Lexical Definition

‎צֵלָע‎ tsêlâʻ (tsay-law') side ^H:N-F
or (feminine) צַלְעָה tsalʻâh (tsal-aw'); from ‎צָלַע‎

beam, board, chamber, corner, leaf, plank, rib, side (chamber).

• a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, i.e. leaf)
• hence, a side, literally (of a person) or figuratively (of an object or the sky, i.e. quarter)
• architecturally, a (especially floor or ceiling) timber or plank (single or collective, i.e. a flooring)

1) side, rib, beam
1a) rib (of man)
1b) rib (of hill, ridge, etc)
1c) side-chambers or cells (of temple structure)
1d) rib, plank, board (of cedar or fir)
1e) leaves (of door)
1f) side (of ark)

See Greek: μάστιξ · μέρος · ξύλον · πέρας · πλευρά

Extended Information

• Aramaic equivalent: a.la (‎ע‎ֲ‎ל‎ַ‎ע‎ "rib" עֲלַע)

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎צֵלָע‎₄₁ noun feminine (masculine 1Kgs 6:34, and apparently Exod 26:26) rib, side; — absolute ‎׳‎‎צ‎ Gen 2:22 +, construct ‎צֶ֫לַע‎ Exod 26:26 +, also ‎צֵ֫לַע‎ 2Sam 16:13 suffix ‎צַלְעוֺ‎ Exod 25:12 +; plural ‎צְלָעִים‎ 1Kgs 6:34, ‎צְלָעוֺת‎ v1Kgs 6:3 +; construct ‎צַלְעֹת‎ Ezek 41:26 +; suffix ‎צַלְעֹתָיו‎ Gen 2:21 +; —

1. rib of man Gen 2:21; Gen 2:22 (J).

2. rib of hill, i.e. ridge, or terrace 2Sam 16:13.

3. side-chambers or cells (enclosing temple like ribs) 1Kgs 6:5; 1Kgs 6:6 (read ‎׳‎‎הַצּ‎ for ‎היצוע‎, see [ ‎יָצִיעַ‎]), 1Kgs 7:3, so of Ezekiel's temple Ezek 41:5 + 10 t. 41 (on text see Co Toy Krae).

4. ribs of cedar and fir, i.e. planks, boards (plural), of temple wall 1Kgs 6:15; 1Kgs 6:16 floor v1Kgs 6:15.

5. leaves of door v1Kgs 6:34.

6. (in P) side, of ark (‎אֶרוֺן‎) Exod 25:12 (twice in verse); Exod 25:14 = Exod 37:3 (twice in verse); Exod 37:5 of tabernacle (‎מִשְׁכָּן‎) Exod 26:20 (|| ‎פֵּאָה‎ vExod 26:18), vExod 26:26 vExod 26:27 vExod 26:27 = Exod 36:25 (|| ‎׳‎‎פ‎ vExod 36:23), vExod 36:31 vExod 36:32, Exod 26:35 (twice in verse); of altar Exod 27:7 = Exod 38:7, Exod 30:4 = Exod 37:27. — Jer 20:10; Job 18:12 see ‎צֶלַע‎ below II. ‎צלע‎.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References