תְּעָלָה

a channel (into which water is raised for irrigation); also a bandage or plaster (as placed upon a wound)

Definition

The Hebrew word תְּעָלָה (tᵉʻâlâh) primarily refers to a constructed channel or conduit for water, often used for irrigation or as part of a city's water system, as seen in the account of Hezekiah's tunnel (2 Kings 20:20). In a dramatic prophetic context, Elijah uses it to describe the trench dug around an altar to hold water (1 Kings 18:32, 35). A secondary, derived meaning is a 'bandage' or 'plaster' for a wound, a metaphorical extension of something that channels or contains, used in Job 38:25 where God speaks of preparing a channel for the torrents of rain.

Biblical Usage

This word appears 11 times, primarily in historical narratives (Kings, Isaiah) and once in poetic discourse (Job). Its most common usage describes physical water channels, such as the 'conduit of the upper pool' where Assyrian officials stood (Isaiah 7:3; 36:2). The usage in 1 Kings 18 is central to Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal, where he orders a trench to be dug and filled with water. The metaphorical use as a 'bandage' appears only in Job 38:25 in the context of God's sovereign control over creation.

Etymology

Derived from the root עָלָה (ʻālâ, H5927), meaning 'to go up, ascend, or climb.' The noun form תְּעָלָה thus carries the sense of something that 'causes to go up,' fitting both major meanings: a channel raises water for irrigation, and a bandage may be applied (lifted onto) a wound. This connection highlights the functional purpose of the object.

Semantic Range

This word connects to themes of divine provision and intervention. In the historical books, water channels like Hezekiah's tunnel represent human ingenuity under God's guidance for survival (2 Kings 20:20). In 1 Kings 18, the water-filled trench becomes part of the stage for God's dramatic fiery answer, demonstrating His supreme power over false gods. In Job 38:25, God's rhetorical question about preparing a channel for rain underscores His absolute sovereignty and meticulous care in governing the natural world, challenging human understanding.

In ancient Israel, engineered water channels were vital for agriculture and urban survival, especially in siege warfare. Hezekiah's tunnel is a famous archaeological example. The 'conduit of the upper pool' was likely a known public waterworks location in Jerusalem. The metaphorical leap to 'bandage' reflects an ancient understanding of medicine where a plaster or wrap was applied to contain or direct healing to a wound.

פַּלְגֵּי (palge, H6388) — streams, divisions of a river, more natural than constructed. תְּעָלָה specifically implies a human-made channel. יְאֹר (yᵉʼôr, H2975) — a river, stream, or canal (especially the Nile), typically larger and natural. נַחַל (nachal, H5158) — a wadi, stream bed, or valley, often seasonal and natural in formation.

Word Details

Scripture References