Hebrew word · H6754

צֶ֫לֶם

tzalmei

image

A concrete, physical representation: a statue or idol (Num 33:52; 2 Kgs 11:18; Amos 5:26; Ezek 7:20; 16:17), model figures (the golden “images” of tumours and mice, 1 Sam 6:5, 11), and, poetically, a mere shadow or phantom (Ps 39:6; 73:20).

Appears 17 times in 15 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) image

1a) images (of tumours, mice, heathen gods)

1b) image, likeness (of resemblance)

1c) mere, empty, image, semblance (fig.)

Aramaic equivalent: tse.lem (צְלֵם "image" H6755)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Genesis 1:26

Range of meaning

A concrete, physical representation: a statue or idol (Num 33:52; 2 Kgs 11:18; Amos 5:26; Ezek 7:20; 16:17), model figures (the golden “images” of tumours and mice, 1 Sam 6:5, 11), and, poetically, a mere shadow or phantom (Ps 39:6; 73:20). Its core is a visible form that stands for or represents something else.

Against the English

English “image” today suggests a picture, a reflection in a mirror, a public reputation, or (in theology) an inner spiritual quality. The Hebrew points first to a three-dimensional representative figure set up to stand for its owner.

How it drifted

From early on, readers shaped by Greek philosophy took the image to be an inner faculty. Philo of Alexandria located it in the mind (On the Creation 69); Augustine and medieval theology located it in reason and the soul. These ideas are not absurd, but the Hebrew word itself names a representative form, not a faculty.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Akkadian cognate ṣalmu is used for statues of gods and kings; Assyrian court letters call the king “the very image (ṣalmu) of Bel” or of Shamash. In Egypt the pharaoh is called the god's “living image” (Tutankhamun's name means “living image of Amun”). A 9th-century BCE statue from Tell Fekheriyeh in Syria carries an Aramaic inscription calling the statue of a ruler both its ṣlm (tselem) and its dmwt (demut), the same pair as in this verse. Kings set up their images in conquered lands to mark their rule.

From the study of Psalm 39:6

Range of meaning

Usually a concrete image: an idol or statue (Num 33:52; 2 Kgs 11:18; Amos 5:26), carved models (1 Sam 6:5), figures painted on a wall (Ezek 23:14), and humanity made "in the image" of God (Gen 1:26–27; 9:6). In two psalm passages (here and Ps 73:20, where God "despises their tselem" like a dream on waking) it means an insubstantial form: a semblance, a phantom, a shadow-likeness.

Against the English

KJV's "vain shew" means an empty appearance. BSB, NIV and NASB have "phantom." ESV and WEB have "shadow." YLT keeps "image." The English "phantom" can suggest a ghost, which is not the point. The point is a figure that looks like something but has no lasting substance.

How it drifted

No real drift. Choosing between "shadow" and "image" hides that this is the same word as Genesis 1:26.

Used elsewhere in the period

BDB lists Ps 39:7 and 73:20 under "semblance." HALOT likewise gives "mere image, shadow." Some scholars connect it with the root behind tsel ("shadow") and tsalmavet ("deep darkness"). The Septuagint has en eikoni ("in an image") and the Vulgate in imagine. Both read it as "image," not "shadow." In Aramaic the cognate tslm means statue or image, as in Daniel 3.

From the study of Amos 5:26

Range of meaning

Image, statue, likeness, representation. It means a physical figure (e.g., 2 Kings 11:18, the images of Baal; Ezekiel 7:20) and is also used of humanity as God's 'image' (Genesis 1:26–27).

Against the English

'Images' (KJV, YLT), 'idols' (BSB, NIV). 'Idols' is accurate here but loses the link with the Genesis word.

Used elsewhere in the period
  • Old Testament. Used of cult statues in 2 Kings 11:18, Ezekiel 16:17 and Numbers 33:52.
  • Aramaic. The cognate ṣlm is the standard word for a statue in Aramaic inscriptions (e.g., the Tell Fakhariyeh statue of a ruler, 9th century BC).

Where it appears

Genesis · 5

  1. Genesis 1:26 בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ in image our

    Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.”

    Here: Tselem is a concrete word: a statue, a carved or cast figure, often the image of a god or king that stands for him. Humanity is to be God's representative figure in the world. The preposition “in” may mean “as” (“as our image”); see debates.

  2. Genesis 1:27 בְּצַלְמ֔וֹ בְּצֶ֥לֶם in own image his, in [the] image of

    So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

    Here: Tselem is a concrete word: a statue, a carved or cast figure that stands for someone. 'In his image' (or 'as his image') makes humanity God's own representation placed within his world.

  3. Genesis 5:3 כְּצַלְמ֑וֹ according to image his

    When Adam was 130 years old, he had a son in his own likeness, after his own image; and he named him Seth.

  4. Genesis 9:6 בְּצֶ֣לֶם in [the] image of

    Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

    Here: 'In (the) image of'. Tselem is a concrete word for a statue or carved figure that stands for someone. Humans are God's representative figures on earth.

Numbers · 1

  1. Numbers 33:52 צַלְמֵ֤י [the] images of

    you must drive out before you all the inhabitants of the land, destroy all their carved images and cast idols, and demolish all their high places.

    Here: 'Statues, figures of.' This is the ordinary word for a representational image. It is the same word used when humanity is made 'in the image of God' (Gen 1:26–27).

1 Samuel · 3

  1. 1 Samuel 6:5 צַלְמֵ֨י וְצַלְמֵ֣י images of, and images of

    Make images of your tumors and of the rats that are ravaging the land. Give glory to the God of Israel, and perhaps He will lift His hand from you and your gods and your land.

    Here: Three-dimensional likenesses or models, here cast in gold (v. 4). The same word used for humans made 'in the image' of God in Genesis 1, and for idol statues elsewhere.

  2. 1 Samuel 6:11 צַלְמֵ֥י [the] images of

    Then they put the ark of the LORD on the cart, along with the chest containing the gold rats and the images of the tumors.

2 Kings · 1

  1. 2 Kings 11:18 צְלָמָיו֙ images its

    So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. And Jehoiada the priest posted guards for the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles · 1

  1. 2 Chronicles 23:17 צְלָמָ֖יו images its

    So all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

Psalms · 2

  1. Psalm 39:6 בְּצֶ֤לֶם׀ <in> an image

    Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

    Here: "As an image," meaning as a mere outline or shadow-figure with no substance behind it. The preposition be- here means "as" or "in the form of" (grammarians call this the be- of essence).

  2. Psalm 73:20 צַלְמָ֬ם image their

    Like one waking from a dream, so You, O Lord, awaken and despise their form.

Ezekiel · 3

  1. Ezekiel 7:20 וְצַלְמֵ֧י and [the] images of

    His beautiful ornaments they transformed into pride and used them to fashion their vile images and detestable idols. Therefore I will make these into something unclean for them.

    Here: Statues with a physical form, here cast or overlaid in metal. It is the same word as 'image of God' in Genesis 1:26-27. Ezekiel 16:17 uses it for the figures Jerusalem made out of God-given gold and silver.

  2. Ezekiel 16:17 צַלְמֵ֣י images of

    You also took the fine jewelry of gold and silver I had given you, and you made male idols with which to prostitute yourself.

  3. Ezekiel 23:14 צַלְמֵ֣י [the] images of

    But Oholibah carried her prostitution even further. She saw the men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans, engraved in vermilion,

Amos · 1

  1. Amos 5:26 צַלְמֵיכֶ֑ם images your

    You have taken along Sakkuth your king and Kaiwan your star god, the idols you made for yourselves.

    Here: Your cult statues: physical, handmade figures of the gods that could be lifted and carried. The plural sits awkwardly beside one god's name, which is one reason scholars suspect the word order has been disturbed.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.