תַּלְתַּלִּים (tal.tal)
tal.tal
lock
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun taltilim refers to a lock or curl, specifically describing the wavy, branch-like texture of a woman’s hair. It appears only once in the Bible, in Song of Solomon 5:11, where it is part of a vivid portrait of beauty. The imagery suggests hair that is not straight but has a natural, flowing wave, resembling the delicate branches of a plant.
Lexical sources note that the exact meaning remains somewhat uncertain, with some translations opting for "wavy" and others for "branchy." This ambiguity reflects the poetic nature of the text, where physical description serves to evoke an aesthetic impression rather than provide a technical definition. The word highlights the intricate detail of the beloved's appearance, contributing to the song's celebration of physical love and beauty.
Its rarity in Scripture underscores its specialized use in this context. Translators must choose between emphasizing the texture (wavy) or the form (branchy), but both capture the sense of something naturally formed and aesthetically pleasing. The term stands as a unique example of how biblical poetry uses precise, sensory language to describe human beauty.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word taltilim appears just once in Scripture, nestled within the lush imagery of Song of Solomon 5:11. It describes the beloved’s hair as having a texture that is both bushy and distinct, evoking the natural elegance of dark, flowing curls. This rare term invites us to see beauty not as a static ideal, but as something organic and richly detailed.
For your faith life, this single occurrence reminds us that God values the specific, sensory details of human creation. The poem celebrates physical attraction with honesty, showing that love and beauty are gifts meant to be acknowledged. When you read this passage, let it encourage you to appreciate the unique ways people are made, reflecting the Creator’s care in every detail.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [are] curls1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּלְתַּלִּ֔ים1×
Key Verses
-
Song of Solomon 5:11
His head is like the purest gold. His hair is bushy, black as a raven.
This is the only biblical occurrence of taltilim, where it describes the beloved's hair as bushy and dark, emphasizing natural texture over straight uniformity.