טָלֶה
a lamb
Definition
The Hebrew noun טָלֶה (ṭâleh) refers specifically to a young lamb, a small sheep. It appears only twice in the Old Testament, both times in prophetic contexts depicting peace and restoration. In 1 Samuel 7:9, Samuel offers a טָלֶה as a whole burnt offering to the Lord, symbolizing intercession and atonement. In Isaiah 65:25, the word is used in a powerful eschatological vision where the wolf and the lamb (טָלֶה) feed together, representing the ultimate peace and harmony of God's renewed creation.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Hebrew Bible. Its usage is exclusively in prophetic or intercessory contexts. In 1 Samuel 7:9, it is the sacrificial animal offered by Samuel. In Isaiah 65:25, it is the peaceful animal in the prophetic vision of the new creation. There is no pattern of common, everyday usage; it appears in highly significant theological passages.
Etymology
The word טָלֶה (ṭâleh) is considered a by-form or variation of the more common word for a young lamb, טְלָא (ṭəlā’, H2922). It shares a root with words related to being tender or young. The variation likely represents a slight dialectical or stylistic difference, but the core meaning of a young, tender lamb remains consistent.
Semantic Range
Though a simple noun, טָלֶה gains theological weight from its specific contexts. In 1 Samuel 7:9, it is an instrument of intercession, pointing to the sacrificial system that prefigures Christ, the ultimate Lamb. In Isaiah 65:25, it becomes a central symbol of the Messianic peace of God's kingdom, where natural enmity is abolished. Understanding this Hebrew term connects the concepts of atoning sacrifice and eschatological restoration.
In ancient Israel, a young lamb (טָלֶה) was a valuable pastoral asset and a standard, acceptable offering for sacrifices, as seen in 1 Samuel. Its tenderness made it suitable for food and symbolic of innocence. The powerful imagery in Isaiah 65:25 subverts the natural predator-prey relationship, using the culturally understood vulnerability of the lamb to illustrate the profound transformation of God's future peace.
כֶּבֶשׂ (keḇeś, H3532) — a more general and frequent term for a lamb or sheep, of any age. שֶׂה (śeh, H7716) — a broad term for one of a flock, a sheep or goat. טְלָא (ṭəlā’, H2922) — the direct variant, also meaning a young lamb.
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.
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