← H6748 H6750 →

צָלַל

𐤑𐤋𐤋

tsâlal

H6749 verb

SILEX Entry

Root צ-ל-ל to sink, to subside, to collapse downward

Definition

To sink, subside, or collapse, typically in reference to motion downward, often accompanied by a sense of settling or falling with undulating or waving movement. Can also denote being humbled or brought low metaphorically, particularly in poetic contexts. The term may describe physical movement (e.g., sinking into water or mud), or metaphorical descent into distress or destruction.

Semantic Range

to sink (physically, e.g. into water or mud), to subside, to collapse, to be humbled or brought low (figurative), to descend in a waving or undulating motion

Root / Etymology

Root/Etymology: From root צָלַל (צ-ל-ל), which fundamentally carries the sense of movement downwards, to sink or subside. This root appears in various stems and forms, with related verbs sometimes expressing the idea of making a sound (to tinkle, to ring), though the motion sense predominates in this stem/context.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Historically, צָלַל is attested in the Hebrew Bible mainly in poetic or descriptive narrative passages, often with imagery of sinking, such as objects swallowed by water, or metaphorical sinking in trouble. The word is rare and context-specific, occurring sometimes in Psalms or prophetic literature to evoke the overwhelming nature of distress or defeat. It is distinct from יָרַד (yarad, 'to go down') which is the standard verb for descent, and from שָׁקַע (shaqa', 'to sink'). English translations often render it as 'sink' or 'subside', but may not capture nuances of undulating or wavering descent. The possible alternate sense of 'to ring' or 'to tinkle' in other stems (such as in feminine forms or derivatives) is contextually and morphologically distinct, and should not be confused with the motion/root meaning in this usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to tumble down, i.e. settle by awaving motion; sink. Compare צָלַל, צָלַל.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

צלל (ts-l-l) — to sink, to subside, to collapse downward

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
H6738 צֵל in the shade

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6749-01 צָֽלֲלוּ֙ tsalalu HVqp3cp They sank they sank down 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6749-01 Exodus 15:10 צָֽלֲלוּ֙ tsalalu HVqp3cp They sank they sank down
← H6748 Hebrew Lexicon H6750 →