צֵלָע (H6763) — Hebrew Lexicon

צֵלָע

𐤑𐤋𐤏

tsêlâʻ

H6763 noun

SILEX Entry

Root צלע to be on one side, to limp, to lean

Definition

A side, especially a structural side or element of an object, and by extension a rib (as a side-bone), a lateral part or component (such as a board or plank in architectural contexts), or a side compartment/chamber. Its usage covers both literal anatomical sides (notably in reference to the human rib), and the sides, panels, or chambers of structures and objects.

Semantic Range

side of an object, rib (body), side-panel or plank, architectural side chamber, side of a structure, lateral or peripheral element, quarter (as a direction), board, beam

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root צָלַע (ṣālaʿ), meaning 'to lean, to limp, to be on one side, to go sidewise.' The noun form צֵלָע (tsēlāʿ) thus originally designates the concept of 'side' or something 'on the side.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, צֵלָע most famously refers to the 'rib' taken from the first human in Genesis 2:21–22, but the term's primary sense is broader, encompassing any kind of lateral side or component. In architecture and descriptions of the tabernacle or temple, it regularly denotes the side-chambers or side-planks (e.g., Exod 25–26; 1 Kings 6). The anatomical sense (rib) is contextually distinct but conceptually linked by reference to the 'side.' English translations often render the Genesis usage as 'rib,' but this may reflect interpretive tradition; 'side' or 'side-part' may capture the broader semantic potential. In later Hebrew and post-biblical usage, the anatomical sense became more prominent. The word does not inherently connote gender, but appears in both common and feminine forms; distinctions in form (צֵלָע vs. צַלְעָה) do not correspond to significant differences in meaning. The related root is used for 'limping' or something not straight, further emphasizing the concept of lateral orientation or unevenness contrasted with centrality. When describing the Israelite sacred architecture, the term 'side-chamber' or 'side-room' rather than simply 'side' helps clarify the referent.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (feminine) צַלְעָה; from צָלַע; a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, i.e. leaf); hence, a side, literally (of a person) or figuratively (of an object or the sky, i.e. quarter); architecturally, a (especially floor or ceiling) timber or plank (single or collective, i.e. a flooring); beam, board, chamber, corner, leaf, plank, rib, side (chamber).

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Root Family

צלע (ṣ-l-ʿ) — to be on one side, to lean, to limp

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H5967	עֲלַע	ribs
H6760	צָלַע	the limping one
H6761	צֶלַע	limping affliction
H6762	צֶלַע	in Tselaʻ

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H6763-12`	צֶֽלַע	tsela	`HNcbsc`	side	side of	9
`H6763-10`	צַלְעֹ֣ת	tsaleot	`HNcbpc`	sides	sides of	4
`H6763-09`	צַלְע/וֹ֙	tsaleo	`HNcbsc/Sp3ms`	side	his side	4
`H6763-03`	הַ/צֵּלָ֛ע	hatsela	`HTd/Ncbsa`	of the side chamber	the side	4
`H6763-01`	בְּ/צַלְע֣וֹת	betsaleot	`HR/Ncbpc`	with panels	in side-panels of	3
`H6763-14`	צְלָע֖וֹת	tselaot	`HNcbpa`	of the side chambers	sides	2
`H6763-15`	וּ/לְ/צֶ֧לַע	uletsela	`HC/R/Ncbsc`	and for the side	and to a side	2
`H6763-04`	הַ/צְּלָעֹת֙	hatselaot	`HTd/Ncbpa`	the-beams	the sides	2
`H6763-06`	לַ/צְּלָע֛וֹת	latselaot	`HRd/Ncbpa`	to the side chambers	to the side-structures	2
`H6763-11`	צַלְעֹתָ֔י/ו	tsaleotayv	`HNcbpc/Sp3ms`	sides	his side-structures	2
`H6763-02`	בְּ/צֵ֨לַע	betsela	`HR/Ncbsc`	alongside	in a side of	1
`H6763-13`	צְלָעִ֜ים	tselaim	`HNcbpa`	leaves	sides	1
`H6763-05`	לַ/צֵּלָ֛ע	latsela	`HRd/Ncbsa`	for the side	to the side	1
`H6763-08`	מִ/צַּלְעֹתָ֔י/ו	mitsaleotayv	`HR/Ncbpc/Sp3ms`	from his sides	from his sides	1
`H6763-07`	לְ/צַלְעֽ/וֹ	letsaleo	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp3ms`	at his side	to his side	1
`H6763-16`	וְ/הַ/צְּלָעוֹת֩	vehatselaot	`HC/Td/Ncbpa`	and-the side-chambers	and the sides	1
`H6763-17`	וְ/צַלְע֥וֹת	vetsaleot	`HC/Ncbpc`	and-side-chambers	and sides of	1

Occurrences in Scripture

41 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H6763-08`	Genesis 2:21	מִ/צַּלְעֹתָ֔י/ו	mitsaleotayv	`HR/Ncbpc/Sp3ms`	from his sides	from his sides
`H6763-03`	Genesis 2:22	הַ/צֵּלָ֛ע	hatsela	`HTd/Ncbsa`	the rib	the side
`H6763-09`	Exodus 25:12	צַלְע/וֹ֙	tsaleo	`HNcbsc/Sp3ms`	side of it	his side
`H6763-09`	Exodus 25:12	צַלְע֖/וֹ	tsaleo-2	`HNcbsc/Sp3ms`	side of it	his side
`H6763-10`	Exodus 25:14	צַלְעֹ֣ת	tsaleot	`HNcbpc`	the sides	sides of
`H6763-15`	Exodus 26:20	וּ/לְ/צֶ֧לַע	uletsela	`HC/R/Ncbsc`	and for the side	and to a side
`H6763-12`	Exodus 26:26	צֶֽלַע	tsela	`HNcbsc`	of the side	side of
`H6763-12`	Exodus 26:27	צֶֽלַע	tsela	`HNcbsc`	the side	side of
`H6763-12`	Exodus 26:27	צֶ֣לַע	tsela-2	`HNcbsc`	the side	side of
`H6763-12`	Exodus 26:35	צֶ֥לַע	tsela	`HNcbsc`	side	side of
`H6763-12`	Exodus 26:35	צֶ֥לַע	tsela-2	`HNcbsc`	side	side of
`H6763-10`	Exodus 27:7	צַלְעֹ֥ת	tsaleot	`HNcbpc`	sides	sides of
`H6763-11`	Exodus 30:4	צַלְעֹתָ֔י/ו	tsaleotayv	`HNcbpc/Sp3ms`	sides-its	his side-structures
`H6763-15`	Exodus 36:25	וּ/לְ/צֶ֧לַע	uletsela	`HC/R/Ncbsc`	and for the side	and to a side
`H6763-12`	Exodus 36:31	צֶֽלַע	tsela	`HNcbsc`	side	side of
`H6763-12`	Exodus 36:32	צֶֽלַע	tsela	`HNcbsc`	side	side of
`H6763-09`	Exodus 37:3	צַלְע/וֹ֙	tsaleo	`HNcbsc/Sp3ms`	side	his side
`H6763-09`	Exodus 37:3	צַלְע֖/וֹ	tsaleo-2	`HNcbsc/Sp3ms`	side	his side
`H6763-10`	Exodus 37:5	צַלְעֹ֣ת	tsaleot	`HNcbpc`	sides	sides of
`H6763-11`	Exodus 37:27	צַלְעֹתָ֔י/ו	tsaleotayv	`HNcbpc/Sp3ms`	sides	his side-structures
`H6763-10`	Exodus 38:7	צַלְעֹ֣ת	tsaleot	`HNcbpc`	sides	sides of
`H6763-02`	2 Samuel 16:13	בְּ/צֵ֨לַע	betsela	`HR/Ncbsc`	alongside	in a side of
`H6763-14`	1 Kings 6:5	צְלָע֖וֹת	tselaot	`HNcbpa`	side chambers	sides
`H6763-03`	1 Kings 6:8	הַ/צֵּלָע֙	hatsela	`HTd/Ncbsa`	of the side chamber	the side
`H6763-01`	1 Kings 6:15	בְּ/צַלְע֣וֹת	betsaleot	`HR/Ncbpc`	with panels	in side-panels of
`H6763-01`	1 Kings 6:15	בְּ/צַלְע֥וֹת	betsaleot-2	`HR/Ncbpc`	with panels	in side-panels of
`H6763-01`	1 Kings 6:16	בְּ/צַלְע֣וֹת	betsaleot	`HR/Ncbpc`	with boards	in side-panels of
`H6763-13`	1 Kings 6:34	צְלָעִ֜ים	tselaim	`HNcbpa`	leaves	sides
`H6763-04`	1 Kings 7:3	הַ/צְּלָעֹת֙	hatselaot	`HTd/Ncbpa`	the-beams	the sides
`H6763-03`	Ezekiel 41:5	הַ/צֵּלָע֩	hatsela	`HTd/Ncbsa`	of the side chamber	the side
`H6763-16`	Ezekiel 41:6	וְ/הַ/צְּלָעוֹת֩	vehatselaot	`HC/Td/Ncbpa`	and-the side-chambers	and the sides
`H6763-12`	Ezekiel 41:6	צֵלָ֨ע	tsela	`HNcbsa`	side-chamber	side of
`H6763-12`	Ezekiel 41:6	צֵלָ֜ע	tsela-2	`HNcbsa`	side-chamber	side of
`H6763-06`	Ezekiel 41:6	לַ/צְּלָע֛וֹת	latselaot	`HRd/Ncbpa`	to-the side-chambers	to the side-structures
`H6763-06`	Ezekiel 41:7	לַ/צְּלָע֗וֹת	latselaot	`HRd/Ncbpa`	to the side chambers	to the side-structures
`H6763-04`	Ezekiel 41:8	הַ/צְּלָעוֹת֙	hatselaot	`HTd/Ncbpa`	the side chambers	the sides
`H6763-05`	Ezekiel 41:9	לַ/צֵּלָ֛ע	latsela	`HRd/Ncbsa`	for the side	to the side
`H6763-14`	Ezekiel 41:9	צְלָע֖וֹת	tselaot	`HNcbpa`	of the side chambers	sides
`H6763-03`	Ezekiel 41:11	הַ/צֵּלָע֙	hatsela	`HTd/Ncbsa`	of-the-side-chamber	the side
`H6763-17`	Ezekiel 41:26	וְ/צַלְע֥וֹת	vetsaleot	`HC/Ncbpc`	and-side-chambers	and sides of
`H6763-07`	Job 18:12	לְ/צַלְעֽ/וֹ	letsaleo	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp3ms`	at his side	to his side

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