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Hebrew noun (masculine) · H5553

סֶלַע

selaseh'-lah

rock

58 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key

Concordance spelling: çelaʻ

Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H5553is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.

  • 17 of 39
    Old Testament books
  • 41
    spellings

The definition in full

Strong's key (1890) · H5553

a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)

The King James renders it: (ragged) rock, stone(-ny), strong hold.

James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.

Summary

sela is rendered "rock". It stands 58 times in the Hebrew text, across seventeen books.

  • Nine of the uses stand in Psalms, more than in any other book.
  • Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Numbers 20:8“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”
  • The Greek text spells it forty-one different ways.

The first use

“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”

Numbers 20:8הַסֶּ֛לַע

The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.

Where the word stands

The word stands in seventeen of the 39 Old Testament books.

The other 22 Old Testament books never use the word.

What the word means

Each meaning, and the words it is translated by

How the Greek text is glossed, word by word

  • the rock14
  • rock7
  • a rock5
  • rock my5
  • rock of4
  • from a rock3
  • in the rock3
  • at rock of2
  • the cliff2
  • the cliffs2
  • the rocks2
  • among the rock1

and 8 more, 58 uses in all

The words built on the same word-part

Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.

Other numbers on this spelling

Strong gave these words the same spelling and different numbers, so the site counts and defines them apart.

The words it stands beside

All 58, in canonical order

Every use, in order

Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.

41 spellings and their grammar

STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.

How it is spelled

  • סֶ֣לַע4
  • הַסֶּ֔לַע3
  • הַסָּֽלַע׃3
  • בְּסֶ֣לַע2
  • הַסֶּ֛לַע2
  • הַסֶּ֣לַע2
  • הַסָּ֑לַע2
  • הַסְּלָעִ֑ים2
  • הַסְּלָעִֽים׃2
  • מִסֶּ֔לַע2
  • סֶ֥לַע2
  • סָ֑לַע2

and 29 more spellings in the ledger below.

The grammar of each form

  • the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singular16HTd/Ncmsa
  • noun · masculine singular12HNcmsa
  • noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singular5HNcmsc/Sp1bs
  • preposition with the article + noun · masculine singular5HRd/Ncmsa
  • the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine plural5HTd/Ncmpa
  • noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)4HNcmsc
  • preposition + noun · masculine singular4HR/Ncmsa
  • noun · masculine plural3HNcmpa
  • preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)2HR/Ncmsc
  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular1HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
  • conjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · masculine plural1HC/Rd/Ncmpa

Numbers

six uses
  • “Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”

    Numbers 20:8

    • הַסֶּ֛לַעhasela'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock
    • הַסֶּ֔לַעhasela'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock
  • Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”

    Numbers 20:10

    • הַסָּ֑לַעhasala'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock
    • הַסֶּ֣לַעhasela'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock
  • Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.

    Numbers 20:11

    • הַסֶּ֛לַעhasela'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock
  • Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying: “Your dwelling place is secure, and your nest is set in a cliff.

    Numbers 24:21

    • בַּסֶּ֖לַעbasela'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the rock

Deuteronomy

one use
  • He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him the produce of the field. He nourished him with honey from the rock and oil from the flinty crag,

    Deuteronomy 32:13

    • מִסֶּ֔לַעmisela'preposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: from a rock

Judges

eight uses
  • And the angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened bread, lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” And Gideon did so.

    Judges 6:20

    • הַסֶּ֣לַעhasela'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock
  • And he struck them ruthlessly with a great slaughter, and then went down and stayed in the cave at the rock of Etam.

    Judges 15:8

    • סֶ֥לַעsela'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: rock of
  • In response, three thousand men of Judah went to the cave at the rock of Etam, and they asked Samson, “Do you not realize that the Philistines rule over us? What have you done to us?” “I have done to them what they did to me,” he replied.

    Judges 15:11

    • סֶ֣לַעsela'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: rock of
  • “No,” they answered, “we will not kill you, but we will tie you up securely and hand you over to them.” So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock.

    Judges 15:13

    • הַסָּֽלַע׃hasala'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock
  • Then the Benjamites turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and Israel cut down 5,000 men on the roads. And they overtook them at Gidom and struck down 2,000 more.

    Judges 20:45

    • סֶ֣לַעsela'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: rock of
  • But 600 men turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, where they stayed four months.

    Judges 20:47

    • סֶ֣לַעsela'noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: rock of
    • בְּסֶ֣לַעbesela'preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: at rock of
  • Then the whole congregation sent a message of peace to the Benjamites who were at the rock of Rimmon.

    Judges 21:13

    • בְּסֶ֣לַעbesela'preposition + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”)tagged: at rock of

1 Samuel

four uses
  • Seeing that they were in danger because their troops were hard-pressed, the men of Israel hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in cellars and cisterns.

    1 Samuel 13:6

    • וּבַסְּלָעִ֔יםuvaselaimconjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · masculine pluraltagged: and in the cliffs
  • Now there were cliffs on both sides of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost. One was named Bozez and the other Seneh.

    1 Samuel 14:4

    • הַסֶּ֤לַעhasela'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock
    • הַסֶּ֥לַעhasela'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock
  • and Saul and his men went to seek him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard of this, he pursued David there.

    1 Samuel 23:25

    • הַסֶּ֔לַעhasela'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock

2 Samuel

one use
  • He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.

    2 Samuel 22:2

    • סַֽלְעִ֥יsalinoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: rock my

1 Kings

one use
  • Then the LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Behold, the LORD is about to pass by.” And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

    1 Kings 19:11

    • סְלָעִים֙selaimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: rocks

2 Chronicles

two uses
  • and the army of Judah also captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that all were dashed to pieces.

    2 Chronicles 25:12

    • הַסָּ֑לַעhasala'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the cliff
    • הַסֶּ֖לַעhasela'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the cliff

Nehemiah

one use
  • In their hunger You gave them bread from heaven; in their thirst You brought them water from the rock. You told them to go in and possess the land which You had sworn to give them.

    Nehemiah 9:15

    • מִסֶּ֛לַעmisela'preposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: from a rock

Job

three uses
  • “Do you know when mountain goats give birth? Have you watched the doe bear her fawn?

    Job 39:1

    • סָ֑לַעsala'noun · masculine singulartagged: rock
  • He dwells on a cliff and lodges there; his stronghold is on a rocky crag.

    Job 39:28

    • סֶ֣לַעsela'noun · masculine singulartagged: a rock
    • סֶ֝֗לַעsela'noun · masculine singulartagged: a rock

Psalms

nine uses
  • The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

    Psalms 18:2

    • סַֽלְעִ֥יsalinoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: rock my
  • For You are my rock and my fortress; lead me and guide me for the sake of Your name.

    Psalms 31:3

    • סַלְעִ֣יsalinoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: rock my
  • He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.

    Psalms 40:2

    • סֶ֥לַעsela'noun · masculine singulartagged: a rock
  • I say to God my Rock, “Why have You forgotten me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression?”

    Psalms 42:9

    • סַלְעִי֮salinoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: rock my
  • Be my rock of refuge, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.

    Psalms 71:3

    • סַלְעִ֖יsalinoun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: rock my
  • He brought streams from the stone and made water flow down like rivers.

    Psalms 78:16

    • מִסָּ֑לַעmisala'preposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: from a rock
  • The high mountains are for the wild goats, the cliffs a refuge for the rock badgers.

    Psalms 104:18

    • סְ֝לָעִ֗יםselaimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: crags
  • Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.

    Psalms 137:9

    • הַסָּֽלַע׃hasala'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock
  • When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.

    Psalms 141:6

    • סֶ֭לַעsela'noun · masculine singulartagged: a rock

Proverbs

one use
  • the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;

    Proverbs 30:26

    • בַסֶּ֣לַעvasela'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the rock

Song of Solomon

one use
  • O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.

    Song of Solomon 2:14

    • הַסֶּ֗לַעhasela'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock

Isaiah

seven uses
  • They will flee to caverns in the rocks and crevices in the cliffs, away from the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty, when He rises to shake the earth.

    Isaiah 2:21

    • הַסְּלָעִ֑יםhaselaimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the cliffs
  • And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines and clefts of the rocks, in all the thornbushes and watering holes.

    Isaiah 7:19

    • הַסְּלָעִ֑יםhaselaimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the rocks
  • What are you doing here, and who authorized you to carve out a tomb for yourself here—to chisel your tomb in the height and cut your resting place in the rock?

    Isaiah 22:16

    • בַסֶּ֖לַעvasela'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: in the rock
  • Their rock will pass away for fear, and their princes will panic at the sight of the battle standard,” declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

    Isaiah 31:9

    • וְסַלְעוֹ֙vesaloconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and rock its
  • Each will be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry land, like the shadow of a great rock in an arid land.

    Isaiah 32:2

    • סֶֽלַע־sela'-noun · masculine singulartagged: a rock
  • he will dwell on the heights; the mountain fortress will be his refuge; his food will be provided and his water assured.

    Isaiah 33:16

    • סְלָעִ֖יםselaimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: cliffs
  • who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

    Isaiah 57:5

    • הַסְּלָעִֽים׃haselaimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the cliffs

Jeremiah

seven uses
  • O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.

    Jeremiah 5:3

    • מִסֶּ֔לַעmisela'preposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: more than rock
  • “Take the loincloth that you bought and are wearing, and go at once to Perath and hide it there in a crevice of the rocks.”

    Jeremiah 13:4

    • הַסָּֽלַע׃hasala'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock
  • But for now I will send for many fishermen, declares the LORD, and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill, even from the clefts of the rocks.

    Jeremiah 16:16

    • הַסְּלָעִֽים׃haselaimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the rocks
  • “Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?”

    Jeremiah 23:29

    • סָֽלַע׃ סsala'noun · masculine singulartagged: rock
  • Abandon the towns and settle among the rocks, O dwellers of Moab! Be like a dove that nests at the mouth of a cave.

    Jeremiah 48:28

    • בַּסֶּ֔לַעbasela'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: among the rock
  • The terror you cause and the pride of your heart have deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks, O occupiers of the mountain summit. Though you elevate your nest like the eagle, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.

    Jeremiah 49:16

    • הַסֶּ֔לַעhasela'the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the rock
  • “Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, you who devastate the whole earth, declares the LORD. I will stretch out My hand against you; I will roll you over the cliffs and turn you into a charred mountain.

    Jeremiah 51:25

    • הַסְּלָעִ֔יםhaselaimthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine pluraltagged: the crags

Ezekiel

four uses
  • For the blood she shed is still within her; she poured it out on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust.

    Ezekiel 24:7

    • סֶ֖לַעsela'noun · masculine singulartagged: rock
  • In order to stir up wrath and take vengeance, I have placed her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.’

    Ezekiel 24:8

    • סָ֑לַעsala'noun · masculine singulartagged: rock
  • They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and make her a bare rock.

    Ezekiel 26:4

    • סָֽלַע׃sala'noun · masculine singulartagged: rock
  • I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread the fishing nets. You will never be rebuilt, for I, the LORD, have spoken, declares the Lord GOD.’

    Ezekiel 26:14

    • סֶ֗לַעsela'noun · masculine singulartagged: rock

Amos

one use
  • “Do horses gallop on the cliffs? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood—

    Amos 6:12

    • בַּסֶּ֙לַע֙basela'preposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: on the crag

Obadiah

one use
  • The pride of your heart has deceived you, O dwellers in the clefts of the rocks whose habitation is the heights, who say in your heart, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’

    Obadiah 1:3

    • סֶּ֖לַעsela'noun · masculine singulartagged: rock

The letters

Where it leads

How the numbers are counted

Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.

Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.

The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.

Hebrew and Greek text, word tagging and grammar: STEP Bible (www.STEPBible.org), Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0. Their grammar codes are written out in English here and shown as tagged beside each one.

Meaning and senses: STEP Bible TBESH gloss (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary key: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890, public domain). English verse text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain, 2023).

Revised 2026-09-05. Every cited work, the sources registry →