צֶ֫לֶם
tse.lem (H6754)
image
AI Word Study
# Tselem (צֶלֶם): Image in Biblical Hebrew The Hebrew word *tselem* carries the primary meaning of "image" and appears seventeen times throughout the biblical text. This relatively modest frequency suggests it was a term with specific theological and conceptual weight rather than everyday usage. The word designates visual representations or likenesses—whether physical objects, mental impressions, or abstract concepts of resemblance. The limited occurrence data indicates that *tselem* was reserved for contexts where the notion of representation or likeness carried particular significance. Rather than being a common term for any visual depiction, its selective use suggests the biblical authors employed it when the relationship between an original and its image held special meaning or when discussing matters of substantial importance to their audience. Without access to the specific biblical passages where *tselem* appears, we cannot detail its precise range of usage or contexts. However, the term's existence as a distinct lexical item—separate from other Hebrew words for representation—indicates that ancient Hebrew speakers recognized it as meaningful to discussions of imagery, resemblance, and representation. Its moderate frequency and specialized nature suggest it functioned as a focused vocabulary choice rather than a general-purpose word for depiction.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.
Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in his own image.
then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their stone idols, destroy all their molten images, and demolish all their high places.
Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will release his hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.
They put Yahweh’s ark on the cart, and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors.
All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down. They broke his altars and his images in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. The priest appointed officers over Yahweh’s house.
All the people went to the house of Baal, broke it down, broke his altars and his images in pieces, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.
“Surely every man walks like a shadow. Surely they busy themselves in vain. He heaps up, and doesn’t know who shall gather.
As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty; but they made the images of their abominations and their detestable things therein. Therefore I have made it to them as an unclean thing.
You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and played the prostitute with them.
“She increased her prostitution; for she saw men portrayed on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with red,
You also carried the tent of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves.