Shiloh (Biblical figure)

Shiloh (šīlō Hebrew: שִׁיל֔וֹ‎‎ or šīlōh Hebrew: שילה‎‎) is a figure mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in Genesis 49:10 as part of the benediction given by Jacob to his son Judah. Jacob states that "the sceptre will not depart from Judah... until Shiloh comes...".

The Latin Vulgate translates the word as "he ... that is to be sent", which would be the equivalent of the Hebrew shaluach (Hebrew: שלוח‎‎, "messenger"), indicating a possible corruption of the text (on either side). The Peshitta has "the one to whom [it] belongs" Similarly, the Septuagint translates the word to "the things stored up for him".

Some English translations retain the word "Shiloh", either as a title ("until Shiloh come," King James Version) or as a place name ("as long as men come to Shiloh," JPS Tanakh). Other translations render the whole phrase in English, yielding "until he comes to whom it belongs" (Revised Standard Version), "until tribute comes to him" (English Standard Version) or "until He whose right it is comes" (Holman Christian Standard Bible).

The reference to sceptre and the Tribe of Judah has led many people to view this verse as a Messianic prophecy. This interpretation goes back at least as far as the Targum Onkelos in the first century AD.

...
Wikipedia