Original Word: שְׁאֵלָא
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: sh'ela'
Pronunciation: sheh-ay-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (sheh-ay-law')
Definition: Request, Petition, Inquiry
Meaning: a question, judicial decision, mandate

demand

(Aramaic) from sh'el; properly, a question (at law), i.e. Judicial decision or mandate -- demand.

see HEBREW sh'el

Word Origin
(Aramaic) from sheel
Definition
affair
NASB Translation
decision (1).

[שְׁאֵלָה] noun feminine affair (weakened from question, inquiry, compare Dr); — emphatic שְׁאֵלְתָּא Daniel 4:14.

Word Origin: Derived from the Aramaic root שׁאל (sha'al), which means "to ask" or "to inquire."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Greek Number 2065 (ἐρωτάω, erōtaō): to ask, inquire
• Strong's Greek Number 154 (αἰτέω, aiteō): to ask, request

These Greek terms similarly convey the act of asking or making a request, often in the context of seeking information or making a petition. They are used throughout the New Testament to describe interactions between individuals and between people and God, emphasizing the relational and communicative aspects of faith.

Usage: This Aramaic term is used in the context of inquiries or requests, often within legal or judicial settings. It appears in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament, particularly in the books of Ezra and Daniel, where it is used to describe questions or decrees.

Context: The term שְׁאֵלָא is found in the Aramaic sections of the Old Testament, reflecting the linguistic and cultural context of the Jewish people during the Babylonian exile and the subsequent Persian period. In the book of Daniel, for example, שְׁאֵלָא is used to describe the inquiries made by King Nebuchadnezzar's wise men as they sought to interpret his dreams (Daniel 2:11). The term underscores the importance of seeking divine wisdom and understanding in matters of governance and personal conduct. In Ezra, שְׁאֵלָא is used in the context of official decrees and mandates, highlighting the administrative and legal aspects of the Persian Empire's rule over the Jewish people (Ezra 5:9-10). The use of Aramaic in these texts reflects the historical reality of the Jewish diaspora and the influence of surrounding cultures on Jewish life and language.

שְׁאֵֽלְתָ֑א שאלתא šə’êləṯā šə·’ê·lə·ṯā sheeleTaInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts