תְּכֵ֧לֶת
𐤕𐤊𐤋𐤕
tekhelet
blue
probably for שְׁחֶלֶת; the cerulean mussel, i.e. the color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith; blue.
Exodus 39:2 · Word #5
Lexicon H8504
| Lemma | תְּכֵלֶת |
| Lemma (Paleo) | 𐤕𐤊𐤋𐤕 |
| Transliteration | tᵉkêleth |
| Strong's | H8504 |
| In-context | blue |
Morphology HNcfsa
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | N — Noun — A person, place, thing, or idea |
| Subtype | c — Common — Common noun |
| Gender | f — Feminine — Feminine |
| Number | s — Singular — Singular |
| State | a — Absolute — The noun stands independently |
SIBI-P1 H8504-03
blue-violet dye
| Root | תכל (t-k-l) |
| Core Meanings | blue-violet dye, colored thread, dyed fabric, cerulean hue |
| Semantic Range | The blue-violet dye derived from marine sources; thread dyed with this pigment; fabric woven from such thread; by extension, the distinctive sacred blue color used in tabernacle and priestly contexts. |
| Conceptual Significance | תְּכֵלֶת is prominently associated with the Tabernacle curtains, priestly garments, and the tassels (צִיצִת) of Israel, marking sacred space and covenant identity. Its costly, luminous hue signified holiness, heavenly association, and set-apart status within Israel’s worship and communal life. |
| Morphological Notes | Hebrew noun, common feminine singular absolute (HNcfsa). The form includes the feminine ending -ֶת and appears without suffixes or construct relationship in these occurrences. |
| Rendering Rationale | The noun תְּכֵלֶת is a feminine singular absolute form referring to a specific blue-violet dye and the material colored with it. Rendering it as "blue-violet dye" preserves its concrete, material sense rather than a vague color term, while accurately reflecting its singular feminine noun form. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Words from Root תכל (blue-violet dye, colored thread, dyed fabric, cerulean hue)
| SILEX Code | Transliteration | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
H8504-01 |
batekhelet | in the cerulean-dye |
H8504-02 |
hatekhelet | the cerulean-dye |
H8504-04 |
utekhelet | and blue-dye |
Word Usage (49 occurrences of H8504)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exodus 25:4 | וּ/תְכֵ֧לֶת | utekhelet | and blue |
| Exodus 26:1 | וּ/תְכֵ֤לֶת | utekhelet | and blue |
| Exodus 26:4 | תְּכֵ֗לֶת | tekhelet | of blue |