarily in its portrayal of agency, particularly divine agency.
1. **God as the Sender:** The recurring motif of God "sending His angel" (e.g., [[Daniel 3:28]], [[Daniel 6:22]]) highlights His active involvement in human affairs, especially in acts of deliverance and protection for His faithful servants. This underscores God's immanence and His providential care.
2. **Divine Decrees and Judgment:** The verb is used in contexts where royal decrees are "sent forth" ([[Ezra 4:17]], [[Ezra 6:11]]), which can be seen as an earthly reflection of divine decrees that govern the universe and human destiny. God "sends" forth His word, His judgments, and His blessings.
3. **Commission and Purpose:** When individuals are "sent" (e.g., Ezra being sent by the king, [[Ezra 7:14]]), it implies a specific purpose, a task, or a mission. This concept prefigures the idea of divine calling and commissioning, where individuals are chosen and dispatched by God for His purposes.
4. **Sovereignty and Control:** The act of sending, whether by God or by powerful human rulers, demonstrates the sender's authority and control over the recipient or the outcome. It illustrates that events do not unfold randomly but are often part of a deliberate dispatch or plan.
### Summary
The Aramaic verb H7972 (שְׁלַח, *shᵉlach*) is a versatile term primarily meaning "to send away, for, or out." It is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew `{{H7971}}` (שָׁלַח), sharing a wide semantic range that includes dispatching persons, transmitting objects or messages, dismissing, and stretching out. In the biblical Aramaic texts of Daniel and Ezra, H7972 is frequently employed to describe the authoritative issuance of royal decrees, the dispatch of messengers, and critically, the divine act of sending angels for deliverance and protection. Its usage consistently underscores the concept of purposeful agency, whether human or divine, highlighting the active will and sovereign control of the sender in orchestrating events and accomplishing specific objectives within the biblical narrative.
TRV