בֶּצֶל
𐤁𐤑𐤋
betsel
H1211 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cultivated bulbous vegetable, Allium cepa, known for its layered, papery skin and sharp flavor; the specific plant identified as 'onion' in ancient Israelite diet and culture. Used in reference to the edible plant itself, especially as an item of food. The term refers to the botanical onion rather than to a generic root or allium.
Semantic Range
onion (Allium cepa), edible bulb, food plant; no evident extended or figurative usages
Root / Etymology
From root בצל (b-ts-l), possibly related to a root meaning 'to peel' or 'to strip layers', reflecting the onion's multilayered structure. The precise root does not occur in biblical Hebrew texts and remains hypothetical.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בֶּצֶל (betsel) appears in Numbers 11:5 as one of the foods recalled by the Israelites during the wilderness wanderings, specifically mentioned as part of the diet in Egypt. This indicates the onion was a known and valued vegetable in ancient Egypt and among the Israelites. There are no references beyond this context in the Hebrew Bible. Later Hebrew sustains the term for 'onion' into Rabbinic and Modern Hebrew. The biblical mention is specifically botanical and culinary, with no ritual or symbolic significance. English 'onion' accurately translates the term in this context, but the meaning is best grasped in terms of its significance in Near Eastern diet. No connection with words for 'garlic' (שׁוּם) or 'leek' (חָצִיר) beyond their culinary grouping.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
xlit bᵉtsel corrected to betsel; from an unused root apparently meaning to peel; an onion; onion.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בצל (b-ts-l) — to peel, to strip (hypothetical root); layered bulb
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1213 | בַּצְלוּת | Shadow-Clan |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1211-01 |
הַ/בְּצָלִ֖ים | habetsalim | HTd/Ncmpa |
onions | the onions | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1211-01 |
Numbers 11:5 | הַ/בְּצָלִ֖ים | habetsalim | HTd/Ncmpa |
onions | the onions |