צֵלָחָה
𐤑𐤋𐤇𐤄
tsêlâchâh
H6745 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A flat vessel, typically used for serving or holding food; specifically, a platter, shallow dish, or pan. In biblical usage, it denotes a broad, flat dish, mainly for serving sacrificial portions or other foods.
Semantic Range
platter, flat dish, shallow pan, serving plate, tray
Root / Etymology
The noun צֵלָחָה (tsêlâchâh) derives from the Hebrew root צ-ל-ח (צלח), which has the core meaning of 'to advance, prosper, succeed.' The relationship between this root and the noun form is uncertain, but likely reflects the sense of spreading, extending, or flattening out, as required for a wide, flat dish. The noun thus represents an item that is 'spread out' in form, i.e., a platter or pan.
Historical & Contextual Notes
צֵלָחָה appears only in late biblical texts (e.g., 2 Kings 21:13; Proverbs 19:24; Proverbs 26:15), always describing a vessel broad enough for various uses such as holding food, collecting refuse, or functioning as a serving dish. In contrast to vessels like קְעָרָה (qe‘arah, 'bowl') which are deeper, צֵלָחָה designates a shallower, flatter shape, closer to a platter or tray. English versions sometimes translate it as 'dish' or 'pan,' but 'platter' better captures its distinctiveness as a flat, wide vessel. The meaning remained relatively stable across periods, though in later Hebrew the sense was further generalized to flat cooking pans. In modern usage, related forms in Hebrew retain the 'flat pan' connotation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from צָלַח; something protracted or flattened out, i.e. a platter; pan.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צלח (ṣ-l-ḥ) — to advance, to succeed, to spread, to prosper
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6743 | צָלַח | in one causing to prosper |
| H6744 | צְלַח | he made prosper |
| H6746 | צְלֹחִית | pouring flask |
| H6747 | צַלַּחַת | in the broad dish |
| H6766 | צֶלְצַח | in Tseltsach |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6745-01 |
וּ/בַ/צֵּ֣לָח֔וֹת | uvatselachot | HC/Rd/Ncfpa |
and in pans | and in the spread-out platters | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6745-01 |
2 Chronicles 35:13 | וּ/בַ/צֵּ֣לָח֔וֹת | uvatselachot | HC/Rd/Ncfpa |
and in pans | and in the spread-out platters |