What does צֶלֶם (ṣelem) mean in the Bible?
צֶלֶם (ṣelem): Divine image-bearing capacity in humanity; idolatry inverts this by making false visible forms
Hebrew · H6755
צֶלֶם
An idolatrous figure
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צֶלֶםH6755
Pronunciationṣelem
What does צֶלֶם (ṣelem) mean in the Bible?
צֶלֶם (ṣelem): Divine image-bearing capacity in humanity; idolatry inverts this by making false visible forms
Full entry for צֶלֶם (H6755) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6755?
The BSB source-word alignment has 17 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include statue (8), of the statue (3), the statue (3), [it] (1), and the expression (1).
Where does צֶלֶם (ṣelem) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Daniel 2:31. Its strongest book concentrations include Daniel (17).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itstatue8×Daniel 2:31, Daniel 3:1, Daniel 3:7, Daniel 3:10
of the statue3×Daniel 2:32, Daniel 3:2, Daniel 3:3
the statue3×Daniel 2:34, Daniel 2:35, Daniel 3:15
[it]1×Daniel 3:3
and the expression1×Daniel 3:19
statue that1×Daniel 3:5
Show sample aligned rows
Daniel 2:31צְלֵ֥םtostatueNoun - masculine singularDaniel 2:31צַלְמָ֨אtostatueNoun - masculine singular determinateDaniel 2:32צַלְמָ֗אtoof the statueNoun - masculine singular determinateDaniel 2:34לְצַלְמָא֙tothe statuePreposition-l | Noun - masculine singular determinateDaniel 2:35לְצַלְמָ֗אtothe statuePreposition-l | Noun - masculine singular determinateDaniel 3:1צְלֵ֣םtostatueNoun - masculine singularDaniel 3:2צַלְמָ֔אtoof the statueNoun - masculine singular determinateDaniel 3:3צַלְמָ֔אtoof the statueNoun - masculine singular determinateDaniel 3:3צַלְמָ֔אto[it]Noun - masculine singular determinateDaniel 3:5לְצֶ֣לֶםtostatue thatPreposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDaniel 2:31
Aligned rows17
Books represented1
Daniel17
Source forms
וּלְצֶ֧לֶם3xū·lə·ṣe·lemDaniel 3:12, Daniel 3:14, Daniel 3:18
צַלְמָ֔א3xṣal·māDaniel 3:2, Daniel 3:3
לְצֶ֣לֶם2xlə·ṣe·lemDaniel 3:5, Daniel 3:7
וּצְלֵ֤ם1xū·ṣə·lêmDaniel 3:19
לְצֶ֥לֶם1xlə·ṣe·lemDaniel 3:10
לְצַלְמָא֙1xlə·ṣal·māDaniel 2:34
לְצַלְמָ֗א1xlə·ṣal·māDaniel 2:35
לְצַלְמָ֣א1xlə·ṣal·māDaniel 3:15
Parsing patterns
Noun - masculine singular determinate5xDaniel 2:31, Daniel 2:32, Daniel 3:2, Daniel 3:3
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct3xDaniel 3:12, Daniel 3:14, Daniel 3:18
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct3xDaniel 3:5, Daniel 3:7, Daniel 3:10
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular determinate3xDaniel 2:34, Daniel 2:35, Daniel 3:15
Noun - masculine singular2xDaniel 2:31, Daniel 3:1
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct1xDaniel 3:19
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Divine image-bearing capacity in humanity; idolatry inverts this by making false visible forms
Source Gloss
an idolatrous figure
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Divine image-bearing capacity in humanity; idolatry inverts this by making false visible forms
an idolatrous figure BDB: image Usage: form, image.
Word Origins
צֶלֶם is built from this root: