טָלֶה (ta.leh)
ta.leh
lamb
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun ṭāleh simply means lamb, referring to a young sheep. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, making it a rare word even within biblical vocabulary. In both instances, it denotes the animal itself rather than serving as a metaphor for innocence or vulnerability.
The first occurrence is in 1 Samuel 6:7, where the Philistines are instructed to prepare a new cart and two milch cows, while keeping their calves (lambs) at home. This detail highlights the practical concern of separating young animals from their mothers to ensure the miraculous return of the Ark of the Lord would not be hindered by maternal distress. The second instance is found in Isaiah 53:7, where the suffering servant is compared to a lamb led to slaughter.
While later Jewish and Christian tradition heavily loaded this image with theological weight regarding sacrifice and atonement, the word itself in these specific texts functions primarily as a concrete noun. It describes an actual animal used in daily life or ritual context, grounding the profound imagery of Isaiah 53:7 in the tangible reality of shepherding practices known to its original audience.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ṭāleh refers to a young sheep, a creature that requires care and protection. In the Old Testament, it appears only twice, grounding its meaning in the everyday reality of shepherding rather than abstract symbolism. When we read about these animals, we are reminded of the tangible world God created, where life is fragile and dependent on provision.
In 1 Samuel 7:9, a lamb serves as a humble offering for prayer, showing that God hears the cries of His people even through simple acts of devotion. Later, Isaiah 65:25 paints a picture of future peace, where predators and prey rest together. This image invites us to trust in a time when harm will cease and creation will be restored.
For your faith life, this word connects the ordinary with the divine. It reminds you that God values the small and vulnerable, and that His promises extend to every part of creation. You can find comfort in knowing that the same God who cares for lambs also holds your life in His hands.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ lamb1×
- a lamb of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- טְלֵ֤ה1×
- וְ/טָלֶ֜ה1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 7:9
Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.
This verse shows the lamb as a concrete instrument of prayer, where a simple offering becomes the means by which God answers Israel's cry.
-
Isaiah 65:25
The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat straw like the ox. Dust will be the serpent’s food. They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain,” says Yahweh.
Here the lamb represents the restored harmony of creation, illustrating a future state where natural enmity is replaced by peaceful coexistence.