### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Aramaic word **shilṭôwn**, represented by `{{H7983}}`, refers to **power**. It appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible. This term, derived from שָׁלַט, is used specifically to denote authority and dominion, particularly in the context of human governance and its ultimate limitations.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical usage, `{{H7983}}` is exclusively found in the book of Ecclesiastes. It is first used to describe the authoritative nature of a monarch, stating that where the word `{{H1697}}` of a king `{{H4428}}` is, there is **power** [[Ecclesiastes 8:4]]. This establishes a clear connection between sovereign speech and effective authority. In a contrasting statement, the same book uses the term to highlight human frailty, declaring that no man has **power** `{{H7983}}` in the day of death `{{H4194}}`, showing that earthly authority has a definitive end [[Ecclesiastes 8:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide context for the scope of **power**:
* `{{H4428}}` **melek** (king): This word identifies the source of earthly authority. The **power** `{{H7983}}` described in [[Ecclesiastes 8:4]] is directly associated with the word of a **king**.
* `{{H7989}}` **shallîyṭ** (that hath power, ruler): A closely related term for a potent ruler. It appears in the same verse as `{{H7983}}` to stress that no man has **power** `{{H7989}}` over the spirit to retain it [[Ecclesiastes 8:8]].
* `{{H4194}}` **mâveth** (death): This represents the absolute limit of human power. While a king may have great authority, no one has **power** `{{H7983}}` in the day of **death** [[Ecclesiastes 8:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7983}}` lies in its sharp contrast between human authority and ultimate reality.
* **Earthly Sovereignty:** The word affirms the concept that earthly rulers, like a **king** `{{H4428}}`, possess real and binding **power** that should not be questioned lightly [[Ecclesiastes 8:4]].
* **Human Limitation:** This authority is immediately shown to be finite. The term is used to declare that no **man** `{{H120}}` has **power** `{{H7983}}` over the event of his own **death** `{{H4194}}`, a fundamental limit on all human agency.
* **Inescapable Reality:** The context surrounding its use emphasizes that there is no "discharge" `{{H4917}}` in the **war** `{{H4421}}` against death, and even **wickedness** `{{H7562}}` cannot **deliver** `{{H4422}}` a person from this fate [[Ecclesiastes 8:8]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7983}}` **shilṭôwn** is a precise term for **power** employed in Ecclesiastes to construct a profound argument. It acknowledges the legitimate authority wielded by a king but immediately uses that concept to illustrate the absolute powerlessness of humanity before death. The word effectively serves to contrast the reach of human dominion with the unchangeable and universal realities of the human condition.
TRV