Word Study for H5558 (סֶלֶף) | Strong's Concordance

çeleph /seh'-lef/ Ask about this word

Meaningdistortion, i.e. (figuratively) viciousness

KJV usageperverseness.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of çeleph — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word çeleph, represented by H5558, signifies perverseness. It appears just 2 times in 2 unique verses, indicating a specific application of the term. The word is defined as distortion, which is used figuratively to describe viciousness or perverseness.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H5558 is used to contrast righteous character with corrupt behavior. In Proverbs, it is presented as the quality found in a tongue that brings a breach in the spirit, standing in direct opposition to a wholesome tongue which is a tree of life Proverbs 15:4. It is also identified as the characteristic of transgressors that ultimately leads to their destruction, whereas the integrity of the upright serves as their guide Proverbs 11:3.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words clarify the concept of perverseness by contrast and consequence:

H8538 tummâh (innocence; integrity): This term stands in direct contrast to perverseness. It is the integrity of the upright that shall guide them, while perverseness destroys transgressors Proverbs 11:3.
H7703 shâdad (to ravage; destroy): This word describes the direct consequence of perverseness. The distortion inherent in transgressors is not passive but actively leads to their own path to destroy them Proverbs 11:3.
H4832 marpêʼ (curative, remedy, wholesome): Used in contrast to perverseness in the tongue, this word describes speech that is healing. A wholesome tongue is a source of life, whereas a perverse one is destructive Proverbs 15:4.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5558 is significant despite its infrequent use.

Character and Consequence: The use of H5558 highlights a core biblical principle that character determines destiny. The perverseness of transgressors is not merely a single act but an ingrained quality that actively leads to their destruction Proverbs 11:3.
Speech as a Spiritual Indicator: Perverseness is explicitly linked to the tongue H3956, revealing that distorted speech is a symptom of a distorted character. Such speech does not merely cause social harm but results in a breach H7667 in the spirit H7307 Proverbs 15:4.
The Antithesis of Integrity: H5558 functions as the direct opposite of integrity H8538. While integrity provides guidance and stability, perverseness represents the moral crookedness that ensures ruin, setting up a clear moral choice between two paths Proverbs 11:3.

Summary

In summary, H5558 çeleph is a focused term for perverseness that signifies a fundamental distortion of character. Though used only twice, its appearances in Proverbs create a powerful contrast between righteous integrity and the viciousness of transgressors. The word demonstrates that this inner corruption, particularly when expressed through the tongue, results in a spiritual breach and ultimate ruin.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

סֶלֶף
סֶלֶף

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

2 verses, all in Proverbs — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.