טָלֶה
𐤈𐤋𐤄
ṭâleh
H2924 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Young of a sheep, specifically a lamb in its early stages of life; this noun refers to a domesticated, recently born ovine, most often in the context of animal husbandry or sacrificial rites.
Semantic Range
young lamb, lamb (specifically as distinct from other terms for young sheep), sacrificial lamb, young sheep
Root / Etymology
From the root טלה (ṭ-l-h), whose meaning is uncertain and considered distinct from related roots such as טלא (ṭ-l-ʾ, 'to spot' or 'to be mottled'). Formation is as a noun representing the offspring of sheep.
Historical & Contextual Notes
טָלֶה appears infrequently and with regional or dialectal variation in the Hebrew Bible. Its usage primarily designates a young sheep—distinguishable from other Hebrew terms for young animals (e.g., כֶּבֶשׂ kebes for a young ram, or שֶּה seh used generically for both sheep and goats). The term is sometimes replaced in later texts by more general or alternate expressions, suggesting shifting vocabulary preferences over time. In the Septuagint and later Jewish writings, the Greek ἀρνίον ('lamb') is common, but such translations do not always recognize the narrower or regional nuance of טָלֶה. English versions often simply translate as 'lamb', but in biblical context, sacrifice and pastoral imagery are common themes. The distinction from טְלָא (mite/mottled) is lexically vital, as confusion occasionally occurred in transmission.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
by variation for טְלָא; a lamb; lamb.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
טלה (ṭ-l-h) — to be young (of an animal), young sheep
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2924-02 |
וְ/טָלֶ֜ה | vetaleh | HC/Ncmsa |
and-the-lamb | young lamb | 1 |
H2924-01 |
טְלֵ֤ה | teleh | HNcmsc |
a lamb | young lamb of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2924-01 |
1 Samuel 7:9 | טְלֵ֤ה | teleh | HNcmsc |
a lamb | young lamb of |
H2924-02 |
Isaiah 65:25 | וְ/טָלֶ֜ה | vetaleh | HC/Ncmsa |
and-the-lamb | young lamb |