טְלָא
𐤈𐤋𐤀
ṭᵉlâʼ
H2922 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A young lamb; specifically, a domesticated, immature sheep, used in contexts of animal husbandry, sacrificial offerings, and as a metaphor for innocence or purity. The primary meaning is a lamb, distinct from the more general term for sheep (כבשׂ or רחל), emphasizing age (very young) and sometimes connotations of vulnerability or gentleness.
Semantic Range
lamb, young sheep, possibly spotted lamb; by extension, metaphor for innocence or gentleness in poetry
Root / Etymology
From the root טלא, which carries the sense of 'to patch, spot, cover,' though the precise relationship between the root meaning and the noun טְלָא is uncertain. The word seems to be a nominal formation possibly referring to the young animal’s spotted and patched wool, but this connection is mostly speculative.
Historical & Contextual Notes
טְלָא occurs very rarely in the Hebrew Bible and appears to be a poetic or regional term for a lamb. Its primary attestation is in poetic material (e.g., Song of Songs 4:2; 6:6), where it is associated with imagery of tenderness and beauty. The much more common biblical term for lamb is טָלֶה (ṭāleh), while טְלָא may denote a particularly young or unweaned lamb, though the semantic distinction is not always clear in context. In later periods and rabbinic literature, טְלָא falls out of use as טָלֶה becomes dominant. English translations usually simply render טְלָא as 'lamb,' but the poetic nuance and possible emphasis on youthfulness or spotting are typically lost. There is no evidence in the biblical context that טְלָא bore cultic or ritual specificity distinct from טָלֶה. The term is not used as an ethnic, geographic, or religious identifier.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
apparently from טָלָא in the (orig.) sense of covering (for protection); (compare טָלֶה); a lamb; lamb.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
טלא (ṭ-l-ʾ) — to spot, patch, cover
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2922-01 |
טְלָאִ֔ים | telaim | HNcmpa |
the lambs | young lambs | the young lambs | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2922-01 |
Isaiah 40:11 | טְלָאִ֔ים | telaim | HNcmpa |
the lambs | young lambs | the young lambs |