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צָלַח

𐤑𐤋𐤇

tsâlach

H6743 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To succeed, to advance or make progress, to thrive or prosper. The verb denotes achieving success or making effective progress, often with an emphasis on vigorous movement or enablement towards a desired outcome. In various contexts, it conveys material prosperity, successful endeavor, or the effective advancement of a task or person—frequently with an implicit sense of divine enablement or favor.

Semantic Range

to succeed, to advance, to prosper, to achieve successful progress, to thrive, to have effective outcome, to make prosperous, to break out (of limitation), to be empowered to progress

Root / Etymology

The root צלח (ts-l-ḥ) conveys a fundamental sense of 'to advance' or 'to succeed.' The verb form צָלַח expresses the idea of moving forward vigorously, breaking through obstacles, and, by extension, accomplishing or thriving in an undertaking. The underlying imagery may refer to forceful progression, though in usage it often focuses on the result—success or prosperity—rather than the manner of movement. Derived forms reflect both literal physical advancement and metaphorical success in endeavors.

Historical & Contextual Notes

צָלַח is used throughout the Hebrew Bible in a range of contexts: (a) Describing individuals who achieve success or are enabled to succeed (Genesis 24:21; 1 Samuel 10:6), often in relation to the advancement of the Israelite people or leaders. (b) Signaling the effective progress of a task, such as the success of building (Nehemiah 1:11; 2:20). (c) Referring to the thriving of crops or people (Ecclesiastes 11:6). The verb frequently appears with God or God's spirit as the agent, emphasizing success as a result of divine action or favor (e.g., Judges 14:6; 1 Samuel 16:13). English translations often render it as 'prosper,' 'succeed,' or 'advance,' but the original nuance relates to real progress or breakthrough, not merely material prosperity. The verb can signify both personal (individual) and communal success. It is distinct from other Hebrew verbs denoting prosperity or blessing (e.g., שָׁלוֹם shalom—completeness, peace—or בָּרַךְ barak—to bless), as צָלַח focuses specifically on generative or effective progress in actions and endeavors. Usage is consistent from early Israelite narratives through post-exilic texts, and later translation traditions sometimes interpret success as material wealth, though the Hebraic concept is broader, including spiritual and communal thriving as enabled by God.

Translation Consistency

primary "succeed" 26 occurrences

“Succeed” best captures the typical semantic range of צָלַח — achieving effective progress, advancing, thriving, or having a favorable outcome (including divinely enabled success). It is the most frequent and naturally readable choice across contexts, while remaining broad enough to cover both personal prosperity and successful action.

Alternatives (24 occurrences):
"prosper" (6x) "advanced successfully" (5x) "prospered" (3x) "came upon" (2x) "prosperous" (1x) "caused to prosper" (1x) "come upon" (1x) "advanced" (1x) "prospers" (1x) "make prosper" (1x) "break out" (1x) "because of the one prospering" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or צָלֵחַ; a primitive root; to push forward, in various senses (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive); break out, come (mightily), go over, be good, be meet, be profitable, (cause to, effect, make to, send) prosper(-ity, -ous, -ously).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

צלח (tsâlach) — to advance, to succeed, to prosper

Root צלח to succeed, to advance, to make prosper, to break through
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6744 צְלַח he made prosper
H6745 צֵלָחָה and in the spread-out platters
H6746 צְלֹחִית pouring flask
H6747 צַלַּחַת in the broad dish

Word Forms

30 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6743-16 וַ/תִּצְלַ֤ח vatitselach HC/Vqw3fs came mightily and she advanced successfully and it advanced successfully 7
H6743-24 וְ/הִצְלִֽיחַ vehitselicha HC/Vhp3ms and he will prosper and he caused to prosper and he caused to succeed 7
H6743-30 יִצְלַ֤ח yitselach HVqi3ms prosper he will succeed he will succeed 7
H6743-09 מַצְלִ֣יחַ matselicha HVhrmsa caused to prosper one causing to prosper one causing to succeed 4
H6743-10 תַּצְלִ֔יחַ tatselicha HVhi2ms you will prosper you will make prosper you will prosper 3
H6743-12 תַצְלִֽיחוּ tatselichu HVhi2mp you-prosper you will cause to prosper you (pl.) will cause to succeed 3
H6743-13 תִצְלָ֔ח titselach HVqi3fs it will succeed/prosper she will succeed it will succeed 3
H6743-20 וְ/הַצְלַ֔ח vehatselach HC/Vhv2ms and prosper and cause to prosper and cause to succeed 3
H6743-29 יַצְלִ֣יחַֽ yatselicha HVhi3ms prosper he will cause to succeed he will cause to succeed 3
H6743-06 הֲ/יִצְלַ֖ח hayitselach HTi/Vqi3ms Will he succeed will he succeed will he succeed 2

Occurrences in Scripture

65 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6743-02 Genesis 24:21 הַֽ/הִצְלִ֧יחַ hahitselicha HTi/Vhp3ms had prospered/made successful he caused to prosper had prospered
H6743-24 Genesis 24:40 וְ/הִצְלִ֣יחַ vehitselicha HC/Vhp3ms and prosper and he caused to prosper and he caused to succeed
H6743-09 Genesis 24:42 מַצְלִ֣יחַ matselicha HVhrmsa make successful one causing to prosper one causing to succeed
H6743-07 Genesis 24:56 הִצְלִ֣יחַ hitselicha HVhp3ms has prospered he made prosper he caused to succeed
H6743-09 Genesis 39:2 מַצְלִ֑יחַ matselicha HVhrmsa successful one causing to prosper prosperous
H6743-09 Genesis 39:3 מַצְלִ֥יחַ matselicha HVhrmsa caused to prosper one causing to prosper caused to prosper
H6743-09 Genesis 39:23 מַצְלִֽיחַ matselicha HVhrmsa made prosper one causing to prosper one causing to succeed
H6743-13 Numbers 14:41 תִצְלָֽח titselach HVqi3fs succeed she will succeed it will succeed
H6743-10 Deuteronomy 28:29 תַצְלִ֖יחַ tatselicha HVhi2ms you will prosper you will make prosper you will prosper
H6743-10 Joshua 1:8 תַּצְלִ֥יחַ tatselicha HVhi2ms you shall make prosperous you will make prosper you will cause to succeed
H6743-16 Judges 14:6 וַ/תִּצְלַ֨ח vatitselach HC/Vqw3fs came mightily and she advanced successfully and she advanced successfully
H6743-16 Judges 14:19 וַ/תִּצְלַ֨ח vatitselach HC/Vqw3fs came mightily and she advanced successfully and she advanced successfully
H6743-16 Judges 15:14 וַ/תִּצְלַ֨ח vatitselach HC/Vqw3fs and-rushed and she advanced successfully and it advanced successfully
H6743-03 Judges 18:5 הֲ/תַצְלִ֣יחַ hatatselicha HTi/Vhi3fs will succeed will she cause to succeed will succeed
H6743-26 1 Samuel 10:6 וְ/צָלְחָ֤ה vetsalechah HC/Vqq3fs and will come upon and she advanced and will come upon
H6743-16 1 Samuel 10:10 וַ/תִּצְלַ֤ח vatitselach HC/Vqw3fs and came upon and she advanced successfully and came upon
H6743-16 1 Samuel 11:6 וַ/תִּצְלַ֤ח vatitselach HC/Vqw3fs came upon and she advanced successfully and she came upon
H6743-16 1 Samuel 16:13 וַ/תִּצְלַ֤ח vatitselach HC/Vqw3fs and rushed and she advanced successfully and it advanced successfully
H6743-16 1 Samuel 18:10 וַ/תִּצְלַ֣ח vatitselach HC/Vqw3fs came mightily and she advanced successfully and it advanced successfully
H6743-27 2 Samuel 19:18 וְ/צָלְח֥וּ vetsalechu HC/Vqp3cp and they crossed over and they advanced and they advanced
H6743-20 1 Kings 22:12 וְ/הַצְלַ֔ח vehatselach HC/Vhv2ms and prosper and cause to prosper and cause to succeed
H6743-20 1 Kings 22:15 וְ/הַצְלַ֔ח vehatselach HC/Vhv2ms and succeed and cause to prosper and succeed
H6743-24 Isaiah 48:15 וְ/הִצְלִ֥יחַ vehitselicha HC/Vhq3ms and he will prosper and he caused to prosper and he will prosper
H6743-30 Isaiah 53:10 יִצְלָֽח yitselach HVqi3ms shall-prosper he will succeed he will succeed
H6743-30 Isaiah 54:17 יִצְלָ֔ח yitselach HVqi3ms prosper he will succeed prosper
H6743-24 Isaiah 55:11 וְ/הִצְלִ֖יחַ vehitselicha HC/Vhq3ms and it shall succeed and he caused to prosper and it prospers
H6743-11 Jeremiah 2:37 תַצְלִ֖יחִי tatselichi HVhi2fs you will prosper you will make prosper you will make prosper
H6743-28 Jeremiah 5:28 וְ/יַצְלִ֑יחוּ veyatselichu HC/Vqw3mp yet they prosper and they succeeded and they succeeded
H6743-14 Jeremiah 12:1 צָלֵ֔חָה tsalechah HVqp3fs has prospered she succeeded has prospered
H6743-30 Jeremiah 13:7 יִצְלַ֖ח yitselach HVqi3ms profitable he will succeed it will succeed
H6743-30 Jeremiah 13:10 יִצְלַ֖ח yitselach HVqi3ms profits he will succeed will succeed
H6743-30 Jeremiah 22:30 יִצְלַ֣ח yitselach HVqi3ms prosper he will succeed he will succeed
H6743-30 Jeremiah 22:30 יִצְלַ֜ח yitselach-2 HVqi3ms prosper he will succeed he will succeed
H6743-12 Jeremiah 32:5 תַצְלִֽיחוּ tatselichu HVhi2mp you-will-prosper you will cause to prosper you (pl.) will cause to succeed
H6743-06 Ezekiel 15:4 הֲ/יִצְלַ֖ח hayitselach HTi/Vqi3ms will it succeed will he succeed will it succeed
H6743-17 Ezekiel 16:13 וַֽ/תִּצְלְחִ֖י vatitselechi HC/Vqw2fs and you prospered and you advanced and you prospered
H6743-13 Ezekiel 17:9 תִּצְלָ֑ח titselach HVqi3fs thrive? she will succeed it will succeed
H6743-04 Ezekiel 17:10 הֲ/תִצְלָ֑ח hatitselach HTi/Vqi3fs shall it prosper will she succeed? shall she prosper?
H6743-06 Ezekiel 17:15 הֲ/יִצְלָ֤ח hayitselach HTi/Vqi3ms Will he succeed will he succeed will he succeed
H6743-30 Amos 5:6 יִצְלַ֤ח yitselach HVqi3ms he break out he will succeed he break out
H6743-29 Psalms 1:3 יַצְלִֽיחַ yatselicha HVhi3ms shall prosper he will cause to succeed he will cause to succeed
H6743-01 Psalms 37:7 בְּ/מַצְלִ֣יחַ bematselicha HR/Vhrmsc because of the one prospering in one causing to prosper because of the one prospering
H6743-15 Psalms 45:5 צְלַ֬ח tselach HVqv2ms prosper Succeed! succeed
H6743-05 Psalms 118:25 הַצְלִ֘יחָ֥/ה hatselichah HVhv2ms/Sh make prosperous Cause to prosper! Cause to prosper
H6743-29 Proverbs 28:13 יַצְלִ֑יחַ yatselicha HVhi3ms prosper he will cause to succeed he will cause to succeed
H6743-25 Daniel 8:12 וְ/הִצְלִֽיחָה vehitselichah HC/Vhq3fs and prospered and she made prosper and she succeeded
H6743-24 Daniel 8:24 וְ/הִצְלִ֣יחַ vehitselicha HC/Vhq3ms and shall prosper and he caused to prosper and he caused to succeed
H6743-24 Daniel 8:25 וְ/הִצְלִ֤יחַ vehitselicha HC/Vhq3ms he will cause to prosper and he caused to prosper and he caused to succeed
H6743-13 Daniel 11:27 תִצְלָ֔ח titselach HVqi3fs it will succeed/prosper she will succeed it will succeed
H6743-24 Daniel 11:36 וְ/הִצְלִ֨יחַ֙ vehitselicha HC/Vhq3ms and he will prosper and he caused to prosper and he will prosper
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