Lexical Definition

‎צֵל‎ tsêl (tsale) shadow ^H:N-M
from ‎צָלַל‎

defence, shade(-ow).

• shade, whether literal or figurative

1) shadow, shade
1a) shadow (on dial)
1b) shadow, shade (as protection)
1c) shadow (symbolic of transitoriness of life)

See Greek: ἀσφάλεια · καιρός · σκιά · στέγη

Extended Information

• Also means: tse.lel (‎צ‎ֵ‎ל‎ֶ‎ל‎ "shadow" צֵלֶל)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎צֵל‎ noun masculine^{Ps 144:4} shadow; — ‎׳‎‎צ‎ absolute 2Kgs 20:9 +, construct Gen 19:8 +; suffix ‎צִלְךָ‎ Ps 121:5, ‎צִלּוֺ‎ Ezek 31:6 +, also ‎צִלְלוֺ‎ Job 40:22, etc.; plural ‎צְלָלִים‎ Song 2:17; Song 4:6 construct ‎צִלְלֵי‎ Jer 6:4 —

1. shadow on dial 2Kgs 20:9; 2Kgs 20:10 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 20:11 || Isa 38:8 ‎צִלְלֶיעָֿ֑רֶב‎ Jer 6:4, compare Song 2:17; Song 4:6 of mountain Judg 9:36.

2. shadow, shade, as protection (from sun): of branches, Judg 9:15 (in allegory), Hos 4:13; Job 40:22; Jonah 4:5; Jonah 4:6 and (in figurative) Hos 14:8*; Ezek 17:23; Ezek 31:6; Ezek 31:12; Ezek 31:17; Ps 80:11*; Song 2:3 (of refreshment, delight); of rock Isa 32:2 (simile); ‎קֹרָתִי‎ ‎׳‎‎צ‎ Gen 19:8 shadow of my roof; of cloud Isa 25:4 and (figurative of ‎׳‎‎י‎'s protection) Isa 4:6; Isa 25:4, so probably Isa 16:3 ‎כְּנָפֶיךָ‎ ‎׳‎‎צ‎ shadow of thy wings, figurative of ‎׳‎‎י‎'s protection Ps 17:8; Ps 36:8*; Ps 57:2*; Ps 63:8* shade, in general, Job 7:2, figurative of ‎׳‎‎י‎ Ps 121:5 hence = protection, defence, of city (wall) Jer 48:45 of ‎׳‎‎י‎ Num 14:9 (JE), Ps 91:1 (see also proper name ‎בְּצַלְאֵל‎), compare ‎צֵל יָדוֺ‎ Isa 49:2 (covering prophet, under figure of sword), Isa 51:16 (covering people); of human ally Isa 30:2; Isa 30:3, of king Lam 4:20 also of wisdom Eccl 7:12, money vEccl 7:12. — ‎בְּצִלָּהּ‎ Isa 34:15 apparently reference to ‎קִפּוֺז‎, 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; Ps 144:4 (‎כְּצֵל עוֺבֵר‎), Eccl 6:12; Eccl 8:13 ‎כְּצֵל נָטוּי‎ of an individual Life near its end Ps 102:12*, So ‎כְּצֵל כִּנְטוֺתוֺ‎ Ps 109:23 in simile of emaciated members, ‎וִיצֻרַי כַּצֵּל‎ Job 17:7.

‎צִלְלוֺ‎, ‎צְלָלִים‎, ‎צִלְלֵי‎ see ‎צֶל‎. above

Brown-Driver-Briggs References