### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **shâlaṭ**, represented by `{{H7980}}`, is a primitive root meaning **to dominate, govern, permit, or have power**. It appears 8 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible. Its core meaning revolves around the concept of dominion and rule, whether it is granted by God, exercised by human leaders, or sought by enemies.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H7980}}` describes various forms of authority. In the book of Ecclesiastes, it is used to explore the nature of power over wealth and labor. God may grant a man riches but not give him "power" to enjoy them [[Ecclesiastes 6:2]], or He may give him "power" to eat of his labor as a gift [[Ecclesiastes 5:19]]. The term also describes the negative potential of human authority, as when one man "ruleth" over another to his own harm [[Ecclesiastes 8:9]]. In Esther, the word captures a dramatic reversal of power, where the Jews who were to be destroyed instead "had rule" over those who hated them [[Esther 9:1]]. Spiritually, the Psalmist prays that iniquity will not "have dominion" over him [[Psalms 119:133]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the contexts in which dominion and authority operate:
* `{{H6346}}` **pechâh** (captain, deputy, governor): This term denotes a specific office of leadership. In Nehemiah, the former "governors" are contrasted with their servants who improperly "bare rule" (`{{H7980}}`) over the people [[Nehemiah 5:15]].
* `{{H5288}}` **naʻar** (boy, child, damsel, servant, young man): This word connects to `{{H7980}}` by showing how power could be misused even by those not in primary leadership. The "servants" of the governors took it upon themselves to "bare rule" over the people, compounding the oppression [[Nehemiah 5:15]].
* `{{H3947}}` **lâqach** (to take): This verb is linked to the exercise of power in [[Nehemiah 5:15]], where the governors "had taken" resources from the people as part of their oppressive rule (`{{H7980}}`).
* `{{H3559}}` **kûwn** (to set up... establish, fix... order): This word provides a righteous contrast to the dominion of sin. The plea to "Order my steps" in God's word is set against the desire that iniquity should not "have dominion" (`{{H7980}}`) over the believer [[Psalms 119:133]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7980}}` is centered on the source and nature of power.
* **Divine Sovereignty over Power:** The book of Ecclesiastes repeatedly emphasizes that the ability to exercise power, even over one's own possessions and labor, is a gift that God can either grant or withhold ([[Ecclesiastes 5:19]], [[Ecclesiastes 6:2]]).
* **The Corrupting Nature of Human Rule:** Scripture uses `{{H7980}}` to warn that human authority can be harmful and oppressive. This is seen when a man "ruleth over another to his own hurt" [[Ecclesiastes 8:9]] and when the servants of governors "bare rule over the people" [[Nehemiah 5:15]].
* **The Spiritual Dominion of Sin:** The term is applied to the spiritual realm in [[Psalms 119:133]], where sin is personified as a force that seeks to "have dominion" over a person's life. True freedom is found when God's word, not iniquity, governs one's steps.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7980}}` provides a nuanced look at the concept of power and dominion. It is not merely a term for political governance but encompasses the authority God grants, the control one has over their own life and labor, the potential for human rule to become oppressive, and the spiritual battle against the dominion of sin. It demonstrates that all forms of rule are ultimately subject to God's sovereign permission and moral law.
TRV