Original Word: צֶאֶל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: tse'el
Pronunciation: tseh-leem
Phonetic Spelling: (tseh'-el)
KJV: shady tree
NASB: lotus plants
Word Origin: [from an unused root meaning to be slender]

1. the lotus tree

shady tree

From an unused root meaning to be slender; the lotus tree -- shady tree.

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
(a kind of) lotus
NASB Translation
lotus plants (2).

צֶאֱלִים noun masculine plural a kind of lotus (Rhamnus (more exactly Zizyphus), Lotus [Linn.], thorny lotus (not sacred Nymphea Lotus; Saad , compare AW De^{Job 2}, Syriac , see Löw^{p. 275}); — Job 40:21,22.

צאן (√ of following; Dl^{Pr 87 f.; HWB} compare Assyrian ƒênu, adjective, good, docile; Thes (compare Lag^{BN 136}) compare יָצָא [as πρόβατον from προβαίνω]; Assyrian ƒênu, = Biblical Hebrew צאֹן, and so Late Hebrew id., MI³¹ צאן; Arabic ; id.; Tel Amarna ƒunu is Canaanitish according to Zim^{ZA vi (1891). 156}; Aramaic עָנָא, , and perhaps Palmyrene ענא).

Overview of the Word

צֶאֶל (Strong’s Hebrew 6628) appears twice, both in the divine speech about Behemoth in Job 40. The noun denotes a protective “cover” or “shade,” a place where the creature finds repose. Though confined to Job, the idea it carries—refuge in a shady covert—threads through Scripture and enriches theology, creation studies, and pastoral application.

Occurrences and Immediate Context

Job 40:21–22 situates Behemoth “under the lotus trees” and “in the covert of the reed and marsh.” “The lotus trees conceal him in their shade”. The picture is of a massive yet tranquil beast resting where overhanging foliage screens him from the burning Near-Eastern sun. The twofold mention of צֶאֶל frames Behemoth’s seeming invulnerability: neither scorching heat nor human weapon disturbs him. In God’s rhetorical argument, Behemoth’s security under nature’s shade showcases the Creator’s wisdom and sovereign provision (Job 40:15, 19).

Creation Imagery and Habitat

Ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian wetlands were dominated by reeds, lotuses, and willows—vegetation that formed dense canopies. The lotus in particular symbolized both luxuriant beauty and hiddenness. Describing Behemoth’s “cover” within such foliage grounds the text in observable ecology while magnifying God’s governance over even the most untamable domains.

Theological Symbolism of Shade

1. Protection. Shade stands in Scripture as a metaphor for safety (Psalm 121:5; Isaiah 25:4). By describing shade for Behemoth, the Lord underlines that protection ultimately comes from Him, not from human effort or the creature’s own might.

2. Rest. “He lies under the lotus trees” (Job 40:21). Resting under shade evokes Sabbath themes of divine provision (Genesis 2:2–3; Hebrews 4:9–10).

3. Mystery. The shaded marsh is dim and difficult to survey. God is reminding Job that vast portions of His universe remain beyond human probing (Job 38:4). צֶאֶל thus contributes to the larger biblical motif of the hiddenness of divine wisdom (Deuteronomy 29:29).

Biblical Themes of Refuge

Although צֶאֶל itself is rare, Scripture frequently portrays God as a sheltering shadow:

• “You are my hiding place” (Psalm 32:7).
• “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).

These texts echo the same conceptual terrain: in dangerous environments, the believer finds safety beneath God’s covering presence, just as Behemoth finds refuge beneath the lotus canopy. The natural world becomes a living parable of spiritual truth.

Historical and Literary Significance

In the Ancient Near East, deities of chaos were often linked with beasts of marsh and sea. Job’s Behemoth, however, is no rival god but a creature firmly within Yahweh’s grasp. צֶאֶל contributes to the narrative’s polemic: even the habitats thought untamable are ordered spaces where God provides cover. Literary critics note that the chiastic repetition of “lotus…shade” heightens the aesthetic balance of the speech, reinforcing its didactic aim.

Ministry Applications

1. Assurance in Suffering. Job’s suffering readers are invited to behold a scene where God quietly upholds His creatures. If He grants shelter to Behemoth, how much more will He guard His covenant people (Matthew 6:26).

2. Stewardship of Creation. Wetland environments, pictured as divinely sustained refuges, remind believers to steward such habitats responsibly, participating in God’s ongoing care.

3. Preaching Christ. The motif of shelter culminates in Jesus Christ, who offers ultimate refuge: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The preacher may segue from Behemoth’s shade to the cross, where true covering is found.

Related Passages for Further Study

Genesis 3:8; Deuteronomy 32:11; Ruth 2:12; Psalm 17:8; Psalm 36:7; Isaiah 32:2; Jonah 4:5–6.

Conclusion

צֶאֶל, though rare, opens a window onto God’s sustaining governance over creation and His deeper promise of refuge for His people. Behemoth’s shaded covert is not only a zoological note; it is a theological signpost directing readers to trust the One who provides shelter “from the scorching heat” and eternal rest for every soul that seeks Him.

צֶאֱלִ֣ים צֶאֱלִ֥ים צאלים ṣe’ĕlîm ṣe·’ĕ·lîm tzeeLimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts