Bible Word Study
צְלֶלְפּוֹנִי
Tsᵉlelpôwnîy · Tselelponi, an Israelitess
צְלֶלְפּוֹנִי
Tselelponi, an Israelitess
Definition
צְלֶלְפּוֹנִי (Tsᵉlelpôwnîy) is a proper name given to a woman in the genealogy of Judah, recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:3. She is identified as the sister of Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash, and is a daughter of Etam. The name is a compound word meaning 'shade-facing' or 'turning to the shadow,' which may poetically suggest seeking refuge or protection. As a proper noun, it refers solely to this individual Israelite woman, and no other meanings or applications are found in the biblical text.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 4:3, within a genealogical list. It functions strictly as a personal name for a female descendant in the tribe of Judah. The context is purely historical and familial, providing a record of lineage without narrative detail about her life or actions.
Etymology
The name is derived from two Hebrew roots: צֵלֶל (tsêlel, H6752), meaning 'shade' or 'shadow,' and the active participle of פָּנָה (pânâh, H6437), meaning 'to turn.' Thus, the name is a compound meaning 'shade-facing' or 'one who turns to the shadow.' This construction is typical of Hebrew names that convey a poetic or descriptive idea, possibly alluding to a hope for divine shelter or a characteristic of the individual.
Semantic Range
While the name itself is not central to major doctrines, its presence in the genealogy of Judah (the tribe of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ) underscores the biblical value of every individual in God's redemptive plan. The meaning of the name ('shade-facing') can remind readers of God as a refuge and protector (Psalm 91:1), illustrating how even names in genealogies can echo theological themes of divine care. In ancient Israelite culture, names often carried significant meaning, reflecting circumstances of birth, parental hopes, or character traits. A name like 'Shade-facing' likely conveyed a positive connotation of finding comfort, protection, or refreshment, as shade was a vital relief in a hot, arid climate. Its use for a woman in a genealogy highlights that women were recorded and valued in the official lineage records of Israel. No direct synonyms exist as it is a unique proper name. However, other Hebrew names formed from צֵל (tsêl, H6738) include Bezalel (בְּצַלְאֵל, H1212) — 'in the shadow of God.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]