צוּלָה (tsu.lah)
tsu.lah
deep
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tsulah refers to the profound depths of the ocean, conveying a sense of immense vertical distance and water pressure. It is not used for shallow pools or rivers, but specifically for the abyssal regions of the sea that lie far below the surface.
This word appears only once in the entire Old Testament, in Isaiah 44:27. There, God describes drying up the rivers and making the depths of the sea dry. The choice of this specific term emphasizes the totality of the miracle; it is not just the water level that drops, but the very abyss itself that is laid bare.
By using a word for the ocean-deep, the text highlights God’s absolute sovereignty over creation. What humans perceive as an impenetrable, dangerous chasm is merely subject to His command. The imagery serves to remind readers that no part of the natural world is beyond divine control.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tsulah points to the deepest, most inaccessible parts of the ocean. It describes a place where light does not reach and pressure is immense. In Isaiah 44:27, God speaks directly to this abyss, commanding it to be dry. This single occurrence shows that no part of creation is too deep or too dark for His voice to reach.
When life feels overwhelming, like being trapped in a chasm you cannot climb out of, this word offers a quiet comfort. It reminds us that the same power that commands the deepest seas also holds your circumstances. You are not lost in the depths; you are known by the One who speaks to them.
This truth invites peace rather than panic. The vastness of the ocean does not frighten God, and neither should it frighten you. His sovereignty covers every hidden place, every fear, and every unknown future. Rest in that coverage today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to the/ ocean-deep1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לַ/צּוּלָ֖ה1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 44:27
who says to the deep, ‘Be dry,’ and ‘I will dry up your rivers,’
This verse uniquely applies the word to God's command over the abyssal sea, highlighting His absolute authority over forces humans cannot control.