8504. tekeleth

Lexicon

tekeleth: Blue, violet, purple

Original Word: תְּכֵלֶת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: tkeleth
Pronunciation: teh-KAY-leth
Phonetic Spelling: (tek-ay'-leth)
Definition: Blue, violet, purple
Meaning: the cerulean mussel, the color, obtained therefrom, stuff dyed therewith

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

blue

Probably for shcheleth; the cerulean mussel, i.e. The color (violet) obtained therefrom or stuff dyed therewith -- blue.

see HEBREW shcheleth

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
violet, violet thread
NASB Translation
blue (43), purple (1), violet (5).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

תְּכֵ֫לֶת₄₈ noun feminine violet, i.e. violet thread and stuff; ᵐ5 usually υἄκινθος, υἀκίθινος; see Thatcher^{Hast. DB COLOURS} (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; ᵑ7 תִּכְלָא); —

1 violet thread (spun, Exodus 35:25; woven, Exodus 39:3):

a. in Exodus (P) of hangings of tabernacle, ephod, etc., ׳ת + אַרְגָּמָן, תּוֺלַעַת שָׁנִי (q. v.; often also שֵׁשׁ, זהב), Exodus 25:4; Exodus 26:1; Exodus 28:5,6,33; Exodus 35:25 20t.; of temple hangings (+ אַרְגָּמָן, אַרְגְּוָן, כַּרְמִיל, בּוּץ) 2 Chron 2:6; 2 Chronicles 2:13; 2 Chronicles 2:14; loops or cords of ׳ת (alone) Exodus 26:4; Exodus 28:28,31,37; Exodus 36:11; Exodus 39:21,22,31; Numbers 15:38 (all P).

b. palace hangings in Shushan + חוּר Esther 1:6.

2 violet stuff, fabric.; ׳לְבוּשֵׁי ת Ezekiel 23:6, ׳גְּלוֺמֵי ת וְרִקְמָה Ezekiel 27:24; וְאַרְגָּמָן לְבוּשָׁם ׳ת Jeremiah 10:9; also in trade Ezekiel 27:7 (+ אַרְגָּמָן, שֵׁשׁ בְּרִקְמָה), compare ׳בֶּגֶד ת for covering sacred utensils Numbers 4:6,7,9,11,12 (P).

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an unused root meaning to be complete.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G5098 (τιμή, timē): While not a direct translation, this Greek word relates to value or honor, reflecting the precious nature of tekhelet.
• G5191 (ὑάκινθος, huakinthos): This term refers to a blue or purple color, similar to tekhelet.
• G5192 (ὑακίνθινος, huakinthinos): Pertaining to the color hyacinth, again reflecting a blue or violet hue akin to tekhelet.

Tekhelet holds a place of prominence in the biblical narrative, symbolizing divine command and the sacred duties of the priesthood. Its use in religious artifacts underscores its importance in the worship practices of ancient Israel.

Usage: The term is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe a specific blue dye used in sacred garments and tabernacle items. It is frequently mentioned in the context of priestly attire and the construction of the tabernacle.

Context: Tekhelet is a significant term in the Hebrew Scriptures, often translated as "blue" or "violet." This dye was extracted from a specific type of marine mollusk, likely the Murex trunculus, and was highly valued in ancient times. The color tekhelet was used extensively in the tabernacle and temple, particularly in the making of the high priest's garments, the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tzitzit (fringes) on the corners of garments, as commanded in Numbers 15:38: "Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make tassels for the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue cord on the tassel at each corner."

The use of tekhelet is first mentioned in Exodus 25:4, where it is listed among the materials to be offered for the construction of the tabernacle: "blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen and goat hair." The color is symbolic of holiness and divine revelation, often associated with the heavens and the presence of God. The precise shade and method of production have been subjects of scholarly debate, but its significance in the religious and cultural life of ancient Israel is well-documented.

Forms and Transliterations

בַּתְּכֵ֙לֶת֙ בַּתְּכֵ֣לֶת בתכלת הַתְּכֵ֖לֶת הַתְּכֵ֙לֶת֙ הַתְּכֵ֤לֶת התכלת וּתְכֵ֔לֶת וּתְכֵ֗לֶת וּתְכֵ֤לֶת וּתְכֵ֧לֶת ותכלת תְּכֵ֔לֶת תְּכֵ֖לֶת תְּכֵ֗לֶת תְּכֵ֣לֶת תְּכֵ֤לֶת תְּכֵ֥לֶת תְּכֵ֧לֶת תְּכֵ֨לֶת תְּכֵֽלֶת׃ תְּכֵלֶת֒ תְכֵ֙לֶת֙ תכלת תכלת׃ bat·tə·ḵê·leṯ batteChelet battəḵêleṯ hat·tə·ḵê·leṯ hatteChelet hattəḵêleṯ tə·ḵê·leṯ ṯə·ḵê·leṯ teChelet təḵêleṯ ṯəḵêleṯ ū·ṯə·ḵê·leṯ uteChelet ūṯəḵêleṯ

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 25:4
HEB: וּתְכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת
NAS: blue, purple and scarlet
KJV: And blue, and purple, and scarlet,
INT: blue purple oppressor

Exodus 26:1
HEB: שֵׁ֣שׁ מָשְׁזָ֗ר וּתְכֵ֤לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן֙ וְתֹלַ֣עַת
NAS: linen and blue and purple
KJV: linen, and blue, and purple,
INT: of fine twisted and blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 26:4
HEB: וְעָשִׂ֜יתָ לֻֽלְאֹ֣ת תְּכֵ֗לֶת עַ֣ל שְׂפַ֤ת
NAS: loops of blue on the edge
KJV: loops of blue upon the edge
INT: shall make loops of blue on the edge

Exodus 26:31
HEB: וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ פָרֹ֗כֶת תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת
NAS: a veil of blue and purple
KJV: a vail [of] blue, and purple,
INT: shall make A veil of blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 26:36
HEB: לְפֶ֣תַח הָאֹ֔הֶל תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת
NAS: of the tent of blue and purple
KJV: of the tent, [of] blue, and purple,
INT: the doorway of the tent of blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 27:16
HEB: עֶשְׂרִ֣ים אַמָּ֗ה תְּכֵ֨לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֜ן וְתוֹלַ֧עַת
NAS: cubits, of blue and purple
KJV: cubits, [of] blue, and purple,
INT: of twenty cubits of blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 28:5
HEB: הַזָּהָ֔ב וְאֶת־ הַתְּכֵ֖לֶת וְאֶת־ הָֽאַרְגָּמָ֑ן
NAS: the gold and the blue and the purple
KJV: gold, and blue, and purple,
INT: shall take the gold and the blue and the purple oppressor

Exodus 28:6
HEB: הָאֵפֹ֑ד זָ֠הָב תְּכֵ֨לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֜ן תּוֹלַ֧עַת
NAS: of gold, of blue and purple
KJV: [of] gold, [of] blue, and [of] purple,
INT: the ephod of gold of blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 28:8
HEB: יִהְיֶ֑ה זָהָ֗ב תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת
NAS: material: of gold, of blue and purple
KJV: thereof; [even of] gold, [of] blue, and purple,
INT: become of gold of blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 28:15
HEB: תַּעֲשֶׂ֑נּוּ זָ֠הָב תְּכֵ֨לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֜ן וְתוֹלַ֧עַת
NAS: it: of gold, of blue and purple
KJV: it; [of] gold, [of] blue, and [of] purple,
INT: shall make of gold of blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 28:28
HEB: הָאֵפֹד֙ בִּפְתִ֣יל תְּכֵ֔לֶת לִֽהְי֖וֹת עַל־
NAS: of the ephod with a blue cord,
KJV: with a lace of blue, that [it] may be above the curious girdle
INT: of the ephod cord A blue become above

Exodus 28:31
HEB: הָאֵפ֖וֹד כְּלִ֥יל תְּכֵֽלֶת׃
NAS: of the ephod all of blue.
KJV: of the ephod all [of] blue.
INT: of the ephod all of blue

Exodus 28:33
HEB: שׁוּלָ֗יו רִמֹּנֵי֙ תְּכֵ֤לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן֙ וְתוֹלַ֣עַת
NAS: pomegranates of blue and purple
KJV: pomegranates [of] blue, and [of] purple,
INT: hem pomegranates of blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 28:37
HEB: עַל־ פְּתִ֣יל תְּכֵ֔לֶת וְהָיָ֖ה עַל־
NAS: You shall fasten it on a blue cord,
KJV: And thou shalt put it on a blue lace,
INT: and cord A blue become shall be on

Exodus 35:6
HEB: וּתְכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת
NAS: and blue, purple and scarlet
KJV: And blue, and purple, and scarlet,
INT: and blue purple oppressor

Exodus 35:23
HEB: נִמְצָ֣א אִתּ֗וֹ תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת
NAS: in his possession blue and purple
KJV: with whom was found blue, and purple,
INT: had his possession blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 35:25
HEB: מַטְוֶ֗ה אֶֽת־ הַתְּכֵ֙לֶת֙ וְאֶת־ הָֽאַרְגָּמָ֔ן
NAS: what they had spun, [in] blue and purple
KJV: that which they had spun, [both] of blue, and of purple,
INT: and brought what blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 35:35
HEB: וְחֹשֵׁב֒ וְרֹקֵ֞ם בַּתְּכֵ֣לֶת וּבָֽאַרְגָּמָ֗ן בְּתוֹלַ֧עַת
NAS: and of an embroiderer, in blue and in purple
KJV: and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple,
INT: A designer an embroiderer blue purple oppressor

Exodus 36:8
HEB: שֵׁ֣שׁ מָשְׁזָ֗ר וּתְכֵ֤לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן֙ וְתוֹלַ֣עַת
NAS: linen and blue and purple
KJV: linen, and blue, and purple,
INT: of fine twisted and blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 36:11
HEB: וַיַּ֜עַשׂ לֻֽלְאֹ֣ת תְּכֵ֗לֶת עַ֣ל שְׂפַ֤ת
NAS: loops of blue on the edge
KJV: loops of blue on the edge
INT: made loops of blue on the edge

Exodus 36:35
HEB: אֶת־ הַפָּרֹ֔כֶת תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת
NAS: the veil of blue and purple
KJV: a vail [of] blue, and purple,
INT: made the veil of blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 36:37
HEB: לְפֶ֣תַח הָאֹ֔הֶל תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת
NAS: of the tent, of blue and purple
KJV: door [of] blue, and purple,
INT: the doorway of the tent of blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 38:18
HEB: מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה רֹקֵ֔ם תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת
NAS: of the weaver, of blue and purple
KJV: [was] needlework, [of] blue, and purple,
INT: was the work of the weaver of blue and purple oppressor

Exodus 38:23
HEB: וְחֹשֵׁ֑ב וְרֹקֵ֗ם בַּתְּכֵ֙לֶת֙ וּבָֽאַרְגָּמָ֔ן וּבְתוֹלַ֥עַת
NAS: and a weaver in blue and in purple
KJV: and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple,
INT: skillful weaver blue purple oppressor

Exodus 39:1
HEB: וּמִן־ הַתְּכֵ֤לֶת וְהָֽאַרְגָּמָן֙ וְתוֹלַ֣עַת
NAS: Moreover, from the blue and purple
KJV: And of the blue, and purple,
INT: from the blue and purple oppressor

49 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 8504
49 Occurrences

bat·tə·ḵê·leṯ — 3 Occ.
hat·tə·ḵê·leṯ — 4 Occ.
tə·ḵê·leṯ — 35 Occ.
ū·ṯə·ḵê·leṯ — 7 Occ.