טַלְטֵלָה
overthrow or rejection
Definition
The Hebrew noun טַלְטֵלָה (ṭalṭêlâh) primarily means 'overthrow' or 'rejection,' conveying a sense of being violently cast down or removed from a position. It is used in Isaiah 22:17 to describe God's judgment against Shebna, the royal steward, who will be violently 'hurled away' from his office like a ball into a wide land. The term emphasizes a forceful, humiliating removal, often as an act of divine judgment. While the KJV translates it as 'captivity,' the core idea is the act of overturning or casting out rather than the state of being captured.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 22:17. It is used in a prophetic oracle of judgment against a specific individual, Shebna, who abused his position of trust. The context is a dramatic announcement of his imminent and disgraceful removal from his role as steward over the royal household, illustrating God's authority to depose the proud and corrupt.
Etymology
Derived from the root טוּל (ṭûl, H2904), which means 'to throw' or 'to hurl.' The noun form טַלְטֵלָה is an intensive or iterative construction, emphasizing a repeated or forceful act of throwing or casting away. This root connection solidifies its meaning of violent overthrow or rejection.
Semantic Range
This word highlights the biblical theme of God's sovereign judgment against human pride and corruption, especially among leaders. In Isaiah 22:17, it underscores that God actively intervenes in human affairs to overturn unjust authority. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading by emphasizing the forceful, decisive, and humiliating nature of divine judgment on those who misuse power, contrasting human ambition with God's ultimate control.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, the removal of a high official like a royal steward was a profound public disgrace. Being 'hurled away' like a ball suggested being treated as an insignificant object, stripped of all dignity and status. This would have been a powerful image of complete societal rejection and loss of honor, which was paramount in that culture.
הָפַךְ (hāp̄aḵ, H2015) — a more general term for 'to overturn' or 'overthrow,' often of cities or nations. מָאַס (māʾas, H3988) — means 'to reject' or 'despise,' focusing on the attitude of rejection rather than the physical act of removal.
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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