Lexical Summary telal: Shadow, shade Original Word: טְלַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance have a shadow (Aramaic) corresponding to talal; to cover with shade -- have a shadow. see HEBREW talal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to talal Definition to have shade NASB Translation found shade (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [טְלַל] verb Haph`el have shade (ᵑ7 Syriac; see Biblical Hebrew III. [צָלַל]); — Imperfect3feminine singular תַּטְלֵל Daniel 4:9 (beasts under tree). Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting טְלַל appears once, in Daniel 4:12, within Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the colossal tree. The scene pictures a kingdom so expansive that, “Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air nested in its branches; all living creatures fed from it” (Daniel 4:12). The single use is sufficient to convey a richly layered image: the protective coolness cast by a wide-spreading canopy. Meaning and Imagery In the parched climates of the Ancient Near East, shade was life-preserving. A tree’s shadow shielded flocks, travelers, and crops from relentless sun. Scripture often equates such cover with safety, refreshment, and sustenance. Though other passages employ different Hebrew terms for shade (for example, Psalm 91:1; Isaiah 4:6), the idea remains consistent: to rest under shade is to be guarded from destructive forces. Daniel uses טְלַל to depict a realm offering provision to every creature within its reach. Theological Significance 1. Divine Provision. The image echoes the Lord’s sustaining grace. Just as the beasts found shelter, so humanity lives beneath mercies that extend beyond human merit (Psalm 36:7; Acts 17:25). The lavish spread of the tree underscores God’s generosity even toward an idolatrous monarch—an implicit call to gratitude. 2. Delegated Stewardship. Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom functioned as a canopy for nations because God permitted it (Daniel 2:37–38). The shade imagery exposes both privilege and accountability. When pride supplanted humility, the “tree” was cut down (Daniel 4:14–17). Leaders today likewise bear responsibility to protect and nourish those under their authority. 3. Judgment and Mercy. The subsequent felling of the tree (Daniel 4:23) demonstrates that the removal of shade equates to exposure and vulnerability. Yet the stump was banded with iron and bronze, signaling preserved potential and eventual restoration (Daniel 4:26). Divine discipline is never capricious; it aims at repentance and renewed fruitfulness. Christological and Prophetic Dimensions Nebuchadnezzar’s tree prefigures larger kingdom realities. Jesus likened the kingdom of God to a seed that “becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches” (Matthew 13:32). The shelter once misused by Babylon finds fulfillment in the Messiah’s rule, where all nations may dwell securely (Revelation 21:24). Thus טְלַל points forward to the ultimate shade provided by Christ, who invites the weary to rest under His yoke (Matthew 11:28–29). Practical Application for Believers • Cultivate Safe Havens. Homes, churches, and ministries should mirror the protective canopy of the righteous tree, offering hospitality, counsel, and material aid (James 2:15–16). Related Biblical Themes Shade as Refuge: Judges 9:15; Isaiah 25:4 Tree Imagery of Kingdoms: Ezekiel 31:3–14; Revelation 22:2 Restoration after Humbling: Jonah 4:6; 2 Corinthians 12:9 טְלַל, though brief in appearance, unfolds a theology of protection, humility, and hope that resonates across Scripture, culminating in the everlasting shelter found in the reign of Christ. Forms and Transliterations תַּטְלֵ֣ל ׀ תטלל taṭ·lêl tatLel taṭlêlLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:12 HEB: בֵ֑הּ תְּחֹת֜וֹהִי תַּטְלֵ֣ל ׀ חֵיוַ֣ת בָּרָ֗א NAS: of the field found shade under KJV: of the field had shadow under INT: for all under found the beasts of the field 1 Occurrence |
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