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צֶלֶם

𐤑𐤋𐤌

tselem

H6754 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A visible representation, likeness, or statue, especially that which is formed to resemble a person, animal, deity, or an abstract entity. The term most commonly refers to a physical or material image shaped as a copy or representation, but may also denote a figurative likeness or counterpart, such as an abstract similarity or resemblance. In certain contexts, it can refer to the human as the visible 'image' of the divine, emphasizing form or outward appearance rather than essence.

Semantic Range

image, physical likeness, statue, idol, representation, visible form, resemblance, phantom; (abstractly) likeness, counterpart

Root / Etymology

From the root צ־ל־ם (צלם), which is thought to carry the core idea of 'to shade, to shadow,' though the verb form is not attested in Biblical Hebrew. The noun derives from this sense of 'shade' in the sense of a visible outline, representation, or likeness. The precise verbal root is not used, and thus etymology remains somewhat uncertain and is reconstructed from related Semitic roots.

Historical & Contextual Notes

צֶלֶם appears in classical biblical passages such as Genesis 1:26–27, expressing the concept of humankind being created in the 'image' of the deity, where it connotes representation or resemblance but not an exact duplication. In the later monarchic and exilic periods, צֶלֶם is often used for physical images, especially idols or statues in religious contexts (e.g., Daniel 3). The nuance between צֶלֶם and terms like תַּבְנִית (pattern, form) or פֶּסֶל (carved image) is notable—צֶלֶם often expresses the idea of likeness in visible form, whereas פֶּסֶל emphasizes carving or crafting. The translation 'idol' fits later contexts, but in Genesis, 'image' or 'likeness' better reflects the intent. In Qumran and later Jewish literature, צֶלֶם frequently maintains this dual sense: a visible or physical image and an abstract resemblance. The English term 'image' is suitable but may not always convey the nuance of physicality, representation, or idol. The word is rare in the Tanakh but highly significant in passages addressing the nature of humankind and religious practice.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e. (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol; image, vain shew.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

צ־ל־ם (tselem) — to shadow, to shade, to resemble

Root צ־ל־ם to shadow, to shade, to resemble

Word Forms

9 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6754-06 צַלְמֵ֨י tsalemey HNcmpc images images of images of 5
H6754-03 בְּ/צֶ֥לֶם betselem HR/Ncmsc in image in image-of in image-of 3
H6754-08 צְלָמָ֖י/ו tselamayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms its images his likeness-images his likeness-images 2
H6754-09 וְ/צַלְמֵ֣י vetsalemey HC/Ncmpc and images of visible representations of and images of 2
H6754-01 בְּ/צַלְמֵ֖/נוּ betsalemenu HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cp in our image in our likeness in our image 1
H6754-02 בְּ/צַלְמ֔/וֹ betsalemo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his image in his likeness in his likeness 1
H6754-04 כְּ/צַלְמ֑/וֹ ketsalemo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms after his image as his image as his image 1
H6754-05 צַלְמָ֬/ם tsalemam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their image their image their image 1
H6754-07 צַלְמֵי/כֶ֑ם tsalemeykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your-images your images your images 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6754-01 Genesis 1:26 בְּ/צַלְמֵ֖/נוּ betsalemenu HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cp in our image in our likeness in our image
H6754-02 Genesis 1:27 בְּ/צַלְמ֔/וֹ betsalemo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms in his image in his likeness in his likeness
H6754-03 Genesis 1:27 בְּ/צֶ֥לֶם betselem HR/Ncmsc in image in image-of in image-of
H6754-04 Genesis 5:3 כְּ/צַלְמ֑/וֹ ketsalemo HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms after his image as his image as his image
H6754-03 Genesis 9:6 בְּ/צֶ֣לֶם betselem HR/Ncmsc in the image in image-of in the image of
H6754-06 Numbers 33:52 צַלְמֵ֤י tsalemey HNcmpc images-of images of images of
H6754-06 1 Samuel 6:5 צַלְמֵ֨י tsalemey HNcmpc images of images of images of
H6754-09 1 Samuel 6:5 וְ/צַלְמֵ֣י vetsalemey HC/Ncmpc and images of visible representations of and images of
H6754-06 1 Samuel 6:11 צַלְמֵ֥י tsalemey HNcmpc images of images of images of
H6754-08 2 Kings 11:18 צְלָמָי/ו֙ tselamayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms its images his likeness-images its images
H6754-09 Ezekiel 7:20 וְ/צַלְמֵ֧י vetsalemey HC/Ncmpc images visible representations of visible representations of
H6754-06 Ezekiel 16:17 צַלְמֵ֣י tsalemey HNcmpc images images of images of
H6754-06 Ezekiel 23:14 צַלְמֵ֣י tsalemey HNcmpc images images of images of
H6754-07 Amos 5:26 צַלְמֵי/כֶ֑ם tsalemeykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your-images your images your images
H6754-03 Psalms 39:7 בְּ/צֶ֤לֶם betselem HR/Ncmsa in an image in image-of in image-of
H6754-05 Psalms 73:20 צַלְמָ֬/ם tsalemam HNcmsc/Sp3mp their image their image their image
H6754-08 2 Chronicles 23:17 צְלָמָ֖י/ו tselamayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms its images his likeness-images his likeness-images
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