from עָלָה; a channel (into which water is raised for irrigation); also a bandage or plaster (as placed upon a wound); conduit, cured, healing, little river, trench, watercourse.
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun tᵉʻâlâh (`{{H8585}}`) derives from the verb ʻâlâh (`{{H5927}}`), meaning "to go up" or "to ascend." This etymological connection is crucial for understanding its primary semantic range. tᵉʻâlâh fundamentally refers to a "channel" or "conduit" designed to make water "go up" or flow efficiently, particularly for irrigation or supplying a city. It denotes an artificial watercourse, a trench, or an aqueduct, meticulously constructed to direct and manage water flow.
Beyond this primary meaning related to water, tᵉʻâlâh also possesses a distinct, secondary semantic range: a "bandage" or "plaster." This meaning is less frequently attested but is understood as something "placed upon" a wound, implying a covering that facilitates healing. The connection to ʻâlâh here might suggest something that "goes up onto" or "covers" a wound, or perhaps even that which helps a wound "go up" (i.e., heal or close). The broader definition provided, including "cured" and "healing," stems from this application of a bandage to promote recovery.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of tᵉʻâlâh (`{{H8585}}`) in the Hebrew Bible primarily highlight its function as a water channel:
* In [[1 Kings 18:32]], during Elijah's dramatic confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, he commands the people to dig a "trench" (תְּעָלָה) around the altar. This trench was then filled with water, emphasizing the miraculous nature of God's fire consuming the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and even the water in the trench. Here, tᵉʻâlâh denotes a ditch designed to contain a significant volume of water.
* [[Job 38:25]] uses tᵉʻâlâh in a poetic description of God's omnipotence and wisdom in creation: "Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain, and a way for the thunderbolt?" Here, tᵉʻâlâh refers to the natural "channels" or courses through which God directs the powerful forces of nature, specifically torrential rain. It underscores divine control over the elements.
* In [[Isaiah 7:3]] and its parallel in [[Isaiah 36:2]] (also [[2 Kings 18:17]]), tᵉʻâlâh refers to the "conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller's Field." This location was strategically important for Jerusalem's water supply. In Isaiah 7, God instructs the prophet to meet King Ahaz at this conduit, a place symbolizing Jerusalem's vulnerability and reliance on water, amidst the threat of the Syro-Ephraimitic war. The conduit represents both a vital resource and a point of potential attack, making it a significant location for a divine message of trust.
* [[Joel 1:20]] laments the devastating effects of drought and locusts: "The streams of water are dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness." Here, tᵉʻâlâh refers to the "watercourses" or channels that have become parched, signifying divine judgment and desolation.
* [[Ezekiel 31:4]] uses tᵉʻâlâh in a majestic description of Assyria (or Pharaoh) likened to a mighty cedar, whose roots were nourished by "rivers" (תְּעָלוֹת) that flowed around it. This imagery emphasizes the source of the tree's immense growth and power, drawing parallels to the life-giving nature of water channels.
The "bandage" or "healing" sense of tᵉʻâlâh is less explicit in biblical texts, though it is present in the broader lexical definition. Its primary use is consistently related to the management and flow of water, whether natural or artificial.
### Related Words & Concepts
The most immediate related word is the root verb ʻâlâh (`{{H5927}}`), from which tᵉʻâlâh is derived. This root's semantic range of "to go up," "ascend," "bring up," or "offer" provides the conceptual foundation for tᵉʻâlâh as a structure that facilitates the upward movement or controlled flow of water.
Other related terms for water bodies and their management include:
* nâdîb (`{{H5081}}`): "stream" or "torrent."
* nâhar (`{{H5104}}`): "river."
* naḥal (`{{H5158}}`): "wadi" or "torrent-bed," often seasonal.
* mayim (`{{H4325}}`): "water," the essential element itself.
Concepts related to tᵉʻâlâh include:
* **Irrigation and Agriculture:** The very purpose of many tᵉʻâlâh structures was to bring life-sustaining water to crops and fields, essential for ancient economies.
* **Urban Planning and Defense:** Conduits were crucial for supplying cities, especially during sieges, making them strategic assets.
* **Divine Provision and Judgment:** Water, channeled or withheld, is often a sign of God's blessing or judgment in the biblical narrative.
* **Healing and Restoration:** While less prominent for tᵉʻâlâh itself, the secondary meaning of "bandage" connects it to the broader biblical theme of divine healing and restoration, often expressed through verbs like râphâ (`{{H7495}}` - to heal).
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of tᵉʻâlâh (`{{H8585}}`) primarily revolves around God's sovereignty over creation, particularly His control over water, which is fundamental for life.
1. **Divine Provision and Sustenance:** The presence of tᵉʻâlâh in contexts of irrigation and city supply highlights God as the ultimate provider of life-sustaining water. Even when humans construct channels, their effectiveness depends on God's provision of rain. The imagery in Ezekiel 31, where the great tree is nourished by many channels, speaks to the divine source of life and power.
2. **Divine Judgment and Desolation:** Conversely, the drying up of tᵉʻâlâh (as in Joel 1:20) serves as a potent symbol of divine judgment, bringing desolation and death to the land. This underscores God's power to withhold blessings as a consequence of human sin.
3. **Trust and Reliance:** The reference to the "conduit of the upper pool" in Isaiah 7 and 36 serves as a powerful theological backdrop for the call to trust in God. While Jerusalem's physical survival depended on its water supply, the spiritual lesson for King Ahaz was to rely on God's protection rather than human alliances. The conduit, a human construct, becomes a stage for demonstrating divine faithfulness.
4. **Miraculous Power:** Elijah's use of a tᵉʻâlâh (trench) in [[1 Kings 18:32]] amplifies the miraculous nature of God's power. The drenching of the sacrifice and the trench with water made it humanly impossible for fire to consume them, thereby magnifying the divine intervention.
5. **Healing and Wholeness (Secondary):** Although less prominent, the "bandage" meaning of tᵉʻâlâh subtly connects to the broader biblical theme of healing. Just as a physical channel brings life-giving water, God is the ultimate source of spiritual and physical healing, providing the "channels" through which restoration flows.
### Summary
The Hebrew word tᵉʻâlâh (`{{H8585}}`), derived from ʻâlâh (`{{H5927}}` - to go up), carries a primary meaning of an artificial "channel," "conduit," or "trench" designed for the strategic management and flow of water. This is evident in its biblical occurrences, which depict its use in irrigation, urban water supply, and dramatic demonstrations of divine power (e.g., Elijah's trench). tᵉʻâlâh also appears in contexts illustrating God's control over natural phenomena and as a symbol of both divine provision and judgment. A secondary, less frequent meaning refers to a "bandage" or "plaster," implying a covering that aids in healing. Theologically, tᵉʻâlâh underscores God's sovereignty over creation, particularly His control over life-sustaining water, and serves as a backdrop for themes of divine provision, judgment, and the call to trust in His unfailing power.
TRV