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תְּכֵלֶת

𐤕𐤊𐤋𐤕

tᵉkêleth

H8504 noun

SILEX Entry

Root כָּלַל or uncertain to complete, perfect, encompass (uncertain for this word)

Definition

A distinctive blue or blue-violet dye, or fabric dyed with this color, produced from a sea mollusk and used in high-status garments and sacred textiles. The term denotes either the dye itself or items colored with it, especially cloth used in the tabernacle, priestly garments, and regalia.

Semantic Range

blue dye from sea mollusk, blue-violet color, material or fabric dyed with blue, textile used for tabernacle and garments, symbol of sacred status

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root כלל or uncertain; the form appears unique, with no clear cognates in other Semitic languages. The traditional association is to a dye obtained from a sea mollusk, but the precise etymology is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, תְּכֵלֶת refers to a precious blue (or blue-violet) dye or the fabric dyed with it, considered rare and prestigious in the ancient Near East. It is most characteristically associated with instructions for the construction of the tabernacle and the making of priestly or high-status garments (e.g., Exodus 25–28, Numbers 4). It signifies sacredness, privilege, and divine command—not merely a color designation. The source of the dye, likely the Murex sea snail (though some debate exists), required significant labor, making תְּכֵלֶת costly and limited mainly to religious use or elite society. Translations as "blue" or "violet" are imprecise, as the color described in ancient sources is a deep blue with possible purple undertones; in some later rabbinic and post-biblical contexts, the term is associated with ritual fringes (tzitzit), a practice still known in Jewish tradition. There is no evidence that this term refers to the modern English term "blue" in a general sense, nor does it connote the broader color spectrum implied by later usage. Compare to אַרְגָּמָן (argaman, 'purple' or 'red-purple'), another expensive dye, with which תְּכֵלֶת is sometimes paired, highlighting distinct but related color materials in ancient Israelite ritual and elite culture.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably for שְׁחֶלֶת; the cerulean mussel, i.e. the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith; blue.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

כלל (uncertain) (k-l-l (uncertain)) — completeness, encompassment, perfection (etymology uncertain for this term)

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8504-03 תְּכֵ֗לֶת tekhelet HNcfsa blue blue-violet sacred dye 35
H8504-04 וּ/תְכֵ֧לֶת utekhelet HC/Ncfsa and blue blue-violet sacred dye 7
H8504-02 הַ/תְּכֵ֖לֶת hatekhelet HTd/Ncfsa the blue the blue-violet dye 4
H8504-01 בַּ/תְּכֵ֣לֶת batekhelet HRd/Ncfsa in blue in the blue-violet cloth 3

Occurrences in Scripture

49 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8504-04 Exodus 25:4 וּ/תְכֵ֧לֶת utekhelet HC/Ncfsa and blue blue-violet sacred dye
H8504-04 Exodus 26:1 וּ/תְכֵ֤לֶת utekhelet HC/Ncfsa and blue blue-violet sacred dye
H8504-03 Exodus 26:4 תְּכֵ֗לֶת tekhelet HNcfsa of blue blue-violet sacred dye
H8504-03 Exodus 26:31 תְּכֵ֧לֶת tekhelet HNcfsa blue blue-violet sacred dye
H8504-03 Exodus 26:36 תְּכֵ֧לֶת tekhelet HNcfsa blue blue-violet sacred dye
H8504-03 Exodus 27:16 תְּכֵ֨לֶת tekhelet HNcfsa blue blue-violet sacred dye
H8504-02 Exodus 28:5 הַ/תְּכֵ֖לֶת hatekhelet HTd/Ncfsa the blue the blue-violet dye
H8504-03 Exodus 28:6 תְּכֵ֨לֶת tekhelet HNcfsa blue blue-violet sacred dye
H8504-03 Exodus 28:8 תְּכֵ֧לֶת tekhelet HNcfsa blue blue-violet sacred dye
H8504-03 Exodus 28:15 תְּכֵ֨לֶת tekhelet HNcfsa blue blue-violet sacred dye
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