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תֵּל חַרְשָׁא

𐤕𐤋 𐤇𐤓𐤔𐤀

Tel Charesha

H8521 noun

SILEX Entry

Root תל-חרשׁ to heap up, mound (תל); to engrave, to craft, to fashion, to be an artisan (חרשׁ)

Definition

Proper name of a location in Babylonia, typically understood as 'Mound of Craftsmen' or 'Mound of Artisans.' Formed from תֵּל ('mound, ruin heap') and חַרְשָׁא (fem. of חָרָשׁ, 'craftsman, artisan'). Refers specifically to an exile returnee settlement named in Ezra and Nehemiah. The name denotes either a physical feature (a tell) associated with artisanship or perhaps a settlement historically linked to craftspeople.

Semantic Range

name of a Babylonian settlement, mound associated with craftspeople or artisans, site identified with a group of post-exilic returnees

Root / Etymology

Compound of the common noun תֵּל ('mound, ruin heap') and חַרְשָׁא (feminine form of חָרָשׁ, 'craftsman, artisan'). The word thus signifies 'mound of the artisan(s),' reflecting a location notable for crafts or possibly its founding population.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical texts (Ezra 2:59; Nehemiah 7:61), תֵּל חַרְשָׁא designates a distinct community or region in Babylonia from which some Israelites returned during the post-exilic period. The presence of the feminine form likely adheres to toponymic conventions. The site is mentioned among places whose returned inhabitants were unable to document their genealogy. English translations sometimes render the name variously (e.g., Tel-haresha, Tel-harsa) due to textual variants and translation tradition, but the Hebrew form consistently indicates a settlement marked by artisan activity or association. The element חָרָשׁ ('craftsman') contrasts with unrelated nearby place-names, contributing to our understanding of social and occupational designations in exilic communities.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from תֵּל and the feminine of חֲרָשִׁים; mound of workmanship; Tel-Charsha, a place in Babylonia; Tel-haresha, Tel-harsa.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

תל־חרשׁ (t-l ḥ-r-š) — mound, ruin-heap; engrave, craft, fashion, be an artisan

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8521-01 חַרְשָׁ֔א charesha HNp Harsha Mound of Artisans Tel Charesha 2
H8521-02 תֵּ֣ל tel HNp Tel Mound of Craftsmen Tel Charesha 2

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8521-02 Ezra 2:59 תֵּ֣ל tel HNp Tel Mound of Craftsmen Tel Charesha
H8521-01 Ezra 2:59 חַרְשָׁ֔א charesha HNp Harsha Mound of Artisans Tel Charesha
H8521-02 Nehemiah 7:61 תֵּ֣ל tel HNp Tel Mound of Craftsmen Tel Charesha
H8521-01 Nehemiah 7:61 חַרְשָׁ֔א charesha HNp Harsha Mound of Artisans Tel Charesha
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