צֵלָע (tse.la)
tse.la
side
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 24 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tse-lah primarily means "side," but its physical shape gives it a specific architectural nuance. Derived from a root meaning to limp or bend, the word describes something curved or arched. This etymology explains why it refers to the rib of a human body in Genesis 2:21-22, where God takes one from Adam’s side to form Eve. The image is not just of a location, but of a structural element that supports and defines a whole.
Beyond anatomy, tse-lah appears frequently in descriptions of sacred spaces. In Exodus, it denotes the wooden boards or planks used to construct the walls of the tabernacle (Exodus 26:20-27). Similarly, in Kings and Ezekiel, it refers to the side chambers built around the temple (1 Kings 6:5; Ezekiel 41:6). In these contexts, the word shifts from a single curved bone to a collective term for the vertical supports or walls that enclose a holy area.
Translators often render tse-lah as "side," "rib," "board," or "chamber" depending on the context. The consistency lies in the idea of a lateral extension or support. Whether describing the human body, the portable sanctuary, or the permanent temple, the word highlights how individual curved pieces come together to form a protective and functional structure.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tse-lah describes a structural support, whether it is the rib taken from Adam’s side to form Eve or the wooden boards that held the tabernacle together. This imagery suggests that we are designed for connection and community. Just as individual planks create a shelter that can be carried through the wilderness, our lives find their true strength when they are joined with others in shared purpose and faith.
In Genesis, this word highlights the intimate origin of humanity, showing that woman was drawn from man’s very side, not his head to rule over him nor his feet to be beneath him, but as his equal partner. This foundational truth reminds us that every person carries inherent dignity and is meant to walk alongside others in mutual respect and care.
When we look at the tabernacle, tse-lah appears again in the description of its walls. These vertical supports provided stability for a sacred space that moved with God’s people. It offers a gentle reminder that our own spiritual lives are built on connections that endure, providing shelter and strength as we journey through life's changing seasons.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 24 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] side of7×
- side/ its4×
- [the] sides of4×
- with/ boards of3×
- sides/ its2×
- and/ for/ [the] side of2×
- the/ side-chambers1×
- the/ side-chamber1×
- the/ rib1×
- sides1×
- side-chambers1×
- on/ [the] side of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- צֶֽלַע\־4×
- צַלְעֹ֣ת3×
- צַלְעֹתָ֔י/ו2×
- צַלְע֖/וֹ2×
- צַלְע/וֹ֙2×
- צֶ֥לַע2×
- וּ/לְ/צֶ֧לַע2×
- בְּ/צַלְע֣וֹת2×
- צַלְעֹ֥ת1×
- צֶ֣לַע1×
- צְלָעִ֜ים1×
- צְלָע֖וֹת1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 2:21
Yahweh God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. As the man slept, he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
This verse uses tse-lah to describe the rib taken from Adam, establishing the physical basis for human relationships and equality.
-
Exodus 26:20
For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,
Here the word refers to the wooden boards forming the north side of the tabernacle, showing its use in describing structural supports for sacred spaces.
-
I Kings 6:5
Against the wall of the house, he built floors all around, against the walls of the house all around, both of the temple and of the inner sanctuary; and he made side rooms all around.
The term denotes the side rooms built around the temple walls, illustrating how the word extends to architectural extensions that enclose holy areas.