Original Word: שְׁלֵט
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: shlet
Pronunciation: SHEH-let
Phonetic Spelling: (shel-ate')
NASB: have authority, rule, had effect, made him ruler, overpowered
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H7980 (שָׁלַט - empowered)]

1. have the mastery, have power, bear rule, be (make) ruler

have the mastery, have power, bear rule, be make ruler

(Aramaic) corresponding to shalat -- have the mastery, have power, bear rule, be (make) ruler.

see HEBREW shalat

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to shalat
Definition
to have power, rule
NASB Translation
had...effect (1), have authority (2), made him ruler (1), overpowered (1), rule (2).

Overview

The Aramaic term שְׁלֵט describes the exercise of rule, mastery, or delegated authority. Each of its seven occurrences appears in the book of Daniel, where it highlights the limited yet real power entrusted to human agents—kings, governors, or court officials—under the ultimate sovereignty of God.

Canonical Distribution

Daniel 2:38; Daniel 2:39; Daniel 2:48; Daniel 3:27; Daniel 5:7; Daniel 5:16; Daniel 6:24.

Occurrences and Narrative Setting

1. Daniel 2:38-39 – Nebuchadnezzar receives worldwide “rule” from God (verse 38), but another kingdom will “rule over the whole earth” after him (verse 39). The word therefore underlines both the grandeur and transience of Gentile empires.

2. Daniel 2:48 – Daniel is promoted and “made ruler over the entire province of Babylon.” The gift of rule bestowed on a faithful servant following divine revelation illustrates how spiritual insight may lead to earthly responsibility.

3. Daniel 3:27 – High officials “gathered around them” to inspect the three Hebrews after the furnace ordeal. Their positions of authority are powerless against the God who delivers.

4. Daniel 5:7; 5:16 – Belshazzar offers to make the interpreter of the handwriting “third ruler in the kingdom,” exposing the desperation of a doomed monarch and the hollow nature of human rewards on the eve of judgment.

5. Daniel 6:24 – Following Daniel’s deliverance from the lions, the king exercises rule in executing justice on the conspirators. The scene contrasts godless manipulation with righteous authority vindicating the faithful.

Theological Themes

• Divine Grant of Authority: “He has given you dominion… wherever the sons of men dwell” (Daniel 2:38). Every instance of שְׁלֵט is framed by the conviction that “the Most High rules the kingdom of men” (Daniel 4:17). Human sovereignty is always derivative.

• Ephemerality of Empires: The head of gold, the chest of silver, and subsequent metals each “rule” for a season (Daniel 2:39-40). The term therefore participates in the larger biblical pattern that no earthly government endures indefinitely (Psalm 2; Revelation 19:15-16).

• Vindication of the Faithful: Daniel’s elevation (Daniel 2:48) and the saving of the three Hebrews (Daniel 3:27) demonstrate that God is able to overrule rulers for the sake of His witnesses, encouraging believers to serve loyally without fear (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17).

• Judgment on Unrighteous Rule: Belshazzar’s empty promises (Daniel 5:7, 16) and subsequent overthrow reveal God’s intolerance of arrogant authority. The incident prefigures the downfall of every kingdom that exalts itself (Isaiah 13-14; Revelation 18).

Historical Background

These verses span the Neo-Babylonian empire under Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar and the early Medo-Persian period under Darius. The word’s concentration in court scenes reflects the multilingual reality of the Exile, with Aramaic functioning as the lingua franca of imperial administration. Recognizing this setting deepens appreciation for God’s sovereign orchestration of history to preserve His people and reveal prophetic truth.

Christological Trajectory

While שְׁלֵט itself is not messianic, it prepares the reader for the vision of the “Son of Man” who receives an everlasting dominion (Daniel 7:13-14). Earthly rulers hold temporary sway; Christ inherits universal, unending authority (Matthew 28:18; Philippians 2:9-11).

Ministry Implications

• Leadership: Christian leaders should view their positions as delegated trusts, accountable to God, mirroring Daniel’s humility and integrity.
• Civic Engagement: Believers serve faithfully even under pagan administrations, confident that “there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1).
• Courage and Witness: Knowing that human rule is limited emboldens the church to obey God rather than men when commands conflict (Acts 5:29).
• Hope: Temporal powers will yield to the everlasting kingdom of God; thus, the church labors with an eternal perspective (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Summary

Shlet spotlights the reality, limitation, and accountability of human authority. Its use in Daniel presents a theology of rulers under Rule: monarchs may command armies and provinces, yet their power is derivative and momentary, subject to the King of kings whose dominion never ends.

וְהַ֨שְׁלְטֵ֔הּ וְהַשְׁלְטָ֖ךְ והשלטה והשלטך יִשְׁלַֽט׃ ישלט׃ שְׁלִ֤טֽוּ שְׁלֵ֨ט שלט שלטו תִּשְׁלַֽט׃ תִשְׁלַ֖ט תשלט תשלט׃ šə·lêṭ šə·li·ṭū šəlêṭ šəliṭū sheLet sheLitu tiš·laṭ ṯiš·laṭ tishLat tišlaṭ ṯišlaṭ vehashleTach veHashleTeh wə·haš·lə·ṭāḵ wə·haš·lə·ṭêh wəhašləṭāḵ wəhašləṭêh yiš·laṭ yishLat yišlaṭInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts