בּוּז
disrespect
Definition
The Hebrew noun בּוּז (bûwz) fundamentally denotes a state of being treated as worthless or held in low regard, encompassing meanings from simple disrespect to profound contempt and shame. It describes the attitude or action of despising someone or something, often resulting in their humiliation. In some contexts, like Job 12:21, it refers to the disgrace experienced by leaders who are stripped of authority, while in others, such as Psalm 31:18, it expresses the shame inflicted by malicious enemies. The word captures both the internal feeling of scorn and the external condition of being despised.
Biblical Usage
בּוּז appears primarily in poetic and wisdom literature (Job, Psalms) and narrative. It is used to describe the contempt people show toward others (Genesis 38:23), the shame felt by the afflicted (Psalm 107:40), and the disgrace that comes upon the proud when they are humbled (Job 12:21). A key pattern is its use in the Psalms to describe the experience of the righteous sufferer who is mocked by the wicked (Psalm 31:18; 119:22), making it a word deeply connected to themes of injustice and plea for vindication.
Etymology
בּוּז is a noun derived from the root verb בּוּז (bûz, H936), which means 'to despise, hold in contempt.' This root conveys the action of treating something as lightweight or insignificant. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic, with similar meanings of scorn. The noun form concretizes the result or state of that despising action.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it frequently describes the experience of God's people when they are oppressed or mocked by the world, highlighting a tension between human scorn and divine value. In the Psalms, cries against 'contempt' (בּוּז) are appeals to God's justice, affirming that the Lord ultimately vindicates the despised (Psalm 123:3-4). It also relates to the biblical theme of reversal, where God pours contempt on the proud (Job 12:21) but lifts up the humble, enriching our understanding of divine justice and human dignity.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, honor and shame were central social values. To be treated with בּוּז was not merely a personal insult but a public loss of standing and social identity. This contempt could manifest as verbal mockery, social exclusion, or physical mistreatment. The profound shame it conveyed was a powerful social sanction, making its use in the Psalms and Job a cry against a deeply damaging form of social and spiritual attack.
בָּזָה (bāzâ, H959) — A closely related verb meaning 'to despise'; בּוּז is often the noun form of this contempt. קָלוֹן (qālôn, H7036) — 'disgrace, shame'; focuses more on the resulting state of dishonor rather than the attitude of contempt. לַעַג (laʿag, H3932) — 'mocking, derision'; emphasizes the scornful speech or laughter involved.
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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