תְּלַאשָּׂ֑ר (te.las.sar)
te.las.sar
Telassar
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The proper noun Telassar refers to a location, likely a city in ancient Mesopotamia, that was under Assyrian control during the biblical narrative. The name itself translates to "Assyrian hill," pointing directly to the political and military dominance of the Assyrian Empire over this specific region.
This word appears only twice in Scripture, specifically within the accounts found in Isaiah 37:13 and 2 Kings 19:13. In these passages, it is listed among other conquered territories as part of a rhetorical challenge by the Assyrian official Rabshakeh to King Hezekiah’s messengers. The mention serves to highlight the extent of Assyrian power, contrasting their vast conquests with the limited protection offered by Jerusalem’s God.
While Telassar does not carry deep theological weight in terms of doctrine, its inclusion in these texts underscores the historical reality of Israel’s geopolitical vulnerability. It stands as a concrete example of the foreign powers that loomed over the ancient Near East, serving as a backdrop for the narrative of divine deliverance rather than a subject of independent religious significance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Telassar appears only twice in Scripture, tucked into a list of conquered cities within the taunts of the Assyrian official Rabshakeh. It refers to a location under Assyrian control, likely meaning "Assyrian hill." In these passages, it stands alongside Gozan and Haran as evidence of the empire’s overwhelming power. The Assyrian commander uses this geography to mock King Hezekiah, asking if the gods of these distant places could save their people from his army.
For us today, this word reminds us that human strength often feels absolute when we face impossible odds. The list was meant to crush hope, suggesting that Jerusalem’s God was just another local deity who would fail like the others. Yet the narrative does not end with conquest. By naming Telassar, the text highlights the stark contrast between military might and divine faithfulness.
When fear rises and circumstances seem locked in place by stronger forces, this passage invites us to look beyond the visible map of our struggles. It points to a God who remains sovereign even when empires rise and fall. We can trust that no geopolitical barrier or human threat stands outside His ultimate care and purpose.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [were] in/ Telassar2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בִּ/תְלַשָּֽׂר\׃1×
- בִּ/תְלַאשָּֽׂר\׃1×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 19:12
Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed—Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the children of Eden who were in Telassar?
This verse places Telassar in the Assyrian king's rhetorical question, using it as proof that no god can rescue a city from his power.
-
Isaiah 37:12
Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the children of Eden who were in Telassar?
The parallel account in Isaiah reinforces the list of conquered nations to challenge Hezekiah’s trust in Jerusalem's God, highlighting the political tension of the moment.