טְלָאִים
𐤈𐤋𐤀𐤉𐤌
Telaim
H2923 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Telaim: a place name, likely meaning 'lambs' or 'young lambs,' derived as a plural form of טְלֶא (ṭeleʼ, 'lamb'). In biblical usage, it refers specifically to a location in the Negeb region known as the gathering point for Saul's army. The word as a toponym carries the connotation of 'place of lambs.'
Semantic Range
lambs (as animals), place name: Telaim (location associated with lambs in the Negeb)
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root טלא (ṭ-l-ʼ), meaning 'to be spotted' or 'to spot', though the noun טְלֶא (ṭeleʼ) specifically means 'lamb.' טְלָאִים (ṭĕlāʾîm) is a plural noun form, signifying 'lambs.' As a place name, it is likely a toponym drawn from its association with lambs, either due to local pastoral activity or a symbolic meaning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The place named Telaim appears only in 1 Samuel 15:4 as the site where Saul mustered the people for an expedition against the Amalekites. The use of a plural form ('lambs') as a place name is not unusual in biblical Hebrew toponymy, where local fauna often inform geographic nomenclature. Telaim is often equated with a location in the Negeb but is replaced in some ancient versions (notably LXX and Vulgate) by closely related placenames (e.g., 'Telem'), leading to some uncertainty in exact identification. The term is purely geographical in context and lacks the later religious or ethnic implications tied to analogous terms in other periods or translations. In standard English translations, the meaning as a common noun ('lambs') does not appear; only the place name usage is preserved.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the plural of טְלָא; lambs; Telaim, a place in Palestine; Telaim.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
טלא (ṭ-l-ʾ) — to be spotted, to spot, lamb, young sheep
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2923-01 |
בַּ/טְּלָאִ֔ים | batelaim | HRd/Np |
at Telaim | in Lambs-place | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2923-01 |
1 Samuel 15:4 | בַּ/טְּלָאִ֔ים | batelaim | HRd/Np |
at Telaim | in Lambs-place |