Lexical Summary tsalah: To prosper, to succeed, to advance, to make progress Original Word: צָלָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance roast A primitive root; to roast -- roast. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to roast (flesh) NASB Translation roast (1), roasting (1), roasts (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [צָלָה] verb roast flesh (Late Hebrew id.; so Arabic  , Ethiopic  ); — Qal Imperfect3masculine singular יִצְלֶה צָלִי Isaiah 44:16 he roasteth a roast; 1 singular אֶצְלֶה בָשָׂר Isaiah 44:19; Infinitive construct לִצְלוֺת 1 Samuel 2:15 give flesh (בָּשָׂר) to roast. Topical Lexicon Overview of Usage in Scripture צָלָה appears only three times, consistently describing the roasting of meat over fire. While the action is mundane, each context exposes the heart of worship—either corrupted by self-indulgence or perverted by idolatry. The verb therefore becomes a lens through which the Spirit highlights the contrast between true devotion and empty religion. Sacrificial Abuse in Shiloh (1 Samuel 2:15) “Even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, ‘Give the priest meat to roast; he will not accept boiled meat from you, but only raw’”. Eli’s sons treat holy offerings as personal fare. Instead of waiting for Yahweh’s portion (the fat) to ascend in fragrant smoke, they demand raw meat so it can be roasted to their liking. The misuse of צָלָה therefore signals: Idolatrous Folly Exposed (Isaiah 44:16, 19) “Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he roasts meat and eats until he is satisfied… Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”. Here the same act of roasting unmasks the irrationality of idolatry. A single log serves both as fuel for cooking and as a deity for worship. צָלָה thus illustrates: Cultural and Culinary Background Roasting (as opposed to boiling) was considered the choicest preparation for meat in the Ancient Near East. Passover lambs were to be “roasted over the fire, with the head, legs, and inner parts” (Exodus 12:9), symbolizing haste and wholeness. Everyday meals, public sacrifices, and royal banquets all featured roasted flesh, making צָלָה a commonplace verb imbued with communal and celebratory overtones. Theological Reflections 1. Worship is holistic: even ordinary cooking can honor or dishonor God, depending on motive. Implications for Worship and Ministry • Guard sacred responsibilities: Leaders today must resist the impulse to manipulate offerings for personal gain (1 Peter 5:2-3). Christ-Centered Fulfillment The roasted Passover lamb anticipates “Christ, our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Whereas Eli’s sons stole what belonged to God, the Son of God gave Himself entirely. The fire of divine judgment fell on Him, and believers now “eat” by faith, satisfied and secure. צָלָה, though rare, quietly points from flawed priests and futile idols to the perfect High Priest who offers the true bread of heaven (John 6:51). Key Takeaways • Roasting meat becomes a moral touchstone exposing hearts. Forms and Transliterations אֶצְלֶ֥ה אצלה יִצְלֶ֥ה יצלה לִצְל֖וֹת לצלות ’eṣ·leh ’eṣleh etzLeh liṣ·lō·wṯ liṣlōwṯ litzLot yiṣ·leh yiṣleh yitzLehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 2:15 HEB: תְּנָ֣ה בָשָׂ֔ר לִצְל֖וֹת לַכֹּהֵ֑ן וְלֹֽא־ NAS: meat for roasting, as he will not take KJV: flesh to roast for the priest; INT: Give meat roasting the priest he will not Isaiah 44:16 Isaiah 44:19 3 Occurrences |
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