צָלָף
𐤑𐤋𐤐
Tsalaf
H6764 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Tsâlâph is a proper name designating an Israelite individual mentioned in post-exilic genealogical records. The word functions as a personal name, with specific reference to an individual identified in the community that returned from Babylonian exile. The semantic range is limited to its personal name use, with no attested common noun or verbal usage in the Hebrew Bible.
Semantic Range
proper personal name (an Israelite individual in the Persian-period Jerusalem community)
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain. The name צָלָף (Tsalaph) is not derived from a known and attested Hebrew root, and no meaning for the hypothesized root is recorded in biblical or post-biblical Hebrew sources. The form is consistent with other Northwest Semitic personal names, but its original meaning remains unknown.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Tsâlâph is mentioned in Nehemiah 3:30 as the father of Hananiah, who participated in the repair of Jerusalem's wall during the Persian period. The name is characteristic of the personal and clan names preserved in lists of returnees and contributors to the rebuilding efforts following the Babylonian exile. English translations sometimes render the name as 'Zalaph' following Septuagint and Vulgate tradition, but this is a transliteration rather than a translation. There is no evidence that the name carried an independently understood meaning in the biblical period, nor does it appear in non-biblical Northwest Semitic inscriptions with an established sense. As with many post-exilic names, its retention may reflect family or ancestral memory within the Israelite community. The term does not occur as a common noun, title, or in any broader semantic context.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root of unknown meaning; Tsalaph, an Israelite; Zalaph.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
צלף (ṣ-l-p) — uncertain; personal name
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6764-01 |
צָלָ֛ף | tsalaf | HNp |
Zalaph | Tsalaph | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6764-01 |
Nehemiah 3:30 | צָלָ֛ף | tsalaf | HNp |
Zalaph | Tsalaph |