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סַל

𐤎𐤋

çal

H5536 noun

SILEX Entry

Root סלל to heap up, pile, lift up

Definition

A woven container, typically made of flexible plant materials (such as reeds or willows), used for carrying or storing items; in biblical contexts, especially food or goods. The term refers specifically to a kind of basket, with attention to its craftsmanship and utility rather than a particular size or ceremonial function.

Semantic Range

basket, woven container, portable vessel for carrying goods, container for offerings or provisions, food basket

Root / Etymology

From the root סָלַל, meaning 'to lift up, heap up, pile.' The word סַל appears to be a substantivization denoting an object made by heaping or weaving together pliable material. The root itself does not denote basketry directly, but the idea of piling, lifting, or heaping lends itself to the manufacture and use of baskets.

Historical & Contextual Notes

סַל occurs in several biblical contexts, most notably in the descriptions of ritual and daily life objects (e.g., Exodus 29:3, Leviticus 8:2, Numbers 6:15). In these passages, the סַל is used for holding bread or cakes, often as part of offerings. It is distinct from other Hebrew terms for basket, such as תֶּנֶא (tene’, used in Deuteronomy 26:2) or טֶנֶא, which may refer to different shapes, sizes, or uses. The סַל generally denotes a hand-held, portable basket, woven from plant matter; it is not associated with luxury or ceremonial containers (like כְּפוּפָה, 'box' or 'coffer'). Across different periods, the function of the סַל remains stable as a utilitarian vessel for holding provisions rather than a symbolic object. Later Greek and Latin translations sometimes render it as 'kophinos' or 'canistrum,' respectively, but the precise form and material may differ across cultures and eras. English translations typically use 'basket,' but this fails to capture the distinctiveness of ancient Israelite basketry practices and materials.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from סָלַל; properly, a willow twig (as pendulous), i.e. an osier; but only as woven into abasket; basket.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

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Root Family

סלל (s-l-l) — heap up, pile up, lift up

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4546 מְסִלָּה on the raised causeway
H4547 מַסְלוּל raised roadway
H5538 סִלָּא Silla
H5549 סָלַל one lifting himself up
H5550 סֹלְלָה the piled-up siege ramps

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5536-01 בַּ/סָּ֑ל basal HRd/Ncmsa in the basket in the woven basket 3
H5536-06 סַ֣ל sal HNcmsa basket woven carrying-basket 3
H5536-03 הַ/סַּ֖ל hasal HTd/Ncmsa the basket the woven basket 2
H5536-02 בְּ/סַ֣ל besal HR/Ncmsc in the basket in a woven basket of 1
H5536-04 הַ/סַּלִּ֔ים hasalim HTd/Ncmpa baskets the woven baskets 1
H5536-07 סַלֵּ֥י saley HNcmpc baskets woven baskets of 1
H5536-10 וְ/סַ֣ל vesal HC/Ncmsc and-a-basket and woven basket of 1
H5536-05 מִ/סַּל֙ misal HR/Ncmsc from the basket from woven-container of 1
H5536-08 וּ/מִ/סַּ֨ל umisal HC/R/Ncmsc and-from the-basket and from basket-of 1
H5536-09 וּ/בַ/סַּ֣ל uvasal HC/Rd/Ncmsa and in the basket and in the woven-basket 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5536-07 Genesis 40:16 סַלֵּ֥י saley HNcmpc baskets woven baskets of
H5536-09 Genesis 40:17 וּ/בַ/סַּ֣ל uvasal HC/Rd/Ncmsa and in the basket and in the woven-basket
H5536-03 Genesis 40:17 הַ/סַּ֖ל hasal HTd/Ncmsa the basket the woven basket
H5536-04 Genesis 40:18 הַ/סַּלִּ֔ים hasalim HTd/Ncmpa baskets the woven baskets
H5536-06 Exodus 29:3 סַ֣ל sal HNcmsa basket woven carrying-basket
H5536-01 Exodus 29:3 בַּ/סָּ֑ל basal HRd/Ncmsa in the basket in the woven basket
H5536-05 Exodus 29:23 מִ/סַּל֙ misal HR/Ncmsc from the basket from woven-container of
H5536-01 Exodus 29:32 בַּ/סָּ֑ל basal HRd/Ncmsa in the basket in the woven basket
H5536-06 Leviticus 8:2 סַ֥ל sal HNcmsc basket woven carrying-basket
H5536-08 Leviticus 8:26 וּ/מִ/סַּ֨ל umisal HC/R/Ncmsc and-from the-basket and from basket-of
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