English · KJV
H6747

צַלַּחַת

tsallachath /tsal-lakh'-ath/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom צָלַח
Meaningsomething advanced or deep, i.e. a bowl; figuratively, the bosom
KJV usagebosom, dish.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tsallachath — 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 tsallachath, represented by H6747, refers to something advanced or deep, such as a bowl or dish, and is also used figuratively for the bosom. It appears only 3 times across 3 unique verses, yet it carries two distinct and powerful meanings.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H6747 serves as a potent metaphor in two different contexts. In the historical books, it is used as a literal dish to illustrate the totality of God's judgment against Jerusalem, which He promises to wipe clean and turn upside down 2 Kings 21:13. In Proverbs, the word shifts to its figurative meaning of bosom, appearing in two nearly identical verses that describe the extreme laziness of a slothful man who hides his hand in his bosom and will not even bring it to his mouth to eat (Proverbs 19:24, Proverbs 26:15).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the actions and concepts associated with H6747:

  • H4229 mâchâh (to stroke or rub; by implication, to erase; ... wipe): This verb describes the action performed on the dish, signifying a complete cleansing or blotting out, as seen in the judgment on Jerusalem 2 Kings 21:13.
  • H6102 ʻâtsêl (indolent; slothful, sluggard): This noun identifies the character of the man who hides his hand in the bosom H6747, providing the moral context for the word's use in Proverbs (Proverbs 19:24, Proverbs 26:15).
  • H2934 ṭâman (to hide (by covering over)): This is the action of the slothful man, who hideth his hand in his bosom, illustrating inaction and idleness Proverbs 19:24.
  • H3027 yâd (a hand): This is the object that the slothful man places in his bosom instead of using it for productive labor, highlighting the core of his laziness Proverbs 26:15.

Theological Significance

The symbolic weight of H6747 is expressed through its starkly different applications.

  • Metaphor for Absolute Judgment: The image of wiping a dish and turning it over illustrates an irreversible and total cleansing. It conveys the severity of God's response to the sins of Ahab's house, leaving no remnant behind 2 Kings 21:13.
  • Symbol of Crippling Indolence: The use of bosom as a resting place for the hand that should be working or eating creates a powerful picture of self-destructive laziness. It warns against a slothfulness so profound that it prevents one from meeting their most basic needs Proverbs 19:24.

Summary

In summary, H6747 is a specific term that, despite its infrequent use, serves as a powerful illustrative tool. Whether as a dish being wiped clean to signify divine judgment or as a bosom providing a haven for an idle hand, tsallachath demonstrates how scripture uses common objects and concepts to convey profound lessons about God's righteousness and the folly of human sloth.

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 4 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.

  • צַּלָּחַת
  • צֵּלָחוֹת

Related Words

Related

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.

H4229 מָחָה a primitive root; properly, to stroke or rub; by implication, to erase; also to smooth (as if with oil), i.e. grease or H6102 עָצֵל from עָצַל; indolent; slothful, sluggard. H2934 טָמַן a primitive root; to hide (by covering over); hide, lay privily, in secret. H3027 יָד a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applicat

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

Appears in 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Proverbs (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

1
2 Kings
2
Proverbs

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.