תְּלַג
𐤕𐤋𐤂
tᵉlag
H8517 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Solid precipitation in the form of flakes of ice crystals aggregated together; snow. The term is used to denote real, physical snow as a weather phenomenon, or, metaphorically, to describe whiteness, purity, or something that covers like snow.
Semantic Range
snow (physical phenomenon), figurative whiteness, metaphor for purity or brilliance
Root / Etymology
Aramaic תְּלַג is a direct cognate of the Hebrew שֶׁלֶג (sheleg, 'snow'). The word is derived from the Aramaic root ת-ל-ג (t-l-g), which carries the core sense of 'snow.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The term תְּלַג appears only in the Aramaic sections of Daniel (e.g., Daniel 7:9) and is not found in the standard Hebrew portions of the Bible, where שֶׁלֶג is used instead. Its usage in Daniel 7:9 is descriptive, referring to the vesture of the Ancient of Days as 'white as snow,' leveraging snow's characteristic whiteness to denote purity or brilliance. The word continues in use in later Aramaic texts with the same meaning. In biblical texts, the imagery of snow, whether Hebrew שֶׁלֶג or Aramaic תְּלַג, can carry connotations of purity, cleansing, and sometimes transience. English translations are usually accurate in rendering this as 'snow,' though nuances of metaphorical use may not always reflect the original context's richness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to שֶׁלֶג; snow; snow.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
תלג (t-l-g) — to be snow, snow, snowy whiteness
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8517-01 |
כִּ/תְלַ֣ג | kitelag | AR/Ncmsa |
like | like snow | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8517-01 |
Daniel 7:9 | כִּ/תְלַ֣ג | kitelag | AR/Ncmsa |
like | like snow |