טֶ֫לֶם (te.lem)
te.lem
Telem
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun telem appears only twice in the Old Testament, carrying the meaning of "oppression" or "harsh treatment." This rare word provides a concise label for the suffering endured by God’s people, capturing the weight of injustice without elaboration. Its brevity allows it to function as a precise theological term within its specific contexts.
One occurrence is found in Ezra 10:24, where it describes the role of a gatekeeper named Telem. In this instance, the name itself likely reflects the social reality of his community—perhaps indicating a family history marked by hardship or a hope for deliverance from such burdens. The other usage appears in Joshua 15:23 as part of a place name in the southern territory of Judah, linking the concept of oppression to the geography of the settled land.
Though uncommon, telem underscores how physical locations and personal identities in ancient Israel were often shaped by the realities of struggle and resilience. The word serves as a reminder that the narrative of Scripture includes not only triumph but also the enduring experience of those who faced systemic hardship.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word telem appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, carrying the heavy meaning of oppression or harsh treatment. While it is rare, its presence reminds us that God’s people have always faced systemic hardship and injustice. In Joshua 15:24, it marks a place in Judah’s territory, grounding the concept of struggle in real geography. This shows that faith is lived out in specific, often difficult, places.
In Ezra 10:24, telem appears as part of a gatekeeper’s name. Names in Scripture often reflect family history or community reality. A man named Telem might have come from a lineage marked by burden, yet he served faithfully in the temple. This suggests that God uses people shaped by hardship to guard and serve His house.
Your own experiences of pressure or unfair treatment are known to God. He does not ignore the weight you carry. Instead, He meets you in your specific context, just as He met those in ancient Judah and Jerusalem. Your story is part of a larger narrative where resilience and faithfulness matter deeply.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Telem2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וָ/טֶ֖לֶם2×
Key Verses
-
Joshua 15:24
Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,
This verse places Telem among the towns of Judah, anchoring the concept of oppression in the physical landscape of Israel's inheritance.
-
Ezra 10:24
Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
Here Telem is listed as a gatekeeper, showing how a name reflecting hardship could belong to someone serving faithfully in the restored community.