צָלָה
𐤑𐤋𐤄
tsâlâh
H6740 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To roast, especially by exposing directly to fire or intense heat; used in the Hebrew Bible primarily for the preparation of animal flesh for food by roasting as opposed to boiling or baking. The action often implies a complete and thorough cooking by fire, typically associated with sacrificial or ritual meals.
Semantic Range
to roast (meat) over fire, to cook by direct application of heat; preparation of sacrificial food by fire
Root / Etymology
From the root צלה, which conveys the idea of exposing to high heat or fire. The verb form specifically denotes the action of roasting over a fire. The root shares a semantic field with other roots referring to cooking or burning, but is distinguished by its focus on roasting.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The verb צָלָה occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in Exodus 12:8-9 in reference to the preparation of the Passover lamb, which was to be roasted (צָלָה) over fire, not boiled. This instruction underscores the ritual specificity of roasting in certain Israelite sacrificial contexts. The act of roasting, as distinct from boiling (בָּשַׁל), implied completeness and direct contact with fire — potentially conveying a sense of purity or adherence to a prescribed ritual. In later Hebrew and post-biblical usage, derivatives of this root continue to refer to roasting, but may broaden slightly to include cooking with intense dry heat. English translations typically render צָלָה as 'roast' or 'roast with fire,' which accurately reflects the original sense, though may lack the full ritual and cultural nuance present in the biblical context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to roast; roast.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צלה (ṣ-l-h) — to roast, to expose to fire, to cook by direct heat
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6748 | צָלִי | roasted meat |
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6740-03 |
יִצְלֶ֥ה | yitseleh | HVqi3ms |
he roasts | he will roast | 1 |
H6740-02 |
לִ/צְל֖וֹת | litselot | HR/Vqc |
to roast | to roast | 1 |
H6740-01 |
אֶצְלֶ֥ה | etseleh | HVqi1cs |
I-roast | I will roast | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6740-02 |
1 Samuel 2:15 | לִ/צְל֖וֹת | litselot | HR/Vqc |
to roast | to roast |
H6740-03 |
Isaiah 44:16 | יִצְלֶ֥ה | yitseleh | HVqi3ms |
he roasts | he will roast |
H6740-01 |
Isaiah 44:19 | אֶצְלֶ֥ה | etseleh | HVqi1cs |
I-roast | I will roast |