צֶ֫לַע (tse.la)
tse.la
stumbling
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tse.la describes the physical act of limping or stumbling. It captures a momentary loss of balance or coordination, often implying that the person is still moving forward despite an impairment. In the biblical text, this word appears in only three verses, primarily within the poetic books of Psalms and Job.
Its usage highlights human vulnerability rather than permanent disability. For instance, it describes those who stumble over obstacles or are weakened by hardship, as seen in Psalm 107:16 where God breaks bars of iron and cuts in two the chains of prisoners, freeing even those who might otherwise stumble. The term conveys a sense of fragility in the face of external pressure.
Translators typically render tse.la as "stumbling" or "limping," depending on whether the context emphasizes tripping over an object or the physical gait of weakness. This distinction helps readers understand the specific nature of the struggle described, whether it is a sudden trip or a persistent difficulty in walking.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tse.la describes a momentary loss of balance or coordination. It captures the physical act of limping or stumbling, often implying that a person is still moving forward despite an impairment. In the biblical text, this term highlights human vulnerability rather than permanent disability. It reminds us that fragility is part of the human experience, especially when facing external pressure or hardship.
While the provided verses focus on adversaries rejoicing in adversity, the concept of stumbling connects to our shared need for grace. When we feel like we are losing our footing, God’s strength meets us in our weakness. This word invites us to acknowledge our limits without shame, trusting that divine support sustains us even when our steps are unsteady.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- stumbling/ my1×
- for/ stumbling/ his1×
- and/ at/ stumbling/ my1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צַלְעִ֑/י1×
- לְ/צַלְעֽ/וֹ\׃1×
- וּ/בְ/צַלְעִ/י֮1×
Key Verses
-
Job 18:12
His strength will be famished. Calamity will be ready at his side.
This verse depicts the total collapse of strength, where calamity is ready to cause a fatal stumble.
-
Psalms 35:15
But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease.
Here the psalmist describes attackers gathering against him, highlighting the vulnerability of one who feels overwhelmed and unable to stand firm.
-
Jeremiah 20:10
For I have heard the defaming of many: “Terror on every side! Denounce, and we will denounce him!” say all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall. “Perhaps he will be persuaded, and we will prevail against him, and we will take our revenge on him.”
The prophet fears his friends are watching for his fall, illustrating the social pressure that can cause a spiritual or emotional stumble.