צֵלֶל (tse.lel)
tse.lel
shadow
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tselel refers to a shadow or shade, functioning primarily as a source of relief from the sun’s heat. In the Old Testament, it is not merely a physical absence of light but a tangible place of refuge and protection. This protective quality appears in passages where the psalmist describes God’s wings providing cover, using the imagery of sheltering shade to convey safety and closeness.
While often associated with comfort, the word also carries a sense of impermanence. In Job and Jeremiah, shadows symbolize the fleeting nature of human life, contrasting the brevity of days with the enduring presence of God. The term appears in poetic contexts like Song of Solomon, where it enhances the atmosphere of intimacy and rest. Translators typically render it as "shadow" or "shade," depending on whether the emphasis is on protection or the transient quality of existence.
Etymologically, tselel is linked to the root meaning "to shade" or "to overshadow." Its usage in Scripture highlights a dual theme: the immediate comfort God provides and the reminder that earthly life is temporary. This duality allows the word to serve both as a metaphor for divine care and a poetic device for reflecting on human mortality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
In Scripture, a shadow is never just an absence of light; it is a place of refuge. When the Psalmist speaks of hiding under God’s wings, he uses this imagery to describe safety from life’s harsh heat. It reminds us that divine protection is tangible and close, offering rest when the sun of trouble beats down too hard.
Yet this word also carries a gentle warning about our time here. In Job and Jeremiah, shadows mark how quickly days pass. They remind us that earthly comfort is temporary, pointing instead to the eternal presence of God. This duality invites us to find rest in His care today, while keeping our hope fixed on what lasts forever.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ shadows2×
- shade/ its1×
- [the] shadows of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/צְּלָלִ֑ים2×
- צִלְלֵי\־1×
- צִֽלֲל֑/וֹ1×
Key Verses
-
Job 40:22
The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
This verse uses the shadow of nature to illustrate the immense size and secure resting place of Behemoth, showing how even wild creatures find their shelter in God's creation.
-
Song of Solomon 2:17
Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a roe or a young deer on the mountains of Bether.
Here the fleeing shadows signal the end of the cool rest period, urging a transition from intimate comfort to active waiting for the beloved's return.
-
Jeremiah 6:4
“Prepare war against her! Arise! Let’s go up at noon. Woe to us! For the day declines, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.
The stretching evening shadows serve as a metaphor for impending judgment and the end of opportunity, emphasizing the urgency of the moment.