What does צֵלָע (ṣēlāʿ) mean in the Bible?
This Hebrew noun can name a rib, a side or a structure at the side, with the object specifying its use. Genesis says the Lord makes the woman from the rib taken from the man and brings her to him.
Hebrew · H6763
צֵלָע
This Hebrew noun can name a rib, a side or a structure at the side, with the object specifying its use. Genesis says the Lord makes the woman from the rib taken from the man and brings her to him.
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צֵלָעH6763
Pronunciationṣēlāʿ
What does צֵלָע (ṣēlāʿ) mean in the Bible?
Reader summary
Full entry for צֵלָע (H6763) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6763?
The BSB source-word alignment has 40 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include side (11), the side rooms (6), - (4), the sides (3), boards (2).
Where does צֵלָע (ṣēlāʿ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 2:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (19), Ezekiel (11), 1 Kings (7), Genesis (2).
What This Word Actually Means
This Hebrew noun can name a rib, a side or a structure at the side, with the object specifying its use. Genesis says the Lord makes the woman from the rib taken from the man and brings her to him. Exodus describes carrying poles inserted into rings on the sides of the ark. First Kings describes side rooms built around the temple. Human body, carried furnishing and building therefore require different English expressions.
The broad range should not erase the particular wording of the governed translation or establish a speculative anatomy lesson. Readers should attend to what the Lord does in Genesis, what the ark instructions require and what the construction account describes. A shared noun does not make marriage, transport and architecture the same theological subject.
How the Bible Uses It
Genesis's rib, the ark's sides and the temple's side rooms display context-dependent uses. The named body or object and its surrounding action determine the explanation.
- Gen.2.22
And from the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man, He made a woman and brought her to him.
The Lord makes the woman from the rib taken from the man and brings her to him, preceding his recognition and the one-flesh statement.
- Exod.25.14
Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, in order to carry it.
The poles fit into rings on the ark's sides for carrying, a practical instruction rather than an anatomical comparison.
- 1Kgs.6.5
Against the walls of the temple and the inner sanctuary, Solomon built a chambered structure around the temple, in which he constructed the side rooms.
The temple's surrounding chambered structure supplies side rooms within the measured building account, requiring an architectural reading.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itside11×Exodus 25:12, Exodus 26:20, Exodus 26:26, Exodus 26:27
the side rooms6×1 Kings 6:5, Ezekiel 41:6, Ezekiel 41:7, Ezekiel 41:9
-4×Exodus 25:12, Exodus 30:4, Exodus 37:3, Exodus 37:27
the sides3×Exodus 25:14, Exodus 37:5, Exodus 38:7
boards2×1 Kings 6:15, 1 Kings 6:16
of the side rooms2×Ezekiel 41:8, Ezekiel 41:9
along the ridge1×2 Samuel 16:13
And from the rib1×Genesis 2:22
another1×Ezekiel 41:6
floor1×1 Kings 6:8
for the side rooms1×Ezekiel 41:6
of [the man’s] ribs1×Genesis 2:21
paneling1×1 Kings 6:15
panels1×1 Kings 6:34
side room1×Ezekiel 41:5
sides1×Exodus 27:7
the beams1×1 Kings 7:3
were arranged one1×Ezekiel 41:6
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 2:21מִצַּלְעֹתָ֔יוtoof [the man’s] ribsPreposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singularGenesis 2:22הַצֵּלָ֛עtoAnd from the ribArticle | Noun - feminine singularExodus 25:12צַלְעוֹ֙tosideNoun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularExodus 25:12צַלְע֖וֹto-Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularExodus 25:14צַלְעֹ֣תtothe sidesNoun - feminine plural constructExodus 26:20וּלְצֶ֧לַעtosideConjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular constructExodus 26:26צֶֽלַע־tosideNoun - feminine singular constructExodus 26:27צֶֽלַע־tosideNoun - feminine singular constructExodus 26:27צֶ֣לַעtosideNoun - feminine singular constructExodus 26:35צֶ֥לַעtosideNoun - feminine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 2:21
Aligned rows40
Books represented5
Genesis2Exodus192 Samuel11 Kings7Ezekiel11
Source forms
צֶֽלַע־4xṣe·la‘-Exodus 26:26, Exodus 26:27, Exodus 36:31, Exodus 36:32
צַלְעֹ֣ת3xṣal·‘ōṯExodus 25:14, Exodus 37:5, Exodus 38:7
בְּצַלְע֣וֹת2xbə·ṣal·‘ō·wṯ1 Kings 6:15, 1 Kings 6:16
הַצֵּלָע֙2xhaṣ·ṣê·lā‘1 Kings 6:8, Ezekiel 41:11
וּלְצֶ֧לַע2xū·lə·ṣe·la‘Exodus 26:20, Exodus 36:25
צֶ֥לַע2xṣe·la‘Exodus 26:35
צַלְעוֹ֙2xṣal·‘ōwExodus 25:12, Exodus 37:3
צַלְע֖וֹ2xṣal·‘ōwExodus 25:12, Exodus 37:3
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular construct7xExodus 26:26, Exodus 26:27, Exodus 26:35, Exodus 36:31
Article | Noun - feminine singular4xGenesis 2:22, 1 Kings 6:8, Ezekiel 41:5, Ezekiel 41:11
Noun - feminine plural construct4xExodus 25:14, Exodus 27:7, Exodus 37:5, Exodus 38:7
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular4xExodus 25:12, Exodus 37:3
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct3x1 Kings 6:15, 1 Kings 6:16
Article | Noun - feminine plural2x1 Kings 7:3, Ezekiel 41:8
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct2xExodus 26:20, Exodus 36:25
Noun - feminine plural2x1 Kings 6:5, Ezekiel 41:9
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Explain contextual wording without presenting an unapproved translation or identity repair.
- Use complete relational passages rather than a body metaphor to control another person.
Avoid claiming...
- The noun alone does not decide every theological or pastoral question about marriage.
- Its side range does not authorize replacing the supplied translation's rib wording silently.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Curved structural element: from body rib to architectural beam; emphasizes curved support underlying larger constructions.
Source Gloss
a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, i.e. leaf); hence, a side , literally (of a person) or figuratively (of an object or the sky, i.e. quarter); architecturally, a (especially floor or ceiling) timber or plank (single or collective, i.e. a flooring)
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Curved structural element: from body rib to architectural beam; emphasizes curved support underlying larger constructions.
a rib (as curved), literally (of the body) or figuratively (of a door, i.e. leaf); hence, a side, literally (of a person) or figuratively (of an object or the sky, i.e. quarter); architecturally, a (especially floor or ceiling) timber or plank (single or collective, i.e. a flooring) BDB: rib Usage: beam, board, chamber, corner, leaf, plank, rib, side (chamber).
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Literal anatomical rib taken from man's body to create woman
Showing 1 selected witness from 41 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
צֵלָע is built from this root:
For the Preacher and Teacher
A carrying instruction in Exodus gives the noun an unmistakably spatial function: rings on the ark's sides receive poles. First Kings extends the architectural setting through rooms placed around the temple. Genesis requires a different explanation because the Lord takes from the man and makes the woman, followed by recognition and the stated one-flesh relation.
Those surrounding actions are essential. An appeal to the noun's broad range cannot independently rewrite the translation, reconstruct biological mechanics or decide every question about marriage. The lexical study is most useful when it shows why a single English expression cannot fit every occurrence. Teaching can describe the creation passage's own relational movement while leaving anatomical speculation and source-identity changes outside the claim supplied by this noun.
Anchor passage
Gen.2.22
Doctrinal connections
- Genesis 2:20-22 places the woman's creation after no suitable helper was found.
- Genesis 2:23 records the man's recognition of bone and flesh kinship.
- Genesis 2:24 states the leaving, union and one-flesh relationship explicitly.
- Exodus 25:12-15 relates the ark's sides to rings, poles and carrying.
- First Kings 6:5-8 describes side rooms within the temple's surrounding structure.
- Matthew 19:4-6 explicitly appeals to creation and one flesh in Jesus' marriage teaching.
The attributed Hebrew record includes rib and side uses, including architectural applications. Context-dependent English rendering is distinguished from changing a canonical identity, supplied wording or theological conclusion about the body.
From Old to New Testament
Matthew 19:4-6 quotes the creation account's one-flesh teaching while Jesus answers a marriage question. That explicit appeal establishes the connection with Genesis; the noun's anatomical range alone does not supply Jesus' complete argument or every pastoral judgment about a marriage.