תָּלָא
𐤕𐤋𐤀
tâlâʼ
H8511 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
to hang, suspend, or dangle (something or someone) from above; by extension, to be in a state of uncertainty, hesitation, or suspense; to depend on, both literally through physical suspension and figuratively regarding a mental state.
Semantic Range
to hang or suspend an object, to display (especially as a form of public exposure), to be in suspense or hesitation, to be mentally or emotionally hanging (in uncertainty); to be dependent on something yet unresolved
Root / Etymology
Root תָּלָא (t-l-ʾ), with the basic idea of hanging or suspending. The verb form denotes the causative or stative action of hanging or dangling. This root appears in only a few Semitic cognates (cf. Aramaic תְּלָא, 'to hang'), and is not typical outside northwest Semitic languages.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, תָּלָא most frequently appears in contexts describing literal hanging or suspension, whether of objects (such as utensils, musical instruments) or, in certain legal or punitive instances, of persons (e.g., display of a corpse or criminal on a tree or pole). The figurative usage—being metaphorically 'suspended' in doubt, dependence, or hesitation—is attested but uncommon and likely developed from the concrete image of suspension; this imagery often denotes a state of unresolved tension, uncertainty, or reliance on a pending outcome. In later Hebrew and post-biblical literature, the term's usage broadens, but the root concept of elongated, dangling state persists. Modern translations rarely capture the full sense when rendering תָּלָא simply as 'to hang,' since the original includes both the tangible action (suspending) and the emotional or mental analogies (hesitation, uncertainty). Distinct from תָּלָה (tâlâh, H8518), which is more frequently used and overlaps in some senses, but תָּלָא is less common and sometimes appears in more specialized or poetic contexts. The term occurs primarily in later biblical books, reflecting possible dialectal or chronological shifts in vocabulary.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to suspend; figuratively (through hesitation) to be uncertain; by implication (of mental dependence) to habituate; be bent, hang (in doubt).
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
תלא (t-l-ʾ) — to hang, to suspend, to dangle
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8511-01 |
תְּלֻאִ֥ים | teluim | HVqsmpa |
are-bent | hung ones | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8511-01 |
Deuteronomy 28:66 | תְּלֻאִ֥ים | teluim | HVqsmpa |
hanging | hung ones |
H8511-01 |
Hosea 11:7 | תְלוּאִ֖ים | teluim | HVqsmpa |
are-bent | hung ones |