Lexical Summary calah: Roast, bake Original Word: סָלָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance tread down under foot, value A primitive root; to hang up, i.e. Weigh, or (figuratively) contemn -- tread down (under foot), value. Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [סָלָה] verb make light of, toss aside (compare Assyrian salû, throw off, shake off (yoke) Dl500; Arabic  ,  is be forgetful, neglectful Lane1417; Aramaic סְלָא despise,  reject); — Qal Perfect2masculine singular סָלִיתָ Psalm 119:118 thou dost make light of all those that err from thy statutes. — compare also סַלּוֺן below Pi`el intensive Perfect3masculine singular סִלָּה Lamentations 1:15 Adonay hath flouted at my mighty ones. II. [סָלָה] verb weigh, balance ("" form of סָלָא q.v); — Pu`al Imperfect3feminine singular לֹאתְֿסֻלֶּה בְּכֶתֶם Job 28:16 it cannot be weighed against (estimated in) gold of Ophir, compare Job 28:19. סֶ֫לָה see סלל below Topical Lexicon Meaning and Range of Ideas סָלָה moves in Scripture between two poles: (1) to weigh out or appraise something of value, and (2) to toss aside as worthless. The idea grows out of the ancient balance-scale in the marketplace. What cannot be placed on the scales because it is too precious is, conversely, what is flung from the scales when it fails the test. The verb therefore supplies a vivid picture of God’s perfect evaluation—He alone judges what is priceless and what is dross. Occurrences and Literary Contexts 1. Job 28:16, 19—In the great hymn to wisdom, Job’s narrator declares, “It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir… it cannot be valued in pure gold.” Neither the renowned gold of Ophir nor the rare topaz of Cush will balance the scales against wisdom. Here סָלָה highlights wisdom’s unquantifiable worth. Theological Significance Weighing and Rejecting: Scripture insists that divine appraisal is decisive. What human culture prizes—gold, gems, military strength—cannot command ultimate value. Conversely, persons or nations that stray from covenant truth are cast aside, irrespective of outward power. Wisdom and Obedience: Job 28 locates wisdom with God alone; Psalm 119 locates safety in obedience. Together they teach that true worth is measured not by possession but by alignment with the Lord’s revealed will. Judgment and Grace: The Lamentations text shows that rejection is never arbitrary; it is covenantal discipline. Yet the same book holds out hope (Lamentations 3:21-24). God who rejects the proud welcomes the repentant, because the scales are finally balanced at the cross where the priceless life of Christ answers human worthlessness. Historical Backdrop Ancient Near-Eastern merchants used small stones to weigh metals and jewels. If the buyer’s counterweights failed to balance with the seller’s, the goods were deemed inferior and pushed aside. Prophets and poets harnessed this commercial image to proclaim that God, the cosmic Merchant, owns the true set of weights (Proverbs 16:11). סָלָה thus resonated immediately with hearers who knew the clang of bronze weights and the shame of having one’s goods refused. Ministry and Discipleship Implications • Preaching: Job 28 invites sermons on the inestimable worth of the fear of the Lord. Illustrate with modern “valuations” that fall short—career success, social media influence, wealth—and contrast them with God’s scale. Summary סָלָה teaches that God alone has the right and ability to appraise. Wisdom is beyond earthly price; rebellion is rejected as dross. Every disciple must therefore live before the scales of heaven, seeking the priceless treasure found in Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). Forms and Transliterations סִלָּ֨ה סָ֭לִיתָ סלה סלית תְ֭סֻלֶּה תְסֻלֶּֽה׃ תסלה תסלה׃ sā·lî·ṯā Salita sālîṯā sil·lāh silLah sillāh ṯə·sul·leh Tesulleh ṯəsullehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 28:16 HEB: לֹֽא־ תְ֭סֻלֶּה בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִ֑יר NAS: It cannot be valued in the gold KJV: It cannot be valued with the gold INT: cannot be valued the gold of Ophir Job 28:19 Psalm 119:118 Lamentations 1:15 4 Occurrences |
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