בַּצֹּרֶת
restraint (of rain), i.e. drought
Definition
The Hebrew noun בַּצֹּרֶת (batstsôreth) refers to a severe and divinely imposed restraint of rain, resulting in a drought. It specifically denotes a period of agricultural crisis where the heavens are 'shut up,' preventing life-giving water from reaching the land. This concept is vividly illustrated in Jeremiah 14:1, which describes 'the drought' (בַּצֹּרֶת) that has come upon Judah, leading to widespread devastation. In its two biblical occurrences, the word consistently carries this sense of a catastrophic, divinely-sent lack of rain that threatens the covenant community's survival.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the book of Jeremiah, appearing only twice in the Old Testament. It is employed in prophetic oracles of judgment to describe a specific form of covenantal curse. In Jeremiah 14:1-6, the drought (בַּצֹּרֶת) is the central calamity that prompts a lament, while in Jeremiah 17:8, the blessed person is contrasted as one who will 'not fear when heat comes' and whose leaf remains green 'in the year of drought' (בַּצֹּרֶת), highlighting the security found in trusting the Lord.
Etymology
בַּצֹּרֶת is a feminine noun derived intensively from the root בָּצַר (batsar, H1219), which means 'to restrain, hold back, or make inaccessible.' The root conveys the idea of enclosing or shutting off. Thus, the noun form intensifies this to mean 'a severe restraining'—specifically, the restraining of rain from the skies. This etymological connection underscores the active, intentional nature of the phenomenon as a withholding of blessing.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it represents a classic covenant curse for disobedience, as outlined in Deuteronomy 28:23-24. Drought (בַּצֹּרֶת) is not portrayed as a random natural disaster but as a direct act of God in response to Israel's unfaithfulness. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of Jeremiah by framing the drought as a prophetic sign of broken covenant and a call to repentance, while also pointing to the blessing of unwavering trust in God's provision, even in times of severe testing.
In an agrarian society like ancient Israel, rain was not merely a weather pattern but the fundamental sign of God's favor and provision. A prolonged drought meant crop failure, famine, economic collapse, and social disintegration. The term בַּצֹּרֶת would have evoked immediate terror, as it signaled a total breakdown in the life-sustaining cycle ordained by God. This cultural understanding is essential for feeling the full weight of the prophetic warnings in Jeremiah.
חֹרֶב (chorebh, H2721) — a more general term for dryness, heat, or desolation, often paired with drought. רָעָב (ra'av, H7458) — means 'famine,' which is the direct result of a severe drought.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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