שָׁלַךְ125 H7993
To throw, cast, hurl, or fling (Hifil); to be thrown or cast (Hofal); figuratively, to cast away or reject.
Shalak is Hebrew's most forceful throwing verb, always appearing in the causative Hifil or its passive counterpart the Hofal — never in the simple Qal. The word carries an inherent violence or decisiveness that sets it apart from milder terms like shalach ('send') or natan ('give, put'). When Moses throws his staff to the ground it becomes a serpent (Exod 4:3); when sailors hurl cargo overboard in the storm, they use this word (Jonah 1:5); when God threatens to cast Israel from his presence, the verb's force makes exile feel physical (2 Kgs 24:20). The range moves from concrete hurling of objects into water, fire, or pits, through forceful casting-down in judgment, to the metaphorical casting-away of sins, idols, and covenant obligations. Arabic alqa and taraha, Korean 던지다, and Spanish arrojar all converge on high-force throwing vocabulary.
Senses
1. to throw, cast (Hifil) — The core Hifil sense: to throw, cast, or hurl an object or person with force toward a specific location — into water, a pit, fire, onto the ground, or against a surface. This is the dominant cluster at 92 occurrences, covering Joseph thrown into a pit (Gen 37:24), Moses' staff cast to the ground (Exod 4:3; 7:9-10), the Egyptian army hurled into the sea (Exod 15:1), Jezebel thrown from a window (2 Kgs 9:33), and fire-and-hail cast upon the earth in Revelation's Old Testament background passages. Arabic alqa/taraha, Spanish arrojar/lanzar, Korean 던지다, and Swahili -tupa all select high-energy throwing verbs, confirming the forceful nature of the action. 92×
AR["فَأَلْقَى", "فَطَرَحَ", "فَطَرَحُوا", "فَـ-أَلْقَتْ", "فَـ-أَلْقَوْا", "فَـ-أَلْقَى", "وَ-ألْقى", "وَ-أَلقى", "وَ-أَلقَوها", "وَ-أَلْقَاهَا", "وَ-أَلْقَوْهُ", "وَ-طَرَحَ", "وَ-طَرَحَهَا", "وَ-طَرَحُوا", "وَأَلْقَوْهُ", "وَأَلْقَى", "وَأَلْقَى-", "وَطَرَحَ"]·ben["আর-ফেলে-দিল", "এবং-ছুঁড়ে-দিলেন", "এবং-ছুঁড়ে-ফেললেন", "এবং-তারা-ফেলল", "এবং-তিনি-ছুঁড়ে-ফেললেন", "এবং-নিক্ষেপ-করল", "এবং-নিক্ষেপ-করলেন", "এবং-ফেলল", "এবং-ফেলে-দিল", "এবং-ফেলে-দিলেন", "এবং-সে-ছুড়ে-দিল", "এবং-সে-নিক্ষেপ-করল", "ও-ফেলল", "ও-ফেলে-দিলেন"]·DE["und-er-warf", "und-sie-warf", "und-warf", "und-warfen", "und-werfen"]·EN["and-cast", "and-he-threw", "and-they-threw", "and-threw"]·FR["et-il-jeta", "et-ils-jeta", "et-jeta", "et-jeter"]·heb["ו-השליך", "ו-השליכה", "ו-השליכו", "ו-ישליכו", "ו-ישלך", "ו-ישלכו"]·HI["और-उसने-फेंका", "और-गिरायी", "और-डाला", "और-फेंका", "वे-फेंका"]·ID["Dan-ia-melemparkan", "Dan-membuang", "dan-dia-melemparkan", "dan-ia-melemparkan", "dan-melemparkan", "dan-membuang", "dan-mereka-melemparkan"]·IT["e-egli-gettò", "e-essi-gettò", "e-gettare", "e-gettò"]·jav["Lan-mbucal", "lan-mbucal", "lan-mbucalaken", "lan-mbuncang", "lan-piyambakipun-mbalangaken", "lan-piyambakipun-mbucal", "lan-piyambakipun-mbuwang", "lan-piyambakipun-sami-mbucal"]·KO["그래서-그들이-던졌다", "그리고-그가-던졌다", "그리고-던졌다"]·PT["E-lançou", "e-lançaram", "e-lançou"]·RU["И-бросил", "И-бросила", "и-бросил", "и-бросил-", "и-бросили", "и-выбросил", "и-набросил"]·ES["Y-arrojó", "Y-echó", "Y-lo-echó", "y-arrojaron", "y-arrojó", "y-echó", "y-lo-arrojaron"]·SW["na-akaitupa", "na-akapiga", "na-akatupa", "na-akatupa-", "na-akautupa", "na-akayatupa", "na-wakakitupa", "na-wakamtupa", "na-wakatupa", "na-wakautupa", "wayaּshlek"]·TR["ve-atti", "ve-atti-", "ve-attı", "ve-attılar"]·urd["اور-پھینک-دیا", "اور-پھینکا", "اور-ڈال-دی", "اور-ڈالا", "اور-ڈالی"]
Gen 37:24, Exod 4:3, Exod 7:9, Exod 7:10, Exod 15:25, Exod 32:19, Lev 1:16, Num 19:6, Num 35:20, Num 35:22, Josh 8:29, Josh 10:11 (+38 more)
2. to be cast, be thrown (Hofal) — The Hofal passive: to be cast, be thrown, be hurled — the subject is the one thrown rather than the thrower. Fifteen occurrences where the passive voice signals either helplessness (the subject is a victim) or divine agency (God is the implied thrower). In Psalm 22:10 the psalmist says 'upon you I was cast from the womb,' and in 1 Kings 13:24-28 the prophet's body 'was cast' on the road. Arabic matruh ('thrown, discarded,' passive participle) and Korean 던져지다 (passive of 'throw') both mark the voice shift clearly. The Hofal form is particularly prominent in prophetic judgments where nations or idols are 'cast down.' 15×
AR["أُلْقِيتُ", "طُرِحَتْ", "طُرِحْتَ", "فَطُرِحْتِ", "مَطْرُوحٌ", "مَطْرُوحَةً", "مَطْرُوحِينَ", "وَ-أُلْقُوا", "وَ-أُلْقِيَ", "وَ-تُلْقَيْنَ", "يَطْرَحُونَ", "يُطْرَحُونَ"]·ben["আমাকে-নিক্ষেপ-করা-হয়েছিল", "আর-ফেলে-দেওয়া-হল-তুমি", "এবং-নিক্ষেপ-করবে", "এবং-ফেলে-দেওয়া-হল", "ও-তারা-নিক্ষেপ-করা-হয়েছে", "নিক্ষিপ্ত-হবে", "নিক্ষেপ-করা-হবে", "নিক্ষেপ-করা-হয়েছ", "নিক্ষেপিত", "নিক্ষেপিত-হল", "ফেলে-দেওয়া"]·DE["er-warf", "thrown", "und-warf", "und-werfen", "warf", "werfen"]·EN["I-was-cast", "and-was-thrown-down", "and-were-cast", "and-you-shall-be-cast-out", "and-you-were-cast", "are-cast-out", "cast-out", "he-casts-them", "it-was-cast-down", "shall-be-cast-out", "thrown"]·FR["et-jeter", "jeter", "jeté", "le-jeter"]·heb["הושלכה", "הושלכת", "הושלכתי", "השליך", "ו-הושלך", "ו-הושלכו", "ו-השלכתנה", "ו-תושלכי", "יושלכו", "מושלך", "מושלכים", "מושלכת"]·HI["और-फेंक-दी-जाओगी", "और-फेंका-गया", "और-फेंकी-गई-तू", "और-फेंके-गए-हैं", "डाला-गया-मैं", "फेंक-दी-गईं", "फेंका-गया", "फेंका-जाएगा", "फेंकी-गई", "फेंकी-हुई", "फेंके-गए", "फेंके-जाएंगे"]·ID["akan-dibuang", "dan-dibuang", "dan-dicampakkan", "dan-engkau-dibuang", "dan-kamu-akan-dibuang", "dibuang", "dilemparkan", "terbuang", "terlempar"]·IT["e-gettare", "gettare", "gettato", "getto'"]·jav["dhumateng-Harmon", "dipun-bucal", "kabucal", "kawucal", "kula-dipun-bucal", "lan-dipun-bucal", "lan-kasuwak", "lan-panjenengan-dipun-bucal", "mendel"]·KO["그리고-내던져졌는가", "그리고-너는-던져졌다", "그리고-너희가-던져지리라", "그리고-던져졌더니", "내던져졌다", "던져졌도다", "던져졌음이라", "던져지고", "던져진", "던져진다", "버려진-자들이"]·PT["e-foi-derrubado", "e-foram-arremessados", "e-foste-lançada", "e-sereis-lançadas", "foi-lançada", "foste-lançado", "fui-lançado", "lançada", "lançado", "lançados", "lançou", "serão-lançados"]·RU["бросят", "брошен", "брошена", "брошенный", "брошены", "будут-брошены", "был-возложен-я", "выброшен-ты", "и-брошена", "и-будете-брошены", "и-закинуты", "и-низвержено", "сброшена"]·ES["arrojada", "arrojado", "arrojados", "fue-arrojada", "fui-echado", "has-sido-arrojado", "serán-arrojados", "y-fue-derribado", "y-fueron-lanzados", "y-fuiste-arrojada", "y-serán-arrojadas"]·SW["kitatupwa", "na-ilitupwa", "na-kutupwa", "na-mtatupwa", "na-ukatupwa", "nilitupwa", "ukatupwa", "umetupwa", "wametupwa", "watatupwa", "zimetupwa"]·TR["atilacak", "atildin", "atılacak", "atıldı", "atıldım", "atılmış", "ve-atılacaksınız", "ve-atıldılar", "ve-atıldın", "ve-yıkıldı"]·urd["اور-پھینکی-جاؤ-گی", "اور-پھینکی-گئی", "اور-پھینکے-گئے", "اور-ڈالی-گئی", "پھینک-دی-جائیں-گی", "پھینکا-جائے-گا", "پھینکا-گیا", "پھینکی-گئی", "پھینکی-ہوئی", "پھینکے-جائیں-گے", "پھینکے-ہوئے", "ڈالا-گیا-میں"]
2 Sam 20:21, 1 Kgs 13:24, 1 Kgs 13:25, 1 Kgs 13:28, Ps 22:10, Isa 14:19, Isa 34:3, Jer 14:16, Jer 22:28, Jer 36:30, Ezek 16:5, Ezek 19:12 (+3 more)
3. to cast down, hurl down (Hifil) — Hifil with emphasis on forceful downward motion: to cast down, hurl down from a height or position, connoting violence, divine judgment, or catastrophic reversal. Distinguished from sense 1 by the gravitational directionality and the context of punishment or destruction. In Psalm 102:10 God has 'lifted me up and cast me down'; in Jeremiah 9:19 the people are 'cast down' from their dwelling; in Job 18:7 the wicked man's own counsel 'casts him down.' Korean 내던지다 ('fling down') and 떨어뜨리다 ('cause to fall') both add downward directional morphemes absent in sense 1's generic throwing. 8×
AR["أَلْقَوْهُ", "طَرَحَ", "طَرَحُوا", "فَ-طَرَحْتَنِي", "وَ-أَلقَيتَني", "وَ-تَطْرَحُهُ", "وَ-طَرَحَ", "وَ-يَطْرَحُ"]·ben["এবং-তুমি-আমাকে-ফেলে-দিয়েছিলে", "এবং-নিক্ষেপ-করবে-তাকে", "এবং-নিক্ষেপ-করেছ-আমাকে", "এবং-ফেলে-দিল", "এবং-সে-ফেলে-দেবে", "তারা-ফেলে-দিয়েছে", "নিক্ষেপ-করেছেন", "ফেলে-দিল-তারা"]·DE["er-warf", "und-warf", "und-werfen", "werfen"]·EN["He-has-cast-down", "and-casts-off", "and-it-threw-down", "and-thrown-me-down", "and-throws-him-down", "and-you-cast-me", "they-have-cast-down", "they-threw"]·FR["et-jeter", "et-jeter-lui", "jeter"]·heb["השליך", "השליכו", "ו-ישליך", "ו-תשליך", "ו-תשליכהו", "ו-תשליכני"]·HI["उन्होंने-डाला", "उन्होंने-फेंक-दिया-है", "उसे", "और-गिराएगा", "और-तू-ने-मुझे-फेंका", "और-फेंक-दिया-मुझे", "और-फेंकेगा", "फेंक-दिया"]·ID["Dan-Engkau-melemparkan-aku", "Ia-melemparkan", "dan-ia-membuang", "dan-melempar", "dan-melemparkan-ku", "dan-menjatuhkannya", "mereka-lemparkan", "mereka-melemparkan"]·IT["e-gettare", "e-gettare-suo", "e-getto'", "gettare", "getto"]·jav["Panjenengan-mbucal", "lan-Panjenengan-mbucal-kula", "lan-dipununcalaken", "lan-mbucal-kula", "lan-ngguwang", "lan-piyambak-ipun-mbucal", "piyambakipun-mbucal", "piyambakipun-sami-mbucal"]·KO["그-가-던졌네", "그들이-내던졌다", "그들이-던졌다", "그리고-내던지리라", "그리고-당신-이-나-를-내던지셨도다", "그리고-던졌더니", "그리고-떨어뜨리리라", "그리고-주께서-던지셨나이다-나를"]·PT["E-lançaste-me", "e-lançará", "e-lançou", "e-me-lançaste", "e-o-lançará", "lançaram", "lançou"]·RU["И-бросил-меня", "бросили", "и-бросил-меня", "и-низвергнет-его", "и-повергло", "и-сбросит", "сбросил", "сброшены"]·ES["Y-me-arrojaste", "arrojaron", "derribaron", "ha-arrojado", "y-arrojará", "y-echó", "y-lo-derriba", "y-me-arrojaste"]·SW["Ametupa", "na-atatupa", "na-itamwangusha", "na-kunitupa", "na-ukanitupa", "na-utaitupa", "walimtupa", "wamezitupa"]·TR["Ve-attın-beni", "attılar", "fırlattı", "ve-atar-onu", "ve-attı", "ve-attın-beni", "ve-döker"]·urd["اور-پھینک-دیا", "اور-پھینکا-مجھے", "اور-پھینکے-گی", "اور-گرائے-گا", "اور-گِرا دے-اُسے", "پھینک-دیا", "پھینکا-گیا-ہے-اُنہوں-نے", "ڈالا-اُنہوں-نے"]
4. to cast away, reject (Hifil) — Metaphorical Hifil: to cast away, reject, discard, or abandon — where no physical throwing is in view but rather the moral or relational act of repudiation. The psalmist pleads 'cast me not away from your presence' (Ps 51:11; 71:9); Psalm 2:3 envisions rebellious nations saying 'let us cast away their bonds'; and 2 Chronicles 7:20 warns that God will 'cast away' disobedient Israel. Korean 버리다 ('discard, abandon') and Spanish desechar/rechazar ('reject') both shift from physical to relational vocabulary, confirming the metaphorical extension. Eight occurrences cluster in psalmic and prophetic pleas. 8×
AR["أَطْرَحُهُ", "اطْرَحُوا", "تَطْرَحْني", "تَطْرَحْنِي", "طَرَحَها", "وَ-لِنَطْرَحَ", "يَطْرَحُوا"]·ben["আমাকে-ত্যাগ-করো", "এবং-আসুন-আমরা-ছুঁড়ে-ফেলি", "নিক্ষেপ-কর-আমাকে", "ফেলে-দাও", "ফেলে-দিয়েছিল", "ফেলে-দিল", "ফেলে-দেব"]·DE["hatte-thrown", "und-warf", "warf", "werfen"]·EN["I-will-cast", "and-let-us-cast-away", "cast-away", "cast-me-away", "had-thrown"]·FR["avait-jeté", "et-jeter", "jeter"]·heb["אשליך", "השליכו", "ו-נשליכה", "תשליכני"]·HI["और-हम-फेंक-दें", "फेंक-दूँगा", "फेंक-दो", "फेंक-मुझे", "फेंका", "मुझे-त्याग", "हिश्लीखू"]·ID["-telah-dibuang", "Aku-akan-membuang", "buanglah", "dan-marilah-kita-buang", "membuang-aku", "mereka-membuang"]·IT["aveva-gettato", "e-getto'", "gettare", "getto'"]·jav["Bucalna", "Kawula-badhé-mbucal", "bucalna", "mbucal-kawula", "pasuryan", "piyambakipun-mbucal", "saha-bucal-", "sampun-dipun-bucal"]·KO["그리고-버리자", "던져-버리라", "던져라", "던졌다", "버렸다", "버리소서-나-를", "버리지-마소서", "버릴-것이다"]·PT["e-lancemos", "lançai", "lançai-fora", "lançaram", "lançaram-fora", "lançarei", "me-lances", "me-rejeites"]·RU["бросили", "и-идолов", "и-сбросим", "отбросьте", "отвергни-меня", "отвергну-Я"]·ES["Echad", "arrojaron", "arrojaré", "echad", "echaron", "me-deseches", "me-eches", "y-echemos"]·SW["Tupeni", "atupe", "na-tutupe", "nitaitupa", "tupa", "usinitupe", "walitupa"]·TR["at-beni", "atacağım", "atma-beni", "attilar", "attılar", "atın", "ve-atalım"]·urd["اور-پھینک-دیں", "مجھے-پھینک", "پھینک-دو", "پھینک-دوں-گا", "پھینک-دے", "پھینک-دے-مجھے", "پھینکا", "پھینکے-تھے"]
5. to cast out, expel (Hifil) — Hifil with connotation of expulsion: to cast out, drive out from a place, territory, or domain — emphasizing removal and banishment rather than mere physical trajectory. Only 2 occurrences (2 Kgs 24:20; Jer 52:3), both describing God's expulsion of Judah from his presence through the Babylonian exile. Korean 내쫓다 ('expel, drive out') and Spanish echar fuera ('throw out') both select expulsion-specific vocabulary. This sense bridges the gap between physical throwing (sense 1) and metaphorical rejection (sense 4), carrying the spatial force of the former with the relational finality of the latter. 2×
AR["طَرَحَهُمَا", "طَرَحَهُمْ"]·ben["তিনি-তাড়িয়ে-দিলেন", "ফেলে-দেওয়া-তাঁর"]·DE["er-warf-heraus", "werfen"]·EN["he-cast-out", "he-cast-out-"]·FR["il-jeta-dehors", "jeter"]·heb["השליכו"]·HI["उसके-फेंकने", "उसने-फेंका-उन्हें"]·ID["Ia-membuang"]·IT["egli-gettò-fuori", "gettare"]·jav["Panjenenganipun-mbucal", "piyambakipun-mbucal"]·KO["내쫓아", "내쫓으시다-그가"]·PT["lançar"]·RU["не-отверг-Он", "отвержения-Его"]·ES["arrojarlos", "que-los-echó"]·SW["aliwatupa", "kuwatupa"]·TR["atmasi-O'nun", "atmasının"]·urd["اُس-نے-نکال-دیا", "کے-لیے-اُس-کے-نکال-دینے"]
Related Senses
H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)H3381 1. Qal: to go down, descend (physical movement) (242×)G1831 1. go/come out physically (193×)H5337 1. deliver, rescue, save (Hifil) (188×)H7901 1. lie down, rest, sleep (183×)G1525 1. enter a place physically (179×)H7812 1. prostrate oneself, bow down, worship (173×)H3318 2. Hifil: bring out, lead out, take out (persons) (172×)H7725 2. to bring back, restore (Hifil) (151×)H5674a 2. Qal: cross over (134×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
[שָׁלַךְ125] vb. Hiph.112 throw, fling, cast (Ph. שלך in cp. n.pr., meaning dub.; Arabic سَلَكَ is travel (or cause to travel) along a road, cause to enter);—Pf. 3 ms. הִשְׁלִיךְ Am 8:3 +; 2 ms. sf. consec. וְהִשְׁלַכְתּוֹ Je 51:63; 2 fpl. consec. וְהִשְׁלַכְתֶּ֫נָה Am 4:3, etc.; Impf. יַשְׁלִיךְ Is 2:20, וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ Ju 9:17 +, etc.; Imv. ms. הַשְׁלֵךְ Ex 7:9 ψ 55:23, fs. הַשְׁלִיכִי Je 7:29,…