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תְּעָלָה

𐤕𐤏𐤋𐤄

tᵉʻâlâh

H8585 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A constructed channel or conduit designed for the controlled movement of water, most commonly used for irrigation purposes; in some contexts, a bandage or wrap placed on a wound for healing. The term primarily designates artificial watercourses or trenches, but occasionally also refers to something that covers, surrounds, or supports for the purposes of healing.

Semantic Range

irrigation channel, aqueduct, artificial watercourse, trench, conduit, bandage, dressing, mechanism for elevation or support

Root / Etymology

From the root עָלָה (עלה), meaning 'to ascend, go up, rise.' The noun תְּעָלָה derives from this root by way of the sense 'that which elevates,' referring to a channel conveying water from a lower to a higher area or allowing water to rise up into fields for irrigation. This 'raising' conceptualization underlies both the sense of an irrigation channel and, metaphorically, a bandage that lifts or supports healing by covering a wound.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, תְּעָלָה most frequently appears in reference to artificial water channels or aqueducts, such as those in Jerusalem mentioned in the context of city infrastructure or field irrigation (e.g., 2 Kings 18:17; Isaiah 7:3). These channels were critical for agriculture and urban supply, especially in regions with limited rainfall. In a few instances, notably in poetic or figurative passages, the term refers to a bandage or dressing, likely due to the common element of 'wrapping' or 'conveying something to a place in need.' Later translation traditions (including in several post-biblical sources) sometimes extended the meaning to other types of conduits or any means of channeling beneficial substances. Standard English translations, rendering תְּעָלָה as 'conduit,' 'watercourse,' or 'trench,' typically reflect the primary meaning, but the sense of 'bandage' is rare and context-dependent. There is a distinction between תְּעָלָה (man-made watercourse) and נָחַל (natural stream or wadi), which clarifies the word’s technical and practical character in ancient Israelite society.

Translation Consistency

primary "channel" 8 occurrences

The primary and typical sense of תְּעָלָה is an artificial watercourse or conduit for irrigation (aqueduct, trench, conduit). "Channel" is a natural, broad English term that covers irrigation channel, conduit, trench and aqueduct senses while remaining simple and idiomatic. The rare sense of a bandage/dressing is exceptional; consistency favors the common hydraulic meaning, which "channel" best captures.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"trench" (2x) "healing" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָלָה; a channel (into which water is raised for irrigation); also a bandage or plaster (as placed upon a wound); conduit, cured, healing, little river, trench, watercourse.

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

עלה (ʿ-l-h) — to ascend, to go up, to rise

Root עלה to ascend, to go up, to rise
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H421 אָלָה Lofty One
H422 אָלָה he ascended
H4605 מַעַל upward
H4607 מֹעַל in hand-raising
H4608 מַעֲלֶה at the ascent

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H8585-04 תְּעָלָ֗ה tealah HNcfsa healing water-raising channel water-raising channel 4
H8585-02 בִּ/תְעָלַת֙ bitealat HR/Ncfsc at conduit in (the) irrigation channel of in (the) irrigation channel of 2
H8585-03 הַ/תְּעָלָ֖ה hatealah HTd/Ncfsa the conduit the elevating channel the trench 2
H8585-01 בַּ/תְּעָלָ֖ה batealah HRd/Ncfsa in the trench in the irrigation channel in the trench 1
H8585-05 תְּעָלַת֙ tealat HNcfsc of the conduit water-raising channel of water-raising channel of 1
H8585-06 תְּעָלֹתֶ֣י/הָ tealoteyha HNcfpc/Sp3fs its-channels her irrigation channels her irrigation channels 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H8585-04 1 Kings 18:32 תְּעָלָ֗ה tealah HNcfsa trench water-raising channel water-raising channel
H8585-03 1 Kings 18:35 הַ/תְּעָלָ֖ה hatealah HTd/Ncfsa the trench the elevating channel the trench
H8585-01 1 Kings 18:38 בַּ/תְּעָלָ֖ה batealah HRd/Ncfsa in the trench in the irrigation channel in the trench
H8585-02 2 Kings 18:17 בִּ/תְעָלַת֙ bitealat HR/Ncfsc at the conduit in (the) irrigation channel of in (the) irrigation channel of
H8585-03 2 Kings 20:20 הַ/תְּעָלָ֔ה hatealah HTd/Ncfsa the conduit the elevating channel the elevating channel
H8585-05 Isaiah 7:3 תְּעָלַת֙ tealat HNcfsc of the conduit water-raising channel of water-raising channel of
H8585-02 Isaiah 36:2 בִּ/תְעָלַת֙ bitealat HR/Ncfsc at conduit in (the) irrigation channel of in (the) irrigation channel of
H8585-04 Jeremiah 30:13 תְּעָלָ֖ה tealah HNcfsa healing water-raising channel of healing
H8585-04 Jeremiah 46:11 תְּעָלָ֖ה tealah HNcfsa healing water-raising channel water-raising channel
H8585-06 Ezekiel 31:4 תְּעָלֹתֶ֣י/הָ tealoteyha HNcfpc/Sp3fs its-channels her irrigation channels her irrigation channels
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