תָּלַל
to pile up, i.e. elevate
Definition
The Hebrew verb תָּלַל (tâlal) means 'to pile up' or 'to elevate,' specifically in the sense of raising something high or making it prominent. In its single biblical occurrence in Ezekiel 17:22, it describes God taking a tender shoot from the top of a cedar and planting it on a high mountain, making it eminent or conspicuous. This action symbolizes exaltation and establishment. The word conveys the idea of lifting something up for display or significance, rather than merely a physical stacking of materials.
Biblical Usage
תָּלַל is used only once in the Old Testament, in Ezekiel 17:22. It appears in a prophetic allegory where God promises to take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar and plant it on Israel's high mountain, making it eminent. The context is one of restoration and exaltation, specifically relating to the future messianic kingdom. There are no other usage patterns, as it is a hapax legomenon (a word occurring only once).
Etymology
תָּלַל is a primitive root in Hebrew. It is related to the idea of elevation or piling up. A suggested cognate or comparative root is H2048 (הָתַל, hâthal), which means 'to deride' or 'deceive,' possibly through a shared concept of 'making a show' or 'being conspicuous,' though the semantic connection is not entirely clear. The root itself emphasizes the action of raising high.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is used in Ezekiel's messianic prophecy. In Ezekiel 17:22-24, God's action of taking a tender shoot and making it 'eminent' (תָּלַל) on a high mountain foreshadows the exaltation of the Messiah and the establishment of His kingdom. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by highlighting God's sovereign choice and the deliberate, glorious elevation of His chosen ruler, contrasting with human pride and downfall depicted earlier in the chapter.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, cedars of Lebanon were symbols of majesty, strength, and pride. Planting a tree on a high mountain was an image of secure establishment and prominence, often associated with royal ideology. The act described would be understood as a divine reversal—taking a seemingly insignificant 'tender shoot' and elevating it to a position of unmatched visibility and authority, countering cultural expectations of power derived from existing grandeur.
נָשָׂא (nâsâ', H5375) — a more common verb meaning 'to lift, carry, bear'; it has a broader range including taking up a burden. רוּם (rûm, H7311) — means 'to be high, exalted'; often used for dignity, pride, or literal height, but not specifically 'piling up.'
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →