Lexical Summary
shallit: Ruler, governor, having authority, powerful
Original Word:שַׁלִּיט
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:shalliyt
Pronunciation:shal-leet'
Phonetic Spelling:(shal-leet')
KJV: captain, be lawful, rule(-r)
NASB:ruler, allowed, authority, commander, governing, rules
Word Origin:[(Aramaic) corresponding toH7989 (שַׁלִּיטּ - ruler)]
1. mighty
2. (abstractly) permission
3. (concretely) a premier
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
captain, be lawful, ruler
(Aramaic) corresponding toshalliyt; mighty; abstractly, permission; concretely, a premier -- captain, be lawful, rule(- r).
see HEBREWshalliyt
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
shallitDefinitionhaving mastery, ruling
NASB Translationallowed (1), authority (1), commander (1), governing (1), ruler (5), rules (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
; — absolute
Ezra 7:24 +, emphatic
Daniel 2:15; masculine plural
Ezra 4:20, -
Daniel 4:23; —
having, exercising, mastery:
,Daniel 4:14;Daniel 4:22;Daniel 4:29;Daniel 5:21; absolute, of heavensDaniel 4:23
Ezra 4:20 ().
as noun =rulerDaniel 2:10,captainDaniel 2:15.
having authority to do a thing (Infinitive), hence impersonal =it is authorized,Ezra 7:24 (so often in Syriac; compare S-CA 11 + ).
Topical Lexicon
Concept of Sovereign RuleThe term denotes one invested with unrestricted authority. Whether applied to imperial governors, Babylonian kings, or the Lord Himself, it accents capacity to command and to enforce obedience. Because Scripture presents every human ruler as ultimately answerable to God, the word consistently carries an implicit reminder that true dominion is derived, never autonomous.
Occurrences and Contexts
•Ezra 4:20 portrays the Davidic and Solomonic monarchs as “powerful kings [who] have ruled over Jerusalem and over all the region beyond the River.” Their former might is invoked to warn Persia of Jerusalem’s potential resurgence.
•Ezra 7:24 exempts Temple servants from provincial taxation: “You have no authority to impose tribute, tax, or toll on any priest…” The term thus describes the civil power the Persian administration would otherwise wield.
•Daniel 2:10 highlights the limits of even the greatest earthly authority: “No king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing.”
•Daniel 2:15 depicts Arioch as the king’s military commander, stressing delegated authority within the Babylonian bureaucracy.
•Daniel 4:17, 25, 26, 32 and 5:21 repeat the refrain that “the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He wishes.” The word shifts from human rulers to the transcendent dominion of God, underscoring His absolute sovereignty.
•Daniel 5:29 names Daniel “the third-highest ruler in the kingdom,” illustrating how God exalts His servant above the proud just hours before Babylon falls.
Divine Sovereignty Emphasized in Daniel
Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation (Daniel 4) and Belshazzar’s downfall (Daniel 5) revolve around a single lesson: “the Most High rules.” Earthly kings may appear unrestricted, yet their epochs are measured by Heaven. The repetition of the term with reference to God Himself (4:17, 26, 32; 5:21) builds a theology of kingship that anticipates the everlasting dominion given to “One like a Son of Man” (Daniel 7:13-14).
Earthly Authority in Post-Exilic Judah
In Ezra the word designates Persian imperial officials who controlled taxation. While Judah was politically subservient, spiritual authority centered on the rebuilt Temple. The prophet–priest leadership model of Ezra and Nehemiah shows that genuine influence arises from covenant faithfulness rather than from civil titles.
Interplay of Human and Divine Rule
Scripture maintains both (1) the legitimacy of civil government and (2) the transcendent reign of God. Human “rulers” are to be honored (Romans 13:1), yet believers entrust themselves to the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). The term therefore invites a theology of dual citizenship: obedience to magistrates unless that obedience conflicts with allegiance to God (Acts 5:29).
Christological and Eschatological Trajectory
The limitation of Babylonian and Persian rulers prefigures the temporary nature of every earthly kingdom. By contrast, the Messiah is prophesied as the ultimate “Ruler” whose dominion will never pass away (Isaiah 9:6-7;Revelation 11:15). Daniel’s narrative progression—from proud monarchs to divine sovereignty—prepares hearts for the incarnate King who exercises power through humility (Philippians 2:6-11).
Ministry Implications
1. Worship: Exalt God as the only unrestricted Sovereign; corporate prayer should mirror Daniel’s confession of divine rule.
2. Discipleship: Train believers to respect legitimate authority while maintaining prophetic courage.
3. Leadership: Model servant-leadership that recognizes borrowed authority, avoiding the pride that undid Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar.
4. Missions: Declare Christ’s lordship to the nations, confident that kingdoms rise and fall under His hand.
Key Themes for Teaching and Preaching
• God alone possesses inherent authority; all human power is delegated.
• Pride in authority invites divine resistance; humility invites exaltation.
• True security lies not in political stability but in the unshaken throne of Heaven.
• The gospel advances through faithful witnesses like Daniel, even within hostile regimes.
Forms and Transliterations
וְשַׁ֨לִּיטִ֔ין וְשַׁלִּ֔יט ושליט ושליטין שַׁלִּ֖יט שַׁלִּ֛יט שַׁלִּ֞יט שַׁלִּ֤יט שַׁלִּ֨יט שַׁלִּטִ֖ן שַׁלִּיטָ֣א שלטן שליט שליטא šal·lî·ṭā šal·li·ṭin šal·lîṭ šallîṭ šallîṭā šalliṭin shalLit shalliTa shalliTin veshalLit veShalliTin wə·šal·lî·ṭîn wə·šal·lîṭ wəšallîṭ wəšallîṭîn
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