שְׁאֵלָא
she.e.la (H7596)
affair
AI Word Study
# שְׁאֵלָא (She'elah): "Affair" in Biblical Hebrew The Hebrew word שְׁאֵלָא (she'elah) carries the general meaning of "affair"—a matter or concern requiring attention or deliberation. With 14 occurrences across the biblical text, it appears frequently enough to establish itself as a standard term for significant issues or business. The word's semantic range encompasses any matter of importance, whether practical, legal, or personal, that demands discussion or resolution. The term functioned as a straightforward vocabulary choice for describing subjects that required engagement or decision-making. By appearing 14 times in scripture, it established itself as a reliable and recognizable term rather than a rare or specialized one. This frequency suggests that biblical writers regularly needed a word to denote important matters—the kinds of affairs that would occupy rulers, judges, families, and communities. The significance of this word lies in its neutrality and breadth. Unlike more specific terms, שְׁאֵלָה serves as an umbrella designation for any matter worthy of consideration, making it a fundamental vocabulary item for expressing the concept of "business" or "case" in biblical communication. Its presence across the 14 biblical occurrences indicates that ancient Hebrew speakers required a flexible term to refer to various concerns without specifying their exact nature.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
Gideon said to them, “I do have a request: that you would each give me the earrings of his plunder.” (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.”
I prayed for this child, and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him.
Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, “May Yahweh give you offspring from this woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh.” Then they went to their own home.
Now I ask one petition of you. Don’t deny me.” She said to him, “Say on.”
Then she said, “I ask one small petition of you; don’t deny me.” The king said to her, “Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny you.”
The king said to Esther at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”
Then Esther answered and said, “My petition and my request is this.
If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has said.”
The king said again to Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, “What is your petition, queen Esther? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.”
Then Esther the queen answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.
The king said to Esther the queen, “The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in the citadel of Susa, including the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your further request? It shall be done.”
“Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,
He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.