צַלַּ֫חַת (tsal.la.chat)
tsal.la.chat
dish
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun tsallaḥat refers to a simple dish or bowl used for serving food. In the Hebrew Bible, this term appears only three times, making it a rare but specific word in the lexicon. It denotes a shallow vessel, distinct from deep pots or large storage jars, designed primarily for holding portions of meals.
Its usage highlights the everyday domestic life described in Scripture. The word appears in Proverbs 25:16 within a warning about gluttony, where eating too much honey is compared to overindulging in one’s own honor. It also occurs in II Kings 6:23, describing the bowls prepared for the Aramean soldiers captured by Elisha, illustrating how such dishes were used in large-scale hospitality or feasting contexts.
Translators typically render tsallaḥat as "dish" or "bowl," capturing its function as a personal serving vessel. The term underscores the tangible nature of ancient meals, where food was shared from common pots into individual bowls. This small detail grounds biblical narratives in the reality of daily sustenance and social interaction.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tsallaḥat describes a simple dish or bowl used for serving food in ancient Israel. It was not a large storage jar or a deep cooking pot, but a shallow vessel designed to hold individual portions of a meal. This small detail grounds biblical narratives in the reality of daily sustenance and social interaction.
In Proverbs 19:24 and 26:15, this dish becomes a picture of laziness. A sluggard buries his hand in it but is too tired to lift the food to his mouth. It reminds us that even small acts of self-care require effort. In II Kings 6:23, however, the same type of vessel holds food for captured enemies, showing how dishes can also be tools for unexpected hospitality.
When you read these verses, consider how you use your own resources. Are you hoarding what is given to you, or are you willing to share? The Bible invites us to see our daily routines as opportunities to reflect God’s generosity and care for others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in the/ dish2×
- the/ bowl1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בַּ/צַּלָּ֑חַת2×
- הַ/צַּלַּ֙חַת֙1×
Key Verses
-
Proverbs 19:24
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish but refuses to lift it to his mouth, highlighting the paralysis of laziness.
-
Proverbs 26:15
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
This verse repeats the image of the hand buried in the dish to emphasize the extreme inertia of the lazy person.