צַלְמֹנָה
𐤑𐤋𐤌𐤍𐤄
Tsalemonah
H6758 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper noun referring to an encampment site named Tsalmonah during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness. The word suggests a place characterized by shade, shadow, or possibly darkness, but as a toponym, its meaning is largely derived from the root’s sense of darkness or shadow. The name may evoke the atmosphere or appearance of the location, though the exact reason for the name in the narrative is unstated.
Semantic Range
(proper noun) a place name, Tsalmonah; related to darkness, deep shadow, shadowy place
Root / Etymology
From the root צ-ל-מ (צלם), related to 'shadow' or 'shade,' and more specifically derived from צַלְמָוֶת (tsalmavet, 'deep darkness', 'shadow of death'), with a feminine ending -ה (–āh), characteristic of place names. Thus, Tsalmônâh means 'place of deep shadow' or 'shadowiness.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Tsalmônâh occurs only in Numbers 33:41–42, listing a stopping point during the Israelites' wilderness journey. As a toponym, it reflects an Israelite tradition of naming places based on notable natural features or memorable events, although the narrative provides no details about the specific character of the location. The connection to 'shadow' or 'deep darkness' may relate to the physical environment (e.g., overhanging cliffs or trees providing shade) but remains speculative. The English rendering 'Zalmonah' (found in KJV and other translations) is an Anglicization of the Hebrew, reflecting Greek and Latin transliteration traditions. There is no evidence of the site being connected with any specific later settlement or becoming important after the wilderness period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of צַלְמָוֶת; shadiness; Tsalmonah, a place in the Desert; Zalmonah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צלם (ṣ-l-m) — shade, shadow, darkness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6754 | צֶלֶם | in our likeness |
| H6755 | צֶלֶם | to the image |
| H6756 | צַלְמוֹן | in Shadow-place |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6758-01 |
בְּ/צַלְמֹנָֽה | betsalemonah | HR/Np |
at Zalmonah | in Deep-Shadow Place | 1 |
H6758-02 |
מִ/צַּלְמֹנָ֑ה | mitsalemonah | HR/Np |
from Zalmonah | from Deep-Shadow Place | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6758-01 |
Numbers 33:41 | בְּ/צַלְמֹנָֽה | betsalemonah | HR/Np |
at Zalmonah | in Deep-Shadow Place |
H6758-02 |
Numbers 33:42 | מִ/צַּלְמֹנָ֑ה | mitsalemonah | HR/Np |
from Zalmonah | from Deep-Shadow Place |