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תָּלַע

𐤕𐤋𐤏

tâlaʻ

H8529 verb

SILEX Entry

Root תולע to produce, to dye, to color red

Definition

To dye crimson, to color (cloth or materials) with a bright red or scarlet hue derived from the crushed bodies of the tola‘ (scale insect); in context, refers specifically to the act of dyeing or staining textile materials with a vivid red pigment. The verb's semantic range includes the act of dyeing, the imparting of a crimson or scarlet color, and occasionally the result of such coloring on wool, cloth, or objects.

Semantic Range

to dye crimson, to impart a scarlet/crimson color, to stain vividly red, to color cloth with scarlet dye

Root / Etymology

Denominative verb from תּוֹלָע (tôlā‘), meaning "scale insect" (notably the crimson-dye yielding worm or larvae), itself derived from the root תולע, which denotes the grub or worm; the verb תָּלַע (tâlaʻ) thus means "to dye crimson" by using the pigment produced from the insect.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The verb תָּלַע is rare in the Hebrew Bible and is tied specifically to the material culture of crimson dyeing, which utilized the kermes or related scale insects (תּוֹלָע). Its usage is closely connected to ritual and elite frameworks, where scarlet-dyed fabrics function as markers of status and sacredness (notably in tabernacle/temple materials, priestly garments). The term carries no inherent ritual or symbolic meaning itself (beyond what is conferred by context), but rather denotes the physical action of dyeing. Unlike later uses of "scarlet/red" in English that sometimes acquire metaphorical or theological connotations, the biblical Hebrew sense is materially precise. The denominative nature of the verb makes it distinct from generic terms for dyeing (צָבַע). English versions may obscure the specificity and technical nuance: the word describes the actual process of coloring with tola‘-derived pigment, not merely a red hue in general. The rendering "to crimson" is precise to the process and dye source. The term is attested only in certain ritual or descriptive passages, and does not occur in general discussion of textile production.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a denominative from תּוֹלָע; to crimson, i.e. dye that color; [idiom] scarlet.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

תולע (t-w-l-ʿ) — worm, crimson dye, dye red

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H8438 תּוֹלָע in crimson-worm of
H8439 תּוֹלָע to Tola
H8440 תּוֹלָעִי the Tolaite

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H8529-01 מְתֻלָּעִ֔ים metulaim HVPsmpa polished crimson-dyed ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H8529-01 Nahum 2:4 מְתֻלָּעִ֔ים metulaim HVPsmpa polished crimson-dyed ones
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