צֵל (H6738) — Hebrew Lexicon — Scattered Israelites

צֵל

𐤑𐤋

tsêl

H6738 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צלל to be dark, to shade, to overshadow

Definition

Shade or shadow cast by an object blocking light, primarily indicating an area sheltered from sunlight or illumination. In poetic or metaphorical contexts, it can signify protection, shelter, or a figurative covering—often implying a place of safety or refuge.

Semantic Range

shade, shadow, area sheltered from sunlight, protection, shelter, figurative covering or defense, symbolic of safety or ephemeral nature

Root / Etymology

From the root צ-ל-ל (צָלַל), which means 'to be dark, to shade, to grow dark.' The noun צֵל develops from the verbal sense of 'to shade (something)' or 'to provide darkness,' and signifies the result or state produced by the action of shading—i.e., shadow or shade.

Historical & Contextual Notes

צֵל is widely used in the Hebrew Bible both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it refers to the shadow cast by trees, mountains, or people—an everyday phenomenon experienced in the ancient Near East's harsh sunlight (e.g., Jon 4:5-6, Judg 9:15). It often carries connotations of relief from the sun and danger, a valued benefit in that environment. Metaphorically, צֵל can denote protection or shelter, as when YHWH is described as a 'shadow at your right hand' (Ps 121:5), indicating divine protection or care; also found in expressions like 'the shadow of death' (צַלְמָוֶת), intensifying the sense of darkness or danger (Ps 23:4). While English translations often render צֵל as 'shadow' or 'shade,' the nuance of protective refuge, especially in poetry and wisdom literature (e.g., Isa 25:4, Ps 91:1), may not always be fully captured by the term 'shadow.' In some contexts, especially in prophetic or wisdom texts, the metaphorical sense can include ideas of ephemerality or insubstantiality (Job 8:9) — highlighting the fleeting nature of life. The term does not inherently have the negative connotations sometimes associated with 'shadow' in later English usage; its value is context-dependent.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָלַל; shade, whether literal or figurative; defence, shade(-ow).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צלל (ṣ-l-l) — to be dark, to shade, to overshadow

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H1212	בְּצַלְאֵל	In-the-Shadow-of-God
H4698	מְצִלָּה	tinkling-bells of
H4699	מְצֻלָּה	in the deep abyss
H4700	מְצֵלֶת	with the ringing cymbal-pair
H6741	צִלָּה	Tsillah
H6742	צְלוּל	rolled cake of
H6749	צָלַל	they sank down
H6750	צָלַל	they will cause to ring
H6751	צָלַל	shadow-caster
H6752	צֵלֶל	the shadows

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H6738-02`	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of	12
`H6738-10`	צֵ֧ל	tsel	`HNcmsc`	shade	shade	6
`H6738-05`	כַּ֝/צֵּ֗ל	katsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like a shadow	like shade	5
`H6738-06`	כְּ/צֵ֥ל	ketsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	like a shadow	like shade	4
`H6738-04`	הַ/צֵּל֙	hatsel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the shadow	the shade	3
`H6738-15`	וּ/בְ/צֵ֥ל	uvetsel	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and in the shadow	and in shade-of	3
`H6738-19`	בְ/צִלּ֖/וֹ	vetsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	in his shadow	in his shade	2
`H6738-11`	צִלָּ֑/הּ	tsilah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its shade	Shade-woman	2
`H6738-03`	בְּ/צִלּ/וֹ֙	betsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	in his shadow	in his shade	2
`H6738-09`	מִ/צִּלּ֛/וֹ	mitsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	from its shade	from his shade	1
`H6738-13`	צִ֝לְּ/ךָ֗	tsilekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	is your shade	your shade	1
`H6738-14`	צִלֵּ֖/ךְ	tsilekhe	`HNcmsc/Sp2fs`	your-shadow	your shade	1
`H6738-18`	בְ/צִלִּ֑/י	vetsili	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs`	in my shade	in my shade	1
`H6738-12`	צִלָּ֧/ם	tsilam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their-protection	their shade	1
`H6738-17`	בְ/צִלָּ֑/הּ	vetsilah	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs`	under her shadow	Shade-woman	1
`H6738-16`	וּ/בְ/צִלּ/וֹ֙	uvetsilo	`HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	and in its shadow	and in his shade	1
`H6738-08`	לְ/צֵל	letsel	`HR/Ncmsa`	for shade	to shade	1
`H6738-01`	בַּ/צֵּ֔ל	batsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the shade	in the shade	1
`H6738-07`	לַ/צֵּ֔ל	latsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	for the shadow	to the shade	1

Occurrences in Scripture

49 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H6738-02`	Genesis 19:8	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	under the shelter	in shade of
`H6738-12`	Numbers 14:9	צִלָּ֧/ם	tsilam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their-protection	their shade
`H6738-18`	Judges 9:15	בְ/צִלִּ֑/י	vetsili	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs`	in my shade	in my shade
`H6738-10`	Judges 9:36	צֵ֧ל	tsel	`HNcmsc`	shadow	shade
`H6738-04`	2 Kings 20:9	הַ/צֵּל֙	hatsel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the shadow	the shade
`H6738-07`	2 Kings 20:10	לַ/צֵּ֔ל	latsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	for the shadow	to the shade
`H6738-04`	2 Kings 20:10	הַ/צֵּ֛ל	hatsel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the shadow	the shade
`H6738-04`	2 Kings 20:11	הַ/צֵּ֗ל	hatsel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the shadow	the shade
`H6738-08`	Isaiah 4:6	לְ/צֵל	letsel	`HR/Ncmsa`	for shade	to shade
`H6738-14`	Isaiah 16:3	צִלֵּ֖/ךְ	tsilekhe	`HNcmsc/Sp2fs`	your-shadow	your shade
`H6738-10`	Isaiah 25:4	צֵ֣ל	tsel	`HNcmsa`	a shadow	shade
`H6738-02`	Isaiah 25:5	בְּ/צֵ֣ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of
`H6738-02`	Isaiah 30:2	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of
`H6738-02`	Isaiah 30:3	בְּ/צֵל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of
`H6738-06`	Isaiah 32:2	כְּ/צֵ֥ל	ketsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	like the shade	like shade
`H6738-17`	Isaiah 34:15	בְ/צִלָּ֑/הּ	vetsilah	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs`	under her shadow	Shade-woman
`H6738-10`	Isaiah 38:8	צֵ֣ל	tsel	`HNcmsc`	the shadow	shade
`H6738-02`	Isaiah 49:2	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of
`H6738-15`	Isaiah 51:16	וּ/בְ/צֵ֥ל	uvetsel	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and-in-shadow	and in shade-of
`H6738-02`	Jeremiah 48:45	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of
`H6738-02`	Ezekiel 17:23	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shade	in shade of
`H6738-16`	Ezekiel 31:6	וּ/בְ/צִלּ/וֹ֙	uvetsilo	`HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	and in its shadow	and in his shade
`H6738-09`	Ezekiel 31:12	מִ/צִּלּ֛/וֹ	mitsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	from its shade	from his shade
`H6738-19`	Ezekiel 31:17	בְ/צִלּ֖/וֹ	vetsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	under his shadow	in his shade
`H6738-11`	Hosea 4:13	צִלָּ֑/הּ	tsilah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its shade	Shade-woman
`H6738-19`	Hosea 14:8	בְ/צִלּ֔/וֹ	vetsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	in his shadow	in his shade
`H6738-01`	Jonah 4:5	בַּ/צֵּ֔ל	batsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the shade	in the shade
`H6738-10`	Jonah 4:6	צֵל֙	tsel	`HNcmsa`	shade	shade
`H6738-02`	Psalms 17:8	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of
`H6738-02`	Psalms 36:8	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in-shadow-of	in shade of
`H6738-15`	Psalms 57:2	וּ/בְ/צֵֽל	uvetsel	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and in the shadow	and in shade-of
`H6738-15`	Psalms 63:8	וּ/בְ/צֵ֖ל	uvetsel	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and in the shadow	and in shade-of
`H6738-11`	Psalms 80:11	צִלָּ֑/הּ	tsilah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its shadow	Shade-woman
`H6738-02`	Psalms 91:1	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of
`H6738-06`	Psalms 102:12	כְּ/צֵ֣ל	ketsel	`HR/Ncmsa`	like a shadow	like shade
`H6738-06`	Psalms 109:23	כְּ/צֵל	ketsel	`HR/Ncmsa`	like a shadow	like shade
`H6738-13`	Psalms 121:5	צִ֝לְּ/ךָ֗	tsilekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	is your shade	your shade
`H6738-06`	Psalms 144:4	כְּ/צֵ֣ל	ketsel	`HR/Ncmsa`	as a shadow	like shade
`H6738-10`	Job 7:2	צֵ֑ל	tsel	`HNcmsa`	shade	shade
`H6738-10`	Job 8:9	צֵ֖ל	tsel	`HNcmsa`	shadow	shade
`H6738-05`	Job 14:2	כַּ֝/צֵּ֗ל	katsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like a shadow	like shade
`H6738-05`	Job 17:7	כַּ/צֵּ֣ל	katsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like-a-shadow	like shade
`H6738-03`	Song of Songs 2:3	בְּ/צִלּ/וֹ֙	betsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	in his shadow	in his shade
`H6738-03`	Lamentations 4:20	בְּ/צִלּ֖/וֹ	betsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	under his shadow	in his shade
`H6738-05`	Ecclesiastes 6:12	כַּ/צֵּ֑ל	katsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`		like shade
`H6738-02`	Ecclesiastes 7:12	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsa`		in shade of
`H6738-02`	Ecclesiastes 7:12	בְּ/צֵ֣ל	betsel-2	`HR/Ncmsa`		in shade of
`H6738-05`	Ecclesiastes 8:13	כַּ/צֵּ֑ל	katsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`		like shade
`H6738-05`	1 Chronicles 29:15	כַּ/צֵּ֧ל	katsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like a shadow	like shade

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