צָבֶה
turgid
Definition
The Hebrew noun צָבֶה (tsâbeh) describes a state of being swollen or turgid, specifically referring to a physical condition of distension. In its sole biblical occurrence, it is used in the context of a bodily curse or affliction. The word conveys a sense of unnatural bloating or puffiness, likely as a visible sign of a malady or divine judgment. This specific meaning is tied directly to its usage in the ritual described in Numbers 5:21.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Numbers 5:21, within the specific ritual of the suspected adulteress (the sotah). The priest pronounces a curse that the woman's 'thigh will fall away' and her 'belly will swell' (וְצָבְתָה בִטְנֵךְ). Its usage is entirely confined to this legal and ritual context, describing a potential physical symptom resulting from a divine oath.
Etymology
צָבֶה is derived from the root צָבָה (H6638), which means 'to swell' or 'to become inflated.' It is a verbal noun (a nomen actionis) that concretizes the action of the root into a state or condition. Cognate words in other Semitic languages also carry meanings related to swelling or rising.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is part of a divine judicial mechanism in the Mosaic law. The potential swelling was not seen as a random medical symptom but as a direct, supernatural sign from God to establish guilt or innocence in a case with no human witnesses (Numbers 5:21-22). It underscores the biblical theme of God as the ultimate judge who reveals hidden truth and the serious covenant consequences of adultery.
In its ancient Israelite context, this ritual addressed a profound social disruption where trust within a marriage was broken without evidence. The physical swelling described by צָבֶה would have been understood as a tangible, public verdict from Yahweh Himself, serving as a powerful deterrent and a means to resolve cases that threatened community harmony and covenant fidelity.
בָּצֶק (batsaq, H1216) — refers to dough that is swollen or leavened; צָבָה (tsâbâh, H6638) — the verbal root meaning 'to swell.'
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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