Original Word: טְלָא
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tla'
Pronunciation: tay-LAH
Phonetic Spelling: (tel-aw')
KJV: lamb
Word Origin: [apparently from H2921 (טָּלָא - spotted) in the (orig.) sense of covering (for protection)]

1. a lamb

lamb

Apparently from tala' in the (orig.) Sense of covering (for protection); a lamb (compare taleh) -- lamb.

see HEBREW tala'

see HEBREW taleh

Word Origin
the same as taleh, q.v.

טָלֶה noun masculine^{1Samuel 7:9} lamb (Late Hebrew id., lamb; Aramaic טַלְיָא lamb, youth, טַלְיְתָא girl, boy, youth, girl (compare Mark 5:41 ᵑ6); Arabic young of cloven-footed animals, especially young gazelle Hom^{NS 235, Nedj.} tully, male lamb, Doughty^{Arab. Desert. i. 429, ii. 269}; Ethiopic flock of goats, goat, kid) — טְלֵה חָלָב 1 Samuel 7:9 sucking lamb (for burnt-offering); in prediction זְאֵב וְטָלֶה יִרְעוּ Isaiah 65:25 wolf & lamb shall feed; טְלָאִים plural of foregoing, only Isaiah 40:11 in metaphor of ׳י shepherding his people.

טלטלה see below טוּל.

I. טלל (√ of following; meaning dubious; perhaps denominative are Arabic (the sky) rained fine rain; Ethiopic be (moist), fat, II. fertilize).

Scriptural Placement

The noun appears once, in Isaiah 40:11, within a passage that opens the Book of Isaiah’s second half (“Comfort, comfort My people…”). The prophetic vision looks beyond the Babylonian exile to the tender, restorative care the Lord promises His people.

Shepherd-Lamb Imagery

Isaiah paints the Lord as a shepherd who “gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart” (Isaiah 40:11). The lambs represent the most vulnerable members of the flock—newborn, defenseless, totally dependent. Their inclusion underscores God’s attentiveness to the weakest, a theme echoed in Psalm 23:1-4, Ezekiel 34:11-16, and ultimately John 10:11-15 where Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd.”

Historical Context

When Isaiah 40 was first proclaimed, Judah faced exile and the apparent collapse of every national hope. Yet amid geopolitical disaster the prophet reveals a God who will personally shepherd His scattered people home. The single occurrence of the term therefore serves as a deliberate counterpoint to the vastness of Israel’s crisis: even the tiniest lamb is not overlooked.

Messianic Foreshadowing

Throughout Scripture the shepherd-lamb motif crescendos in the Messiah. John the Baptist calls Jesus “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). Revelation 7:17 unites the images when “the Lamb… will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water.” Isaiah’s lone reference anticipates this union: the One who bears the lambs is Himself the Lamb who bears away sin (Isaiah 53:7; 1 Peter 1:19).

Worship and Sacrifice

In the sacrificial system, lambs epitomized purity and substitution (Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 4:32). Isaiah’s picture of carried lambs implicitly recalls the Passover as well as daily offerings, reminding readers that covenant fellowship rests on God’s gracious provision. The servant-shepherd both supplies and becomes the sacrifice.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

1. Care for the Vulnerable: Just as the Shepherd cradles lambs, church leaders are called to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you” (1 Peter 5:2), valuing the frail and immature.
2. Gentle Guidance: The verse models leadership marked by nearness and gentleness, not coercion (compare Matthew 11:28-30).
3. Assurance of Presence: Believers facing exile-like circumstances can rest in arms that never tire (Hebrews 13:5).

Theological Reflections

The solitary use of the word magnifies a singular truth: God’s infinite greatness (Isaiah 40:12-26) coexists with intimate tenderness (Isaiah 40:11). Omnipotence does not distance Him from human need; it guarantees His ability to meet it. The motif therefore reinforces the consistency of Scripture’s portrayal of divine character—majestic, yet personally involved.

Summary

Though occurring only once, the term opens a window into the heart of God’s redemptive plan: the Almighty Shepherd lovingly gathers each lamb, prefiguring the incarnate Shepherd-Lamb who secures eternal comfort for His flock.

טְלָאִ֔ים טלאים ṭə·lā·’îm ṭəlā’îm telaImInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts