Lexical Definition

‎צֶלֶם‎ tselem (tseh'-lem) image ^H:N-M
from an unused root meaning to shade

image, vain shew.

• a phantom, i.e. (figuratively) illusion, resemblance
• hence, a representative figure, especially an idol

1) image
1a) images (of tumours, mice, heathen gods)
1b) image, likeness (of resemblance)
1c) mere, empty, image, semblance (fig.)

See Greek: εἴδωλον · εἰκών · μορφή · ὁμοίωμα · ὄψις · τύπος

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: צֶלֶם
‎צֶ֫לֶם‎ noun masculine^{Ezek 16:17} image (something cut out, compare ‎פֶּסֶל‎; Nö 'Schnitzbild'); — ‎׳‎‎צ‎ absolute Ps 39:7*, construct Gen 1:27 +; suffix ‎צַלְמוֺ‎ vGen 1:27; Gen 5:3, ‎צַלְמֵנוּ‎ Gen 1:26, ‎צַלְמָם‎ Ps 73:20 plural construct ‎צַלְמֵי‎ 1Sam 6:5 (twice in verse) +, suffix ‎צְלָמָיו‎ 2Kgs 11:18; 2Chr 23:17, ‎צַלְמֵיכֶם‎ Amos 5:26 —

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

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

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

Brown-Driver-Briggs References