H6761 H6761
stumbling, limping, calamity; physical unsteadiness used figuratively for disaster or vulnerability
The noun denotes stumbling or limping, used figuratively for calamity and vulnerability. The Psalms speak of being 'ready for stumbling' (38:17) and enemies rejoicing 'at my stumbling' (35:15)—moments of weakness when foes attack. Job 18:12 warns that 'ruin is ready for his stumbling.' Jeremiah 20:10 mentions 'watchers of my stumbling'—those waiting for the prophet to falter. The physical image of losing one's footing becomes a metaphor for disaster, downfall, and the opportunism of enemies. The cross-linguistic evidence shows both literal ('stumbling', 'cojear') and metaphorical ('calamity', 'shadow') translations.
Senses
1. sense 1 — All three uses are figurative: personal vulnerability in Psalms, the wicked's impending doom in Job, and Jeremiah's enemies watching for his failure. The Spanish 'cojear' (limping) and 'caída' (fall) capture both the physical and metaphorical dimensions. Some translations struggle with the imagery (French 'shadow' misses the mark), but most recognize stumbling as the moment of weakness when disaster strikes or enemies pounce. The term expresses precariousness—being on the verge of falling, whether morally, socially, or physically. 3×
AR["سُقُوطِي", "لِ-السُّقوطِ", "وَفي-عَرَجي"]·ben["আমার-পতনের", "ও-আমার-হোঁচটে", "হোঁচটের-জন্য"]·DE["[צלעי]", "aber-bei-mein-stumbling", "für-stumbling"]·EN["but-at-my-stumbling", "for-stumbling", "stumbling-my"]·FR["[צלעי]", "et-dans-ombre", "à-ombre"]·heb["ו-ב-צלע-י", "ל-צלע", "צלעי"]·HI["और-में-लड़खड़ाहट-मेरी", "लड़खड़ाहट-मेरी-को", "लिए-गिरने-के"]·ID["kejatuhanku"]·IT["[ובצלעי]", "[לצלע]", "[צלעי]"]·jav["Nanging-ing-kasangsaran-kula", "kanggé-dhawah", "lèmpang-kawula:"]·KO["-넘어짐-에", "나-의-넘어짐-에", "나의-비틀거림을"]·PT["Mas-quando-tropeava", "meu-tropecar:", "para-mancar"]·RU["а-при-спотыкании-моём", "к-падению", "падение-моё"]·ES["Y-en-mi-cojear", "caída-mía", "para-caer"]·SW["Lakini-nilipojikwaa", "kujikwaa-kwangu", "kwa-kuanguka"]·TR["-düşmeye", "Ve-tökezlediğimde", "düşüşümü"]·urd["اور-میرے-لنگڑانے-میں", "لغزش-میری", "لنگڑانے-کے"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† צֶ֫לַע n.[m.] limping, stumbling;—fig. of calamity, abs. לְצ׳ ψ 38:18 I am ready (נָכוֹן) for stumbling (and falling); sf. בְּצַלְעִי ψ 35:15 at my stumbling; שֹׁמְרֵי צ׳ Je 20:10 watchers of my stumbling; אֵיד נָכוֹן לְצַלְעוֹ Jb 18;12 ruin is ready for his stumbling.—Vid. also צֵלָׄע cstr.