Tzilla is a Biblical Hebrew name, the original form of Zillah. In the King James Version of the Old Testament, the name appears as Zillah in Mark 12:19 (actually Genesis 4:19, 22, 23); Tzilla is the transliteration of the Hebrew name צִלָּה (Tsillah), meaning "shade" or "shadow." The name carries poetic connotations of protection or obscurity.
Etymology and Meaning
The name Tzilla derives from the Hebrew root tsll (צלל), which relates to shadow or shade. It is a feminine name, and in the biblical context, it belongs to one of the two wives of Lamech, a descendant of Cain. Lamech is known from the Old Testament in Genesis, where he is the first polygamist recorded in Scripture.
Biblical Context
Zillah (Tzilla) is mentioned in Genesis 4:19-24. She is the mother of Tubal-cain, a forger of bronze and iron tools, and of Naamah, whose name may mean "pleasant." Lamech, her husband, recited a poem declaring his vengeance to his wives, including Zillah. Tzilla is not extensively described, but her name and lineage tie her to the Cainite genealogy, which is a side narrative to the Sethite line leading to Noah.
Related Forms and Usage
Tzilla is used in the same consonantal script as the modern Hebrew name Tsila or Tzila. In the Biblical language it appears as Zillah; Italian dialects may use Zilla. The name is rarely used as a given name outside religious or historical contexts but remains recognized through biblical studies.
- Meaning: Shade, shadow
- Origin: Biblical Hebrew (צִלָּה)
- Type: Feminine
- Usage Regions: Hebrew Bible, Jewish and Christian contexts