סֶלַע
𐤎𐤋𐤏
Sela
H5553 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A large, prominent rock or crag, often indicating a sheer cliff or rocky height; in some contexts, used as a proper noun referring to the city of Sela (an Edomite stronghold, later identified with Petra). The term can designate a prominent geological feature or, metaphorically, a natural or constructed place of refuge or defense.
Semantic Range
crag, rocky cliff, prominent rock face, natural or constructed stronghold, inaccessible place, city of Sela (as a proper noun), metaphor for refuge or protection
Root / Etymology
From the root ס-ל-ע, meaning 'to cleave, split, or be rocky' (root not otherwise clearly attested as a verb in Biblical Hebrew). The noun סֶלַע conveys the concept of a distinct, elevated rock mass or cliff, and by extension, any secure, inaccessible place. In some cases, the term functions as a toponym for the Edomite city of Sela.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, סֶלַע is predominantly a term for a high, craggy rock formation—distinct from צוּר (ṣur), which more often refers to a boulder or hard rock. Its associations with refuge, defense, and inaccessibility support its metaphorical use for describing protection or strength (as opposed to 'stone' אֶבֶן which is more generic or used for smaller rocks). The proper noun usage for the city of Sela (notably in 2 Kings 14, Isaiah 16) refers to a fortified Edomite city, identified with the later Nabataean city of Petra. In post-exilic and Second Temple periods, much of the metaphorical or poetic use persists, though the geographic sense as a city recedes. English translations sometimes render סֶלַע as 'rock,' 'crag,' or even as a place name; however, the nuance of a high, steep rock is often lost.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to be lofty; a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress); (ragged) rock, stone(-ny), strong hold.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
סלע (s-l-ʿ) — to cleave, split, be rocky; rocky height, crag
Word Forms
15 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5553-11 |
סֶ֥לַע | sela | HNcmsc |
rock | crag | 12 |
H5553-04 |
הַ/סֶּ֛לַע | hasela | HTd/Ncmsa |
rock | the crag | 11 |
H5553-10 |
סַֽלְעִ֥/י | salei | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my rock | my crag | 5 |
H5553-03 |
הַ/סָּ֑לַע | hasala | HTd/Ncmsa |
the rock | the craggy cliff | 5 |
H5553-05 |
הַ/סְּלָעִ֑ים | haselaim | HTd/Ncmpa |
the rocks | the rocky crags | 5 |
H5553-09 |
סָֽלַע | sala | HNcmsa |
rock | rocky crag | 4 |
H5553-12 |
סְלָעִים֙ | selaim | HNcmpa |
rocks | rocky crags | 3 |
H5553-01 |
בַּ/סֶּ֖לַע | basela | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the rock | in the crag | 3 |
H5553-08 |
מִ/סֶּ֔לַע | misela | HR/Ncmsa |
from rock | from a craggy cliff | 3 |
H5553-14 |
בַ/סֶּ֖לַע | vasela | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the rock | in the crag | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
59 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5553-04 |
Numbers 20:8 | הַ/סֶּ֛לַע | hasela | HTd/Ncmsa |
rock | the crag |
H5553-04 |
Numbers 20:8 | הַ/סֶּ֔לַע | hasela-2 | HTd/Ncmsa |
the-rock | the crag |
H5553-03 |
Numbers 20:10 | הַ/סָּ֑לַע | hasala | HTd/Ncmsa |
the rock | the craggy cliff |
H5553-04 |
Numbers 20:10 | הַ/סֶּ֣לַע | hasela | HTd/Ncmsa |
rock | the crag |
H5553-04 |
Numbers 20:11 | הַ/סֶּ֛לַע | hasela | HTd/Ncmsa |
rock | the crag |
H5553-01 |
Numbers 24:21 | בַּ/סֶּ֖לַע | basela | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the rock | in the crag |
H5553-08 |
Deuteronomy 32:13 | מִ/סֶּ֔לַע | misela | HR/Ncmsa |
from the rock | from a craggy cliff |
H5553-06 |
Judges 1:36 | מֵ/הַ/סֶּ֖לַע | mehasela | HR/Td/Np |
from-the-rock | from the rocky crag |
H5553-04 |
Judges 6:20 | הַ/סֶּ֣לַע | hasela | HTd/Ncmsa |
rock | the crag |
H5553-11 |
Judges 15:8 | סֶ֥לַע | sela | HNcmsc |
rock | crag |