תְּכֵ֫לֶת48 H8504
blue/violet — the precious violet-blue dye and yarn used for sacred textiles and tabernacle furnishings
Tekhelet is the violet-blue dye extracted from the murex sea snail, one of the most prized colorants of the ancient world. Nearly all of its 49 occurrences appear in Exodus and Numbers in connection with the tabernacle: the curtains (Exod 26:1), the veil (26:31), the ephod and breastplate (28:6, 15), and the cord fastening the golden plate to the turban (28:37). The color almost always appears in the sacred triad of tekhelet, argaman (purple), and tola'at shani (scarlet) — a trio that reappears in the temple hangings of 2 Chronicles 2-3 and even the palace decor of Esther 1:6. The single non-cultic command is striking: every Israelite was to attach a thread of tekhelet to the fringes of their garment as a reminder to keep God's commandments (Num 15:38). The LXX renders it hyakinthos ('hyacinth'), pointing to a blue-violet hue. Translations converge: Spanish 'azul,' French 'bleu,' German 'blau.'
Senses
1. blue (violet-blue yarn/fabric) — The violet-blue dye derived from the murex snail, and by metonymy the yarn, thread, or fabric dyed with it. Overwhelmingly a cultic textile term, appearing in the triad tekhelet-argaman-tola'at shani (blue-purple-scarlet) for tabernacle curtains, veils, and priestly vestments (Exod 25:4; 26:1, 31, 36; 28:5-33). Also used for the blue cord of the high priest's turban plate (Exod 28:37; 39:31), the covering cloths for sacred vessels during transport (Num 4:6-12), and the citizen's garment fringe (Num 15:38). Extends to temple and palace hangings (2 Chr 2:6; Esth 1:6). All 49 occurrences share this single color-and-textile sense. 49×
AR["أسمانجونيٍّ", "أسمانجونيّاً", "أسمانجونيّةٍ", "أَسمانجونِيٌّ", "أَسمانجونِيٍّ", "أَسمانجونِيَّةً", "أَسمانجونِيّاً", "أَسْمَانْجُونِيًّا", "أَسْمَانْجُونِيٌّ", "أَسْمَانْجُونِيٍّ"]·ben["নীল", "নীলের"]·DE["blau"]·EN["blue"]·FR["bleu"]·heb["תכלת"]·HI["नीला", "नीली", "नीले", "नीले-की", "नीले-के"]·ID["biru", "kain biru", "kain-biru"]·IT["violetto"]·jav["biru", "biru,", "biru."]·KO["청색", "청색과", "청색의"]·PT["azul"]·RU["голубая-шерсть", "голубой", "голубой-шерсти", "голубую", "голубую-шерсть", "голубые", "голубым"]·ES["azul"]·SW["bluu", "la-bluu", "vya-bluu", "wa-bluu", "ya-bluu"]·TR["lacivert"]·urd["آسمانی", "آسمانی-کا", "آسمانی-کے", "نیلا", "نیلے-کے"]
Exod 25:4, Exod 26:1, Exod 26:4, Exod 26:31, Exod 26:36, Exod 27:16, Exod 28:5, Exod 28:6, Exod 28:8, Exod 28:15, Exod 28:28, Exod 28:31 (+37 more)
Related Senses
H2719 1. sword, weapon of war (410×)H4196 1. altar (place of sacrifice) (403×)H7393 1. chariot, chariotry (117×)H7198 1. bow (weapon) (72×)H7979 1. table (71×)H7782 1. ram's horn trumpet (69×)H4294 2. staff, rod, scepter (63×)H4043 1. shield, defensive weapon (60×)H0646 1. ephod (priestly garment) (49×)H2595 1. spear, lance (48×)H2671 1. arrow, projectile weapon (46×)H4818 1. chariot, war-chariot (44×)H3658 1. lyre, harp (stringed instrument) (42×)H1537 1. Gilgal (place name) (41×)H0713 1. purple (fabric/dye) (38×)H0905 3. poles, staves (37×)H7392 1. Qal participle: rider, charioteer (37×)H4501 1. cultic lampstand (menorah) (36×)H0212 1. wheel (35×)H7626 2. rod, staff, stick (33×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
תְּכֵ֫לֶת48 n.f. violet, i.e. violet thread and stuff; 𝔊; usually ὑάκινθος, ὑακίνθινος; v. ThatcherHast.DB Colours (NH = BH; 𝔗 תִּכְלָא, תַּכְלָא, תְּכֵילְתָּא);— 1. violet thread (spun, Ex 35:25; woven, 39:3): a. in Ex (P) of hangings of tabern., ephod, etc., ת׳ + אַרְגָּמָן, תּוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי (q.v.; often also שֵׁשׁ, זהב), Ex 25:4; 26:1; 28:5, 6; 28:33; 35:25 + 20 times; of temple hangings (+…