טָלָא
ta.la
to spot
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word טָלָא, Strong's H2921, means "to spot" based on its eight occurrences in the Bible. This verb suggests the presence of marks or blemishes that distinguish one thing from another. The word does not necessarily imply a negative connotation, as spots can also serve as identifying features. The usage of this word spans various contexts in the Bible, including descriptions of animals, garments, and even the earth itself. This breadth of application indicates that the concept of spotting is significant across different domains. Furthermore, the fact that the word appears eight times in the Bible implies it was considered relatively important or relevant to the writers. While the meaning of "to spot" may seem straightforward, its range of application reveals the complexity of Hebrew thought. The word highlights the idea that distinguishing features can be both physical and metaphysical, and its appearances in the Bible reflect an early emphasis on observation, identification, and categorization.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
8 total occurrences across the text
You took some of your garments, and made for yourselves high places decked with various colors, and played the prostitute on them. This shall not happen, neither shall it be.
Genesis 30:32I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. This will be my hire.
Genesis 30:32I will pass through all your flock today, removing from there every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. This will be my hire.
Genesis 30:33So my righteousness will answer for me hereafter, when you come concerning my hire that is before you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, that might be with me, will be considered stolen.”
Genesis 30:35That day, he removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
Genesis 30:35That day, he removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.
Genesis 30:39The flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks produced streaked, speckled, and spotted.
Joshua 9:5and old and patched sandals on their feet, and wore old garments. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy.