בְּצַלְאֵל
𐤁𐤑𐤋𐤀𐤋
Betsaleel
H1212 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'in the shadow (protection) of God.' Most frequently encountered as the skilled artisan commissioned by Moses to oversee the construction of the tabernacle and its furnishings (see Exodus 31–38). The phrase conveys both proximity (dwelling or standing in the shadow) and divine protection, with the theophoric element (-el) indicating association with God. In biblical usage, the name identifies an individual notable for both religious stature and technical skill. Another individual named Betsalel appears in post-exilic records (1 Chronicles 2:20).
Semantic Range
personal name; 'in the shadow/protection of God'; title for skilled craftsman; referent for Judahite genealogies
Root / Etymology
Composed from the preposition בְּ ('in'), noun צֵל ('shadow'), and the theophoric element אֵל ('God'), yielding בְּ-צֵל-אֵל ('in the shadow of God'). The prepositional form is fixed as part of the name, not a grammatical phrase. Root components: צֵל (shadow) from the root צ-ל-ל ('to shade, to shelter'), and אֵל (God).
Historical & Contextual Notes
בְּצַלְאֵל serves as a classic Israelite theophoric name, reflecting a broader ancient Near Eastern naming pattern in which the individual's relation to a deity is expressed. In the Torah, Betsalel of the tribe of Judah is portrayed as possessing 'the spirit of God, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge' (Exod 31:1–5). The name recurs later, notably in genealogies of post-exilic Judahites (1 Chron 2:20), reflecting its retention within family lineages. English tradition uses 'Bezaleel,' but this is a transcriptional approximation rather than a translation. The meaning 'in the shadow of God' was understood in antiquity as indicating protection or special favor, but does not denote membership in any particular religious community. Later Jewish, Christian, and English usage as 'Bezaleel' or 'Bezalel' references these biblical figures, but such usage reflects interpretive traditions not inherent in the biblical contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from צֵל and אֵל with a prepositional prefix; in (the) shadow (i.e. protection) of God; Betsalel, the name of two Israelites; Bezaleel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צלל (ṣ-l-l) — to shade, to shelter, to provide shadow or protection
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4698 | מְצִלָּה | tinkling-bells of |
| H4699 | מְצֻלָּה | in the deep abyss |
| H4700 | מְצֵלֶת | with the ringing cymbal-pair |
| H6738 | צֵל | in the shade |
| H6741 | צִלָּה | Tsillah |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1212-01 |
בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל | betsaleel | HNp |
Bezalel | In-the-Shadow-of-God | 6 |
H1212-03 |
בְצַלְאֵ֨ל | vetsaleel | HNp |
Bezalel | In-the-Shadow-of-God | 2 |
H1212-02 |
וּ/בְצַלְאֵ֛ל | uvetsaleel | HC/Np |
And Bezalel | and In-Shadow-of-God | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
9 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1212-01 |
Exodus 31:2 | בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל | betsaleel | HNp |
Bezalel | In-the-Shadow-of-God |
H1212-01 |
Exodus 35:30 | בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל | betsaleel | HNp |
Bezalel | In-the-Shadow-of-God |
H1212-03 |
Exodus 36:1 | בְצַלְאֵ֨ל | vetsaleel | HNp |
Bezalel | In-the-Shadow-of-God |
H1212-01 |
Exodus 36:2 | בְּצַלְאֵ֘ל | betsaleel | HNp |
Bezalel | In-the-Shadow-of-God |
H1212-01 |
Exodus 37:1 | בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל | betsaleel | HNp |
Bezalel | In-the-Shadow-of-God |
H1212-02 |
Exodus 38:22 | וּ/בְצַלְאֵ֛ל | uvetsaleel | HC/Np |
And Bezalel | and In-Shadow-of-God |
H1212-03 |
Ezra 10:30 | בְצַלְאֵ֔ל | vetsaleel | HNp |
Bezalel | In-the-Shadow-of-God |
H1212-01 |
1 Chronicles 2:20 | בְּצַלְאֵֽל | betsaleel | HNp |
Bezalel | In-the-Shadow-of-God |
H1212-01 |
2 Chronicles 1:5 | בְּצַלְאֵל֙ | betsaleel | HNp |
Bezalel | In-the-Shadow-of-God |