צֵל (H6738) — Hebrew Lexicon — Scattered Israelites

צֵל

𐤑𐤋

tsêl

H6738 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Shade or shadow cast by an object blocking light, primarily indicating an area sheltered from sunlight or illumination. In poetic or metaphorical contexts, it can signify protection, shelter, or a figurative covering—often implying a place of safety or refuge.

Semantic Range

shade, shadow, area sheltered from sunlight, protection, shelter, figurative covering or defense, symbolic of safety or ephemeral nature

Root / Etymology

From the root צ-ל-ל (צָלַל), which means 'to be dark, to shade, to grow dark.' The noun צֵל develops from the verbal sense of 'to shade (something)' or 'to provide darkness,' and signifies the result or state produced by the action of shading—i.e., shadow or shade.

Historical & Contextual Notes

צֵל is widely used in the Hebrew Bible both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it refers to the shadow cast by trees, mountains, or people—an everyday phenomenon experienced in the ancient Near East's harsh sunlight (e.g., Jon 4:5-6, Judg 9:15). It often carries connotations of relief from the sun and danger, a valued benefit in that environment. Metaphorically, צֵל can denote protection or shelter, as when YHWH is described as a 'shadow at your right hand' (Ps 121:5), indicating divine protection or care; also found in expressions like 'the shadow of death' (צַלְמָוֶת), intensifying the sense of darkness or danger (Ps 23:4). While English translations often render צֵל as 'shadow' or 'shade,' the nuance of protective refuge, especially in poetry and wisdom literature (e.g., Isa 25:4, Ps 91:1), may not always be fully captured by the term 'shadow.' In some contexts, especially in prophetic or wisdom texts, the metaphorical sense can include ideas of ephemerality or insubstantiality (Job 8:9) — highlighting the fleeting nature of life. The term does not inherently have the negative connotations sometimes associated with 'shadow' in later English usage; its value is context-dependent.

Translation Consistency

primary "shade" 42 occurrences

"Shade" best captures the primary physical sense (an area sheltered from sunlight) while also naturally covering the common figurative uses (shelter, protection, refuge). It is the most frequent English choice in the P2 data and sounds natural across literal and metaphorical contexts.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):

"shadow" (3x) "shade-of" (3x) "protection" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from צָלַל; shade, whether literal or figurative; defence, shade(-ow).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

צלל (ṣ-l-l) — to be dark, to shade, to overshadow

Root צלל to be dark, to shade, to overshadow

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H1212	בְּצַלְאֵל	In-the-Shadow-of-God
H4698	מְצִלָּה	tinkling-bells of
H4699	מְצֻלָּה	in the deep abyss
H4700	מְצֵלֶת	with the ringing cymbal-pair
H6741	צִלָּה	Tsillah
H6742	צְלוּל	rolled cake of
H6749	צָלַל	they sank down
H6750	צָלַל	they will cause to ring
H6751	צָלַל	shadow-caster
H6752	צֵלֶל	the shadows

Word Forms

19 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H6738-02`	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of	in shade of	12
`H6738-10`	צֵ֧ל	tsel	`HNcmsc`	shade	shade	shade of	6
`H6738-05`	כַּ֝/צֵּ֗ל	katsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like a shadow	like shade	like shade	5
`H6738-06`	כְּ/צֵ֥ל	ketsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	like a shadow	like shade	like shade	4
`H6738-04`	הַ/צֵּל֙	hatsel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the shadow	the shade	the shade	3
`H6738-15`	וּ/בְ/צֵ֥ל	uvetsel	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and in the shadow	and in shade-of	and in shade-of	3
`H6738-19`	בְ/צִלּ֖/וֹ	vetsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	in his shadow	in his shade	in his shade	2
`H6738-11`	צִלָּ֑/הּ	tsilah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its shade	Shade-woman	its shade	2
`H6738-03`	בְּ/צִלּ/וֹ֙	betsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	in his shadow	in his shade	in his shade	2
`H6738-09`	מִ/צִּלּ֛/וֹ	mitsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	from its shade	from his shade	from his shade	1
`H6738-13`	צִ֝לְּ/ךָ֗	tsilekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	is your shade	your shade	your shade	1
`H6738-14`	צִלֵּ֖/ךְ	tsilekhe	`HNcmsc/Sp2fs`	your-shadow	your shade	your shade	1
`H6738-18`	בְ/צִלִּ֑/י	vetsili	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs`	in my shade	in my shade	in my shade	1
`H6738-12`	צִלָּ֧/ם	tsilam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their-protection	their shade	their protection	1
`H6738-17`	בְ/צִלָּ֑/הּ	vetsilah	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs`	under her shadow	Shade-woman	in her shadow	1
`H6738-16`	וּ/בְ/צִלּ/וֹ֙	uvetsilo	`HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	and in its shadow	and in his shade	and in its shade	1
`H6738-08`	לְ/צֵל	letsel	`HR/Ncmsa`	for shade	to shade	for shade	1
`H6738-01`	בַּ/צֵּ֔ל	batsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the shade	in the shade	in the shade	1
`H6738-07`	לַ/צֵּ֔ל	latsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	for the shadow	to the shade	for the shadow	1

Occurrences in Scripture

49 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H6738-02`	Genesis 19:8	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	under the shelter	in shade of	in shade of
`H6738-12`	Numbers 14:9	צִלָּ֧/ם	tsilam	`HNcmsc/Sp3mp`	their-protection	their shade	their protection
`H6738-18`	Judges 9:15	בְ/צִלִּ֑/י	vetsili	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs`	in my shade	in my shade	in my shade
`H6738-10`	Judges 9:36	צֵ֧ל	tsel	`HNcmsc`	shadow	shade	shade of
`H6738-04`	2 Kings 20:9	הַ/צֵּל֙	hatsel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the shadow	the shade	the shade
`H6738-07`	2 Kings 20:10	לַ/צֵּ֔ל	latsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	for the shadow	to the shade	for the shadow
`H6738-04`	2 Kings 20:10	הַ/צֵּ֛ל	hatsel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the shadow	the shade	the shade
`H6738-04`	2 Kings 20:11	הַ/צֵּ֗ל	hatsel	`HTd/Ncmsa`	the shadow	the shade	the shade
`H6738-08`	Isaiah 4:6	לְ/צֵל	letsel	`HR/Ncmsa`	for shade	to shade	for shade
`H6738-14`	Isaiah 16:3	צִלֵּ֖/ךְ	tsilekhe	`HNcmsc/Sp2fs`	your-shadow	your shade	your shade
`H6738-10`	Isaiah 25:4	צֵ֣ל	tsel	`HNcmsa`	a shadow	shade	shade of
`H6738-02`	Isaiah 25:5	בְּ/צֵ֣ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of	in shade of
`H6738-02`	Isaiah 30:2	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of	in shade of
`H6738-02`	Isaiah 30:3	בְּ/צֵל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of	in shade of
`H6738-06`	Isaiah 32:2	כְּ/צֵ֥ל	ketsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	like the shade	like shade	like the shade
`H6738-17`	Isaiah 34:15	בְ/צִלָּ֑/הּ	vetsilah	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3fs`	under her shadow	Shade-woman	in her shadow
`H6738-10`	Isaiah 38:8	צֵ֣ל	tsel	`HNcmsc`	the shadow	shade	shade of
`H6738-02`	Isaiah 49:2	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of	in shade of
`H6738-15`	Isaiah 51:16	וּ/בְ/צֵ֥ל	uvetsel	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and-in-shadow	and in shade-of	and in shade-of
`H6738-02`	Jeremiah 48:45	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of	in shade of
`H6738-02`	Ezekiel 17:23	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shade	in shade of	in shade of
`H6738-16`	Ezekiel 31:6	וּ/בְ/צִלּ/וֹ֙	uvetsilo	`HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	and in its shadow	and in his shade	and in its shade
`H6738-09`	Ezekiel 31:12	מִ/צִּלּ֛/וֹ	mitsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	from its shade	from his shade	from his shade
`H6738-19`	Ezekiel 31:17	בְ/צִלּ֖/וֹ	vetsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	under his shadow	in his shade	in his shade
`H6738-11`	Hosea 4:13	צִלָּ֑/הּ	tsilah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its shade	Shade-woman	its shade
`H6738-19`	Hosea 14:8	בְ/צִלּ֔/וֹ	vetsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	in his shadow	in his shade	in his shade
`H6738-01`	Jonah 4:5	בַּ/צֵּ֔ל	batsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	in the shade	in the shade	in the shade
`H6738-10`	Jonah 4:6	צֵל֙	tsel	`HNcmsa`	shade	shade	shade of
`H6738-02`	Psalms 17:8	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of	in shade of
`H6738-02`	Psalms 36:8	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in-shadow-of	in shade of	in shade of
`H6738-15`	Psalms 57:2	וּ/בְ/צֵֽל	uvetsel	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and in the shadow	and in shade-of	and in shade-of
`H6738-15`	Psalms 63:8	וּ/בְ/צֵ֖ל	uvetsel	`HC/R/Ncmsc`	and in the shadow	and in shade-of	and in shade-of
`H6738-11`	Psalms 80:11	צִלָּ֑/הּ	tsilah	`HNcmsc/Sp3fs`	its shadow	Shade-woman	its shadow
`H6738-02`	Psalms 91:1	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsc`	in the shadow	in shade of	in shade of
`H6738-06`	Psalms 102:12	כְּ/צֵ֣ל	ketsel	`HR/Ncmsa`	like a shadow	like shade	like shade
`H6738-06`	Psalms 109:23	כְּ/צֵל	ketsel	`HR/Ncmsa`	like a shadow	like shade	like shade
`H6738-13`	Psalms 121:5	צִ֝לְּ/ךָ֗	tsilekha	`HNcmsc/Sp2ms`	is your shade	your shade	your shade
`H6738-06`	Psalms 144:4	כְּ/צֵ֣ל	ketsel	`HR/Ncmsa`	as a shadow	like shade	like shade
`H6738-10`	Job 7:2	צֵ֑ל	tsel	`HNcmsa`	shade	shade	for shade
`H6738-10`	Job 8:9	צֵ֖ל	tsel	`HNcmsa`	shadow	shade	shade of
`H6738-05`	Job 14:2	כַּ֝/צֵּ֗ל	katsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like a shadow	like shade	like shade
`H6738-05`	Job 17:7	כַּ/צֵּ֣ל	katsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like-a-shadow	like shade	like shade
`H6738-03`	Song of Songs 2:3	בְּ/צִלּ/וֹ֙	betsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	in his shadow	in his shade	in his shade
`H6738-03`	Lamentations 4:20	בְּ/צִלּ֖/וֹ	betsilo	`HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms`	under his shadow	in his shade	in his shade
`H6738-05`	Ecclesiastes 6:12	כַּ/צֵּ֑ל	katsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`		like shade	like shade
`H6738-02`	Ecclesiastes 7:12	בְּ/צֵ֥ל	betsel	`HR/Ncmsa`		in shade of	in shade of
`H6738-02`	Ecclesiastes 7:12	בְּ/צֵ֣ל	betsel-2	`HR/Ncmsa`		in shade of	in shade of
`H6738-05`	Ecclesiastes 8:13	כַּ/צֵּ֑ל	katsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`		like shade	like shade
`H6738-05`	1 Chronicles 29:15	כַּ/צֵּ֧ל	katsel	`HRd/Ncmsa`	like a shadow	like shade	like shade

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