What does צֵלָע (ṣēlāʿ) mean in the Bible?
צֵלָע (ṣēlāʿ): Curved structural element: from body rib to architectural beam; emphasizes curved support underlying larger constructions.
Hebrew · H6763
צֵלָע
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)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
צֵלָע H6763
Pronunciation ṣēlāʿ
What does צֵלָע (ṣēlāʿ) mean in the Bible?
צֵלָע (ṣēlāʿ): Curved structural element: from body rib to architectural beam; emphasizes curved support underlying larger constructions.
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).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It side 11× Exodus 25:12, Exodus 26:20, Exodus 26:26, Exodus 26:27
the side rooms 6× 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 sides 3× Exodus 25:14, Exodus 37:5, Exodus 38:7
boards 2× 1 Kings 6:15, 1 Kings 6:16
of the side rooms 2× Ezekiel 41:8, Ezekiel 41:9
along the ridge 1× 2 Samuel 16:13
And from the rib 1× Genesis 2:22
another 1× Ezekiel 41:6
floor 1× 1 Kings 6:8
for the side rooms 1× Ezekiel 41:6
of [the man’s] ribs 1× Genesis 2:21
paneling 1× 1 Kings 6:15
panels 1× 1 Kings 6:34
side room 1× Ezekiel 41:5
sides 1× Exodus 27:7
the beams 1× 1 Kings 7:3
were arranged one 1× Ezekiel 41:6
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 2:21 מִצַּלְעֹתָ֔יו to of [the man’s] ribs Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular Genesis 2:22 הַצֵּלָ֛ע to And from the rib Article | Noun - feminine singular Exodus 25:12 צַלְעוֹ֙ to side Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Exodus 25:12 צַלְע֖וֹ to - Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Exodus 25:14 צַלְעֹ֣ת to the sides Noun - feminine plural construct Exodus 26:20 וּלְצֶ֧לַע to side Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct Exodus 26:26 צֶֽלַע־ to side Noun - feminine singular construct Exodus 26:27 צֶֽלַע־ to side Noun - feminine singular construct Exodus 26:27 צֶ֣לַע to side Noun - feminine singular construct Exodus 26:35 צֶ֥לַע to side Noun - feminine singular construct
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 2:21
Aligned rows 40
Books represented 5
Genesis 2 Exodus 19 2 Samuel 1 1 Kings 7 Ezekiel 11
Source forms
צֶֽלַע־ 4x ṣe·la‘- Exodus 26:26, Exodus 26:27, Exodus 36:31, Exodus 36:32
צַלְעֹ֣ת 3x ṣal·‘ōṯ Exodus 25:14, Exodus 37:5, Exodus 38:7
בְּצַלְע֣וֹת 2x bə·ṣal·‘ō·wṯ 1 Kings 6:15, 1 Kings 6:16
הַצֵּלָע֙ 2x haṣ·ṣê·lā‘ 1 Kings 6:8, Ezekiel 41:11
וּלְצֶ֧לַע 2x ū·lə·ṣe·la‘ Exodus 26:20, Exodus 36:25
צֶ֥לַע 2x ṣe·la‘ Exodus 26:35
צַלְעוֹ֙ 2x ṣal·‘ōw Exodus 25:12, Exodus 37:3
צַלְע֖וֹ 2x ṣal·‘ōw Exodus 25:12, Exodus 37:3
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular construct 7x Exodus 26:26, Exodus 26:27, Exodus 26:35, Exodus 36:31
Article | Noun - feminine singular 4x Genesis 2:22, 1 Kings 6:8, Ezekiel 41:5, Ezekiel 41:11
Noun - feminine plural construct 4x Exodus 25:14, Exodus 27:7, Exodus 37:5, Exodus 38:7
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular 4x Exodus 25:12, Exodus 37:3
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct 3x 1 Kings 6:15, 1 Kings 6:16
Article | Noun - feminine plural 2x 1 Kings 7:3, Ezekiel 41:8
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct 2x Exodus 26:20, Exodus 36:25
Noun - feminine plural 2x 1 Kings 6:5, Ezekiel 41:9
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 definition Source: 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:
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain