Day 22 of 75 · Perception and response

Sh-ʾ-L

shel: ask

ושאלוהי

ܘܫܰܐܠܽܘܗ݈ܝ

The feel

Shel means to ask, both to ask a question and to ask for something. In the Gospels it can be a trap set by opponents, a child asking for bread, or a prayer made in trust.

The root family

Form	Pattern	Transliteration	Script	Standard	Qala rendering
The verb	peal (base stem)	shel	שאל ܫܐܠ	to ask	to ask, to question, to request
Who-asks	peal participle	dšāʾel	דשאל ܕ݁ܫܳܐܶܠ	who asks	everyone who asks (Matthew 7:8)
You (all) ask	peal imperfect, plural	dtešeʾlun	דתשאלון ܕ݁ܬ݂ܶܫܶܐܠܽܘܢ	that you ask	whatever you ask (Matthew 21:22)
And-asked-him	peal perfect + suffix	wšaʾleh	ושאלה ܘܫܰܐܠܶܗ	and asked him	he asked him (Mark 12:28)
Question	noun (šuʾālā)	šuʾālā	שואלא ܫܘܐܠܐ	question	(not in the Gospels)

In the Gospels the verb appears about 143 times, mostly in the Peal (Matthew 7:8; 21:22).

In his voice

Matthew 7:8

For everyone who asks receives; everyone who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.

dšāʾel דשאל ܕ݁ܫܳܐܶܠ, "who asks." The participle describes someone who asks, and the promise is made to that person.

Matthew 5:42

Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn away the one who wants to borrow.

dšāʾel דשאל ܕ݁ܫܳܐܶܠ again, now turned toward us: give to the one who asks you.

Matthew 21:22

And whatever you ask in prayer, if you trust, you will receive."

dtešeʾlun דתשאלון ܕ݁ܬ݂ܶܫܶܐܠܽܘܢ, "that you ask." Here asking goes with trust, the ʾ-M-N root of day 8.

Practice

Ask for one real thing today, from God or from a person. Say it plainly, once, without softening it.

Connections

B-ʿ-Y N-Q-Sh Y-D-ʿ shel: to ask

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