6754. tselem

Lexicon

tselem: Image, likeness, idol

Original Word: צֶלֶם
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tselem
Pronunciation: tseh'-lem
Phonetic Spelling: (tseh'-lem)
Definition: Image, likeness, idol
Meaning: a phantom, illusion, resemblance, a representative figure, an idol

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

image, vain show

From an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e. (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol -- image, vain shew.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
an image
NASB Translation
form (1), image (5), images (6), likenesses (3), phantom (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

צֶ֫לֶם noun masculine^{Ezekiel 16:17} image (something cut out, compare מֶּסֶל; Nö 'Schnitzbild'); — ׳צ absolute Psalm 39:7, construct Genesis 1:27 +; suffix צַלְמוֺ Genesis 1:27; Genesis 5:3, צַלְמֵנוּ Genesis 1:26, צַלְמָם Psalm 73:20; plural construct צַלְמֵי 1 Samuel 6:5 (twice in verse) +, suffix צְלָמָיו 2 Kings 11:18; 2Chronicles 23:17, צַלְמֵיכֶם Amos 5:26; —

1 images of tumours and mice (of gold) 1 Samuel 6:5 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 6:11; especially of heathen gods Amos 5:26 (text dubious; strike out We as gloss, compare GASm Dr), 2 Kings 11:18 2Chronicles 23:17 (both with verb שִׁבְּרוּ), Ezekiel 7:20, so זָכָר ׳צ Ezekiel 16:17 (i.e. in male form, according to figurative of harlotry for idolatry); צַלְמֵי מַסֵכֹתָם Numbers 33:52 their molten images; of painted pictures of men Ezekiel 23:14.

2 image, likeness, of resemblance, ׳בְּצ (בָּרָא) עָשָׂה, of God's making man in his own image, Genesis 1:26("" כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ), Genesis 1:27; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 9:6, ׳כְּצ Genesis 5:3 ("" בִּדְמוּתוֺ; all P).

3 figurative = mere, empty, image, semblance, ׳בְּצ Psalm 39:7 as (ב essentiae) a (mere) semblance man walks about; צַלְמָם תִּבְזֶה Psalm 73:20 thou wilt despise their semblance.

צְלֵם₁₇ noun masculine^{Daniel 2:31} image (see Biblical Hebrew צלם); — absolute ׳צ Daniel 2:31; Daniel 3:1; construct ׳צ Daniel 3:19, צֶ֫לֶם Daniel 3:5 +; emphatic צַלְמָא Daniel 2:31 +; — image Daniel 2:31 (twice in verse); Daniel 2:32,34,35; Daniel 3:1 10t. 3; אַנֶמּוֺהִי ׳צ Daniel 3:19 i.e. his expression.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to shade.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - G1497 (εἴδωλον, eidolon): Refers to an idol or image, often used in the context of false gods or pagan worship.
- G1504 (εἰκών, eikon): Denotes an image or likeness, used in the New Testament to describe Christ as the image of God and believers being conformed to His image.
- G3444 (μορφή, morphe): Refers to form or shape, used in theological contexts to describe the nature or essence of something.
- G3667 (ὁμοίωμα, homoioma): Means likeness or resemblance, often used to describe the likeness of Christ's humanity.
- G3799 (ὄψις, opsis): Refers to appearance or sight, used in contexts of seeing or perceiving.
- G5179 (τύπος, typos): Denotes a pattern, model, or example, used in the New Testament to describe types or foreshadowing of Christ.

These Greek terms provide a broader understanding of the concept of "image" and "likeness" as it is developed in the New Testament, building upon the foundational Hebrew concept of "tselem."

Usage: The word "tselem" is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe images or likenesses, often in the context of idols or representations of deities. It is also used to describe the creation of humans in the image of God, highlighting the concept of resemblance or representation.

Context: The Hebrew word "tselem" appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, emphasizing the concept of likeness or representation. One of the most significant uses of "tselem" is found in Genesis 1:26-27, where it describes humanity being created in the "image" of God: "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness...'" (BSB). This passage underscores the theological concept that humans are a reflection of God's character and attributes, possessing a unique status in creation.

In other contexts, "tselem" is used to describe physical representations or idols. For example, in Daniel 3:1, King Nebuchadnezzar sets up a "golden image" (tselem) for worship, illustrating the use of the term in the context of idolatry: "King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold..." (BSB). This usage highlights the contrast between the true image of God in humanity and the false images created by human hands.

The term also appears in Psalm 39:6, where it conveys the idea of life as a fleeting shadow or illusion: "Surely every man walks in a mere shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain..." (BSB). Here, "tselem" is used metaphorically to describe the transient nature of human existence.

Overall, "tselem" serves as a profound theological term that encompasses the ideas of representation, likeness, and the distinction between true and false images. It invites reflection on the nature of humanity's relationship with the divine and the dangers of idolatry.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּצֶ֣לֶם בְּצֶ֤לֶם ׀ בְּצֶ֥לֶם בְּצַלְמ֔וֹ בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ בצלם בצלמו בצלמנו וְצַלְמֵ֣י וְצַלְמֵ֧י וצלמי כְּצַלְמ֑וֹ כצלמו צְלָמָ֖יו צְלָמָיו֙ צַלְמֵ֣י צַלְמֵ֤י צַלְמֵ֥י צַלְמֵ֨י צַלְמֵיכֶ֑ם צַלְמָ֬ם צלמי צלמיו צלמיכם צלמם bə·ṣal·mê·nū bə·ṣal·mōw bə·ṣe·lem bəṣalmênū bəṣalmōw bəṣelem betzalMenu betzalMo beTzelem kə·ṣal·mōw kəṣalmōw ketzalMo ṣal·mām ṣal·mê ṣal·mê·ḵem ṣalmām ṣalmê ṣalmêḵem ṣə·lā·māw ṣəlāmāw tzalMam tzalMei tzalmeiChem tzelaMav vetzalMei wə·ṣal·mê wəṣalmê

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 1:26
HEB: נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֛ם בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ כִּדְמוּתֵ֑נוּ וְיִרְדּוּ֩
NAS: man in Our image, according to Our likeness;
KJV: man in our image, after our likeness:
INT: make man our image to our likeness rule

Genesis 1:27
HEB: אֶת־ הָֽאָדָם֙ בְּצַלְמ֔וֹ בְּצֶ֥לֶם אֱלֹהִ֖ים
NAS: man in His own image, in the image
KJV: man in his [own] image, in the image
INT: God man image the image of God

Genesis 1:27
HEB: הָֽאָדָם֙ בְּצַלְמ֔וֹ בְּצֶ֥לֶם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בָּרָ֣א
NAS: in His own image, in the image of God
KJV: in his [own] image, in the image of God
INT: man image the image of God created

Genesis 5:3
HEB: וַיּ֥וֹלֶד בִּדְמוּת֖וֹ כְּצַלְמ֑וֹ וַיִּקְרָ֥א אֶת־
NAS: of [a son] in his own likeness, according to his image, and named
KJV: [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called
INT: became likeness to his image and called his name

Genesis 9:6
HEB: יִשָּׁפֵ֑ךְ כִּ֚י בְּצֶ֣לֶם אֱלֹהִ֔ים עָשָׂ֖ה
NAS: shall be shed, For in the image of God
KJV: be shed: for in the image of God
INT: shall be shed in the image of God made

Numbers 33:52
HEB: וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־ צַלְמֵ֤י מַסֵּֽכֹתָם֙ תְּאַבֵּ֔דוּ
KJV: all their molten images, and quite pluck down
INT: their figured all images their molten and destroy

1 Samuel 6:5
HEB: וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֩ צַלְמֵ֨י [עָפְלֵיכֶם כ]
NAS: So you shall make likenesses of your tumors
KJV: Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods,
INT: shall make likenesses stronghold and likenesses

1 Samuel 6:5
HEB: (טְחֹרֵיכֶ֜ם ק) וְצַלְמֵ֣י עַכְבְּרֵיכֶ֗ם הַמַּשְׁחִיתִם֙
NAS: of your tumors and likenesses of your mice
KJV: of your emerods, and images of your mice
INT: likenesses stronghold and likenesses of your mice ravage

1 Samuel 6:11
HEB: הַזָּהָ֔ב וְאֵ֖ת צַלְמֵ֥י טְחֹרֵיהֶֽם׃
NAS: mice and the likenesses of their tumors.
KJV: of gold and the images of their emerods.
INT: mice the golden and the likenesses of their tumors

2 Kings 11:18
HEB: ק) וְאֶת־ צְלָמָיו֙ שִׁבְּר֣וּ הֵיטֵ֔ב
NAS: his altars and his images they broke in pieces
KJV: his altars and his images brake they in pieces
INT: and tore his altars and his images broke thoroughly

2 Chronicles 23:17
HEB: מִזְבְּחֹתָ֥יו וְאֶת־ צְלָמָ֖יו שִׁבֵּ֑רוּ וְאֵ֗ת
NAS: his altars and his images, and killed
KJV: his altars and his images in pieces,
INT: and tore his altars and his images broke Mattan

Psalm 39:6
HEB: אַךְ־ בְּצֶ֤לֶם ׀ יִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־ אִ֗ישׁ
NAS: walks about as a phantom; Surely
KJV: walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted
INT: Surely A phantom walks every

Psalm 73:20
HEB: אֲ֝דֹנָי בָּעִ֤יר ׀ צַלְמָ֬ם תִּבְזֶֽה׃
NAS: You will despise their form.
KJV: thou shalt despise their image.
INT: Lord aroused their form will despise

Ezekiel 7:20
HEB: לְגָא֣וֹן שָׂמָ֔הוּ וְצַלְמֵ֧י תוֹעֲבֹתָ֛ם שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶ֖ם
NAS: and they made the images of their abominations
KJV: but they made the images of their abominations
INT: pride transformed the images of their abominations their detestable

Ezekiel 16:17
HEB: וַתַּעֲשִׂי־ לָ֖ךְ צַלְמֵ֣י זָכָ֑ר וַתִּזְנִי־
NAS: for yourself male images that you might play the harlot
KJV: thee, and madest to thyself images of men,
INT: had given and made images male play

Ezekiel 23:14
HEB: עַל־ הַקִּ֔יר צַלְמֵ֣י [כַשְׂדִּיִּים כ]
NAS: on the wall, images of the Chaldeans
KJV: upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans
INT: on the wall images Chaldeans portrayed

Amos 5:26
HEB: וְאֵ֖ת כִּיּ֣וּן צַלְמֵיכֶ֑ם כּוֹכַב֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם
NAS: and Kiyyun, your images, the star
KJV: and Chiun your images, the star
INT: Molech and Kiyyun your images the star of your gods

17 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6754
17 Occurrences

bə·ṣal·mê·nū — 1 Occ.
bə·ṣal·mōw — 1 Occ.
bə·ṣe·lem — 3 Occ.
kə·ṣal·mōw — 1 Occ.
ṣal·mām — 1 Occ.
ṣal·mê — 5 Occ.
ṣal·mê·ḵem — 1 Occ.
ṣə·lā·māw — 2 Occ.
wə·ṣal·mê — 2 Occ.