The Hebrew word tsâlîy, represented by H6748, is a specific term for something roasted. Derived from the verb to roast, it appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning is narrowly focused on food prepared by roasting, particularly over a fire.
The use of H6748 is concentrated in two key passages. In the book of Exodus, it appears twice as part of the specific instructions for preparing the first Passover lamb. The Israelites are commanded to eat the flesh roast with fire Exodus 12:8. This instruction is emphasized with a negative command: "Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire" Exodus 12:9. The only other occurrence is in Isaiah, where the prophet describes a man who uses wood to make a fire, "roasteth roast," and warms himself, while using the residue of the wood to make an idol Isaiah 44:16.
Several related words help clarify the context and meaning of H6748:
- H6740 tsâlâh (roast): This is the primitive root verb from which tsâlîy is derived. It means to roast and is used in contexts describing the preparation of flesh, such as when a man roasts flesh for a meal Isaiah 44:19 or when a priest desires flesh to roast 1 Samuel 2:15.
- H784 ʼêsh (fire): This word for fire is explicitly linked to tsâlîy in all its biblical occurrences, specifying the means of preparation. The Passover lamb must be "roast with fire" Exodus 12:8, and the man in Isaiah's prophecy uses fire to cook his meal Isaiah 44:16.
- H398 ʼâkal (to eat): This verb, meaning to eat, is found in all three verses containing tsâlîy, showing the ultimate purpose of the roasted item. It is used for the consumption of the Passover lamb Exodus 12:8 and the flesh roasted by the man in Isaiah's prophecy Isaiah 44:16.
- H1320 bâsâr (flesh): This term identifies what is being roasted. In both the Passover account Exodus 12:8 and the prophecy in Isaiah Isaiah 44:16, it is flesh that is prepared by being roasted.
The significance of H6748 is found in its specific and prescribed contexts.
- Ritual Purity: As part of the Passover ordinance, the requirement to roast the lamb, as opposed to boiling it, sets the meal apart as a sacred act dictated by God. It defines a specific method of preparation for a foundational religious observance Exodus 12:9.
- Prophetic Rebuke: In Isaiah, the act of preparing a roast meal is used to highlight the foolishness of idolatry. The same material that serves the basic human need for warmth and cooked food is nonsensically fashioned into an object of worship, demonstrating the idol's mundane and powerless origin Isaiah 44:16.
- Divine Command: The use of tsâlîy in Exodus underscores the importance of precise obedience to God's instructions. The method of cooking was not a suggestion but a core component of the commandment itself.
In summary, H6748 is a precise term meaning roast. While its usage is rare, it carries significant weight in its contexts. It is crucial to the regulations of the Passover, establishing a specific method for a sacred meal, and serves as a powerful illustration in Isaiah's critique of idol worship. The word demonstrates how a simple culinary instruction can be imbued with deep ritual and theological importance.
TRV