6738. tsel

Strong's Lexicon

tsel: Shadow, shade

Original Word: צֵל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tsel
Pronunciation: tsel
Phonetic Spelling: (tsale)
Definition: Shadow, shade
Meaning: shade

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to be shady

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G4639 (σκιά, skia): Often used in the New Testament to convey similar meanings of shadow or shade, such as in Colossians 2:17, where it refers to the shadow of things to come.

Usage: The Hebrew word "tsel" primarily denotes a shadow or shade, often used metaphorically to describe protection, transience, or the fleeting nature of life. In the Hebrew Bible, "tsel" can refer to the literal shadow cast by an object or person, as well as a figurative shadow representing God's protective presence or the ephemeral nature of human existence.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near Eastern context, a shadow was a significant symbol. In the harsh, sun-drenched climates of the region, shade was a valuable and sought-after refuge. Thus, "tsel" came to symbolize protection and relief. Additionally, the transient nature of a shadow made it an apt metaphor for the brevity and impermanence of life, a common theme in biblical literature.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from tsalal
Definition
a shadow
NASB Translation
protection (4), shade (15), shadow (30), shadows (3), shelter (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

צֵל noun masculine^{Psalm 144:4} shadow; — ׳צ absolute 2 Kings 20:9 +, construct Genesis 19:8 +; suffix צִלְךָ Psalm 121:5, צִלּוֺ Ezekiel 31:6 +, also צִלְלוֺ Job 40:22, etc.; plural צְלָלִים Songs 2:17; Songs 4:6; construct צִלְלֵי Jeremiah 6:4; —

1 shadow on dial 2 Kings 20:9,10 (twice in verse); 2 Kings 20:11 "" Isaiah 38:8; צִלְלֶיעָֿ֑רֶב Jeremiah 6:4, compare Songs 2:17; Songs 4:6; of mountain Judges 9:36.

2 shadow, shade, as protection (from sun): of branches, Judges 9:15 (in allegory), Hosea 4:13; Job 40:22; Jonah 4:5,6 and (in figurative) Hosea 14:8; Ezekiel 17:23; Ezekiel 31:6,12,17; Psalm 80:11; Songs 2:3 (of refreshment, delight); of rock Isaiah 32:2 (simile); קֹרָתִי ׳צ Genesis 19:8 shadow of my roof; of cloud Isaiah 25:4 and (figurative of ׳יs protection) Isaiah 4:6; Isaiah 25:4, so probably Isaiah 16:3; כְּנָפֶיךָ ׳צ shadow of thy wings, figurative of ׳י's protection Psalm 17:8; Psalm 36:8; Psalm 57:2; Psalm 63:8; shade, in General, Job 7:2, figurative of ׳י Psalm 121:5; hence = protection, defence, of city (wall) Jeremiah 48:45; of ׳י Numbers 14:9 (JE), Psalm 91:1 (see also proper name בְּצַלְאֵל), compare צֵל יָדוֺ Isaiah 49:2 (covering prophet, under figure of sword), Isaiah 51:16 (covering people); of human ally Isaiah 30:2,3, of king Lamentations 4:20; also of wisdom Ecclesiastes 7:12, money Ecclesiastes 7:12. — בְּצִלָּהּ Isaiah 34:15 apparently reference to קִמּוֺז, but improbable; read perhaps בֵּצֶיהָ her eggs Du Che^Hpt (Che^Heb Hpt transpose וּבָֽקְעָה וְדָֽגְרָה).

3 shadow as symbol of transitoriness of life Job 8:9; Job 14:2; Psalm 144:4 (כְּצֵל עוֺבֵר), Ecclesiastes 6:12; Ecclesiastes 8:13; כְּצֵל נָטוּי of an individual Life near its end Psalm 102:12, So כְּצֵל כִּנְטוֺתוֺ Psalm 109:23; in simile of emaciated members, וִיצֻרַי כַּצֵּל Job 17:7.

צִלְלוֺ, צְלָלִים, צִלְלֵי see צֶל. above

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

defense, shadow

From tsalal; shade, whether literal or figurative -- defence, shade(-ow).

see HEBREW tsalal

Forms and Transliterations

בְּצִלּ֖וֹ בְּצִלּוֹ֙ בְּצֵ֣ל בְּצֵ֥ל בְּצֵל־ בְצִלִּ֑י בְצִלָּ֑הּ בְצִלּ֔וֹ בְצִלּ֖וֹ בַּצֵּ֔ל בצל בצל־ בצלה בצלו בצלי הַצֵּ֗ל הַצֵּ֛ל הַצֵּל֙ הצל וּבְצִלּוֹ֙ וּבְצֵ֖ל וּבְצֵ֥ל וּבְצֵֽל־ ובצל ובצל־ ובצלו כְּצֵ֣ל כְּצֵ֥ל כְּצֵל־ כַּ֝צֵּ֗ל כַּצֵּ֑ל כַּצֵּ֣ל כַּצֵּ֧ל ׀ כצל כצל־ לְצֵל־ לַצֵּ֔ל לצל לצל־ מִצִּלּ֛וֹ מצלו צִ֝לְּךָ֗ צִלֵּ֖ךְ צִלָּ֑הּ צִלָּ֧ם צֵ֑ל צֵ֖ל צֵ֣ל צֵ֧ל צֵל֙ צל צלה צלך צלם baṣ·ṣêl baṣṣêl batzTzel bə·ṣêl bə·ṣêl- ḇə·ṣil·lāh ḇə·ṣil·lî bə·ṣil·lōw ḇə·ṣil·lōw bəṣêl bəṣêl- ḇəṣillāh ḇəṣillî bəṣillōw ḇəṣillōw beTzel betzilLo haṣ·ṣêl haṣṣêl hatzTzel kaṣ·ṣêl kaṣṣêl katzTzel kə·ṣêl kə·ṣêl- kəṣêl kəṣêl- keTzel laṣ·ṣêl laṣṣêl latzTzel lə·ṣêl- ləṣêl- letzel miṣ·ṣil·lōw miṣṣillōw mitztzilLo ṣêl ṣil·lāh ṣil·lām ṣil·lə·ḵā ṣil·lêḵ ṣillāh ṣillām ṣillêḵ ṣilləḵā tzel tzilLah tzilLam tzilLech tzillecha ū·ḇə·ṣêl ū·ḇə·ṣêl- ū·ḇə·ṣil·lōw ūḇəṣêl ūḇəṣêl- ūḇəṣillōw uvetzel uvetzilLo vetzilLah vetzilLi vetzilLo

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 19:8
HEB: כֵּ֥ן בָּ֖אוּ בְּצֵ֥ל קֹרָתִֽי׃
NAS: as they have come under the shelter of my roof.
KJV: for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.
INT: as they have come the shelter of my roof

Numbers 14:9
HEB: הֵ֑ם סָ֣ר צִלָּ֧ם מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֛ם וַֽיהוָ֥ה
NAS: for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed
KJV: for they [are] bread for us: their defence is departed
INT: like has been removed their protection and and the LORD

Judges 9:15
HEB: בֹּ֖אוּ חֲס֣וּ בְצִלִּ֑י וְאִם־ אַ֕יִן
NAS: and take refuge in my shade; but if
KJV: [and] put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire
INT: come and take my shade if else

Judges 9:36
HEB: זְבֻ֔ל אֵ֣ת צֵ֧ל הֶהָרִ֛ים אַתָּ֥ה
NAS: to him, You are seeing the shadow of the mountains
KJV: unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains
INT: But Zebul the shadow of the mountains You

2 Kings 20:9
HEB: דִּבֵּ֑ר הָלַ֤ךְ הַצֵּל֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר מַֽעֲל֔וֹת
NAS: that He has spoken: shall the shadow go
KJV: that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward
INT: spoken go shall the shadow ten steps

2 Kings 20:10
HEB: יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ נָקֵ֣ל לַצֵּ֔ל לִנְט֖וֹת עֶ֣שֶׂר
NAS: It is easy for the shadow to decline
KJV: It is a light thing for the shadow to go down
INT: Hezekiah is easy the shadow to decline ten

2 Kings 20:10
HEB: כִ֔י יָשׁ֥וּב הַצֵּ֛ל אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית עֶ֥שֶׂר
NAS: no, but let the shadow turn
KJV: degrees: nay, but let the shadow return
INT: for turn the shadow backward ten

2 Kings 20:11
HEB: וַיָּ֣שֶׁב אֶת־ הַצֵּ֗ל בַּֽ֠מַּעֲלוֹת אֲשֶׁ֨ר
NAS: and He brought the shadow on the stairway
KJV: and he brought the shadow ten
INT: the LORD brought the shadow bruised which

1 Chronicles 29:15
HEB: כְּכָל־ אֲבֹתֵ֑ינוּ כַּצֵּ֧ל ׀ יָמֵ֛ינוּ עַל־
NAS: on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no
KJV: on the earth [are] as a shadow, and [there is] none abiding.
INT: all our fathers A shadow were our days on

Job 7:2
HEB: כְּעֶ֥בֶד יִשְׁאַף־ צֵ֑ל וּ֝כְשָׂכִ֗יר יְקַוֶּ֥ה
NAS: who pants for the shade, And as a hired man
KJV: earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling
INT: A slave pants the shade A hired eagerly

Job 8:9
HEB: נֵדָ֑ע כִּ֤י צֵ֖ל יָמֵ֣ינוּ עֲלֵי־
NAS: our days on earth are as a shadow.
KJV: upon earth [are] a shadow:)
INT: and know Because A shadow our days on

Job 14:2
HEB: וַיִּמָּ֑ל וַיִּבְרַ֥ח כַּ֝צֵּ֗ל וְלֹ֣א יַעֲמֽוֹד׃
NAS: He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.
KJV: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth
INT: down flees A shadow and does not remain

Job 17:7
HEB: עֵינִ֑י וִֽיצֻרַ֖י כַּצֵּ֣ל כֻּלָּֽם׃
NAS: And all my members are as a shadow.
KJV: and all my members [are] as a shadow.
INT: my eye my members A shadow and all

Psalm 17:8
HEB: בַּת־ עָ֑יִן בְּצֵ֥ל כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ תַּסְתִּירֵֽנִי׃
NAS: Hide me in the shadow of Your wings
KJV: hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
INT: first of the eye the shadow of your wings Hide

Psalm 36:7
HEB: וּבְנֵ֥י אָדָ֑ם בְּצֵ֥ל כְּ֝נָפֶ֗יךָ יֶחֱסָיֽוּן׃
NAS: take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
KJV: put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
INT: and the children of men the shadow of your wings take

Psalm 57:1
HEB: חָסָ֪יָה נַ֫פְשִׁ֥י וּבְצֵֽל־ כְּנָפֶ֥יךָ אֶחְסֶ֑ה
NAS: refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings
KJV: trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings
INT: takes my soul the shadow of your wings refuge

Psalm 63:7
HEB: עֶזְרָ֣תָה לִּ֑י וּבְצֵ֖ל כְּנָפֶ֣יךָ אֲרַנֵּֽן׃
NAS: my help, And in the shadow of Your wings
KJV: Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings
INT: have been my help the shadow of your wings sing

Psalm 80:10
HEB: כָּסּ֣וּ הָרִ֣ים צִלָּ֑הּ וַ֝עֲנָפֶ֗יהָ אַֽרְזֵי־
NAS: were covered with its shadow, And the cedars
KJV: were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs
INT: were covered the mountains shadow boughs and the cedars

Psalm 91:1
HEB: בְּסֵ֣תֶר עֶלְי֑וֹן בְּצֵ֥ל שַׁ֝דַּ֗י יִתְלוֹנָֽן׃
NAS: Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
KJV: shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
INT: the shelter of the Most the shadow of the Almighty will abide

Psalm 102:11
HEB: יָ֭מַי כְּצֵ֣ל נָט֑וּי וַ֝אֲנִ֗י
NAS: are like a lengthened shadow, And I wither
KJV: My days [are] like a shadow that declineth;
INT: my days shadow A lengthened I

Psalm 109:23
HEB: כְּצֵל־ כִּנְטוֹת֥וֹ נֶהֱלָ֑כְתִּי
NAS: I am passing like a shadow when it lengthens;
KJV: I am gone like the shadow when it declineth:
INT: A shadow lengthens I am passing

Psalm 121:5
HEB: שֹׁמְרֶ֑ךָ יְהוָ֥ה צִ֝לְּךָ֗ עַל־ יַ֥ד
NAS: The LORD is your shade on your right
KJV: the LORD [is] thy shade upon thy right
INT: is your keeper the LORD is your shade and hand

Psalm 144:4
HEB: דָּמָ֑ה יָ֝מָ֗יו כְּצֵ֣ל עוֹבֵֽר׃
NAS: His days are like a passing shadow.
KJV: his days [are] as a shadow that passeth away.
INT: is like his days shadow A passing

Ecclesiastes 6:12
HEB: הֶבְל֖וֹ וְיַעֲשֵׂ֣ם כַּצֵּ֑ל אֲשֶׁר֙ מִֽי־
NAS: He will spend them like a shadow. For who
KJV: which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell
INT: of his futile spendeth A shadow who for

Ecclesiastes 7:12
HEB: כִּ֛י בְּצֵ֥ל הַֽחָכְמָ֖ה בְּצֵ֣ל
NAS: For wisdom is protection [just as] money
KJV: For wisdom [is] a defence, [and] money
INT: for is protection wisdom is protection

49 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6738
49 Occurrences

baṣ·ṣêl — 1 Occ.
bə·ṣêl — 12 Occ.
bə·ṣil·lōw — 2 Occ.
haṣ·ṣêl — 3 Occ.
kaṣ·ṣêl — 5 Occ.
kə·ṣêl — 4 Occ.
laṣ·ṣêl — 1 Occ.
lə·ṣêl- — 1 Occ.
miṣ·ṣil·lōw — 1 Occ.
ṣêl — 6 Occ.
ṣil·lāh — 2 Occ.
ṣil·lām — 1 Occ.
ṣil·lêḵ — 1 Occ.
ṣil·lə·ḵā — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·ṣêl- — 3 Occ.
ū·ḇə·ṣil·lōw — 1 Occ.
ḇə·ṣil·lāh — 1 Occ.
ḇə·ṣil·lî — 1 Occ.
ḇə·ṣil·lōw — 2 Occ.