צִלְּתַי
𐤑𐤋𐤕𐤉
Tsiletay
H6769 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Tsillethai, a proper name, likely meaning 'my shadow' or 'protective shade.' The name appears to convey the idea of being under protection or care, metaphorically invoking shelter or favor. It is attested as the name of at least two individuals in genealogical lists in Hebrew biblical texts.
Semantic Range
proper name (Tsillethai); by etymology: my shadow, my protection, one under shelter or favor
Root / Etymology
Tsillethai derives from the feminine noun צֵל (tsel, 'shadow') with the suffixed possessive -י ('my'), making the probable etymological sense 'my shadow.' The vocalization and form suggest either an emphatic or poetic nuance.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Tsillethai is attested as the name of two individuals in the post-exilic genealogical lists (1 Chronicles 8:20; 1 Chronicles 27:25), both apparently Israelite men. The form uses the possessive suffix -י, making it a theophoric or descriptive personal name. Names built from צֵל ('shadow') were common and could express protection, favor, or intimacy (as in being kept 'in the shadow'). English translations historically render Tsillethai as 'Zilthai,' but this reflects later conventions rather than precise transliteration. There is no explicit evidence that the name carried a religious or cultic meaning in context; it is not associated with a specific role or lineage unique to any Israelite sub-group. The root צל occurs in various contexts, always denoting shade, shelter, or shadow.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the feminine of צֵל; shady; Tsillethai, the name of two Israelites; Zilthai.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צל (ts-l) — shade, shadow, shelter, protection
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6769-01 |
וְ/צִלְּתַ֖י | vetsiletay | HC/Np |
and Zillethai | and My-Shadow | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6769-01 |
1 Chronicles 8:20 | וְ/צִלְּתַ֖י | vetsiletay | HC/Np |
and Zillethai | and My-Shadow |
H6769-01 |
1 Chronicles 12:21 | וְ/צִלְּתָ֑י | vetsiletay | HC/Np |
and Zillethai | and My-Shadow |