### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **shᵉlach**, represented by `{{H7972}}`, means **to send away, for, or out** in a variety of applications, and can also mean **put**. It appears 14 times across 14 unique verses, primarily in the books of Ezra and Daniel, where it describes the dispatch of messengers, decrees, and divine agents.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical narratives, `{{H7972}}` is used to illustrate the exercise of authority, both human and divine. Earthly kings **send** officials to gather their subjects [[Daniel 3:2]] and **send** letters or answers to communicate their will across their kingdoms ([[Ezra 4:17]], [[Ezra 5:7]]). The term is also used when a person is dispatched on an official mission, as when Ezra is **sent** by the king to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem [[Ezra 7:14]]. On a divine level, God **sends** His angel to deliver the faithful from mortal danger ([[Daniel 3:28]], [[Daniel 6:22]]). In a unique instance, the word describes a hand being **sent** from God to write a message of judgment on a wall [[Daniel 5:24]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Aramaic words provide context for the action of sending:
* `{{H4398}}` **mal'ak** (angel): This is the heavenly messenger who is often the one being sent. God **sent** his **angel** to shut the lions' mouths and deliver his servants ([[Daniel 6:22]], [[Daniel 3:28]]).
* `{{H104}}` **'iggᵉrâ'** (letter): This word refers to an official epistle, the physical object being sent by royal couriers. Officials **sent** a **letter** to King Darius to report on the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem [[Ezra 5:6]].
* `{{H7804}}` **shᵉzab** (deliver): This word often describes the purpose for which an agent is sent. God sent his angel and **delivered** his servants who trusted in him [[Daniel 3:28]].
* `{{H6600}}` **pithgâm** (answer, letter, matter, word): This term refers to the message or decree that is sent. A king **sent** an **answer** to his officials in Samaria [[Ezra 4:17]].
### Theological Significance
The use of `{{H7972}}` carries significant thematic weight, particularly in demonstrating how power is enacted.
* **Royal and Imperial Communication:** The word is fundamental to the administrative functions of the Persian empire depicted in Ezra and the Babylonian empire in Daniel. Kings **send** decrees, letters, and officials to exert their authority over vast distances ([[Ezra 6:13]], [[Daniel 3:2]]).
* **Divine Intervention and Sovereignty:** The word highlights God's direct involvement in human affairs. He is the one who ultimately **sends** supernatural help to rescue those who are faithful to Him, demonstrating that His authority surpasses that of any earthly king ([[Daniel 3:28]], [[Daniel 6:22]]).
* **Delegated Authority:** Being **sent** implies carrying the authority of the sender. When Ezra is **sent** by King Artaxerxes, he acts with the king's backing [[Ezra 7:14]]. This concept underscores the importance of mission and commission in the biblical narrative.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7972}}` is a verb of action and authority. While it can denote the simple act of dispatching a message or person, its context in Ezra and Daniel elevates it to a key term for understanding the execution of power. It illustrates the chain of command in earthly empires and, more profoundly, the active, saving power of God, who **sends** His agents to intervene on behalf of His people.
TRV