"Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown."
Biblical Name · Hebrew Origin
Shelah Meaning in the Bible
Shelah
boy
Shelah means "Request; Petition; Sent forth", a boy's name of Hebrew origin. Shelah appears in the King James Bible, and Genesis 38:11 is the passage most often tied to it. Shelah — the withheld son — teaches that broken promises create broken situations. Judah's failure to honor his word to Tamar triggered a crisis, reminding us that delayed obedience is a form of disobedience.
Is Shelah in the Bible?
Yes — Shelah appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 38:11.
Pronunciation:/SHEE-luh/
OriginHebrew
MeaningRequest; Petition; Sent forth
What does Shelah mean?
Shelah is a boy name of Hebrew origin meaning "Request; Petition; Sent forth". Shelah means "request" or "petition" in Hebrew. He was the third son of Judah and the one whose withholding from Tamar led to one of the Bible's most dramatic family confrontations.
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What does Shelah mean in the Bible?
Shelah means "Request; Petition; Sent forth" and is a name of Hebrew origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Shelah means "request" or "petition" in Hebrew. He was the third son of Judah and the one whose withholding from Tamar led to one of the Bible's most dramatic family confrontations.
After Judah's first two sons died while married to Tamar, Judah promised her his youngest son Shelah: "Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown." But Judah feared that Shelah too would die, so he delayed — essentially breaking his promise to Tamar.
Tamar's desperate response — disguising herself and bearing Perez and Zerah through Judah himself — arose directly from Shelah being withheld. When confronted, Judah admitted: "She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son."
Shelah survived and his descendants became an important clan within the tribe of Judah. The Shelanites are mentioned in Numbers 26:20 and their descendants appear in genealogical lists through Nehemiah's era. Despite the family drama surrounding his youth, Shelah's line endured for centuries.
Where does Shelah appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Shelah is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with Genesis 38:11. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son."
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Which books of the Bible mention Shelah?
Shelah is mentioned across 4 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Shelah?
Shelah — the withheld son — teaches that broken promises create broken situations. Judah's failure to honor his word to Tamar triggered a crisis, reminding us that delayed obedience is a form of disobedience.
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Promises connected to the meaning of the name Shelah:
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What names are related to Shelah?
Names like Shelah
Other Hebrew biblical names that share the spirit of "Request; Petition; Sent forth" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Shelah
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Shelah
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Shelah name meaning: frequently asked questions
Yes — Shelah appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 38:11.
Shelah means "Request; Petition; Sent forth." It is a Hebrew name. The King James Bible uses it in Genesis 38:11, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Hebrew. Shelah comes into English from Hebrew and carries the sense "Request; Petition; Sent forth." It appears in the King James Bible, including Genesis 38:11.
Common questions about the name Shelah
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Shelah?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Shelah?
You can read every verse where Shelah appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.