צַיָּד
a huntsman
Definition
The Hebrew noun צַיָּד (tsayâd) refers specifically to a hunter or huntsman, one who captures wild animals for food or sport. In its single biblical occurrence in Jeremiah 16:16, it describes fishermen and hunters whom God will send to 'hunt' the people of Judah from every mountain and hill as an image of judgment. The word carries the sense of a skilled pursuer or trapper, not merely a casual seeker. It is derived from the concept of hunting game (צַיִד, tsayid).
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Jeremiah 16:16. It is used metaphorically within a prophetic oracle of judgment. God declares He will send for many 'hunters' (צַיָּדִים, tsayadim) to hunt down the people of Judah from all the remote places where they have scattered or hidden. The context is one of divine pursuit for the purpose of correction and exile, not for provision.
Etymology
צַיָּד (tsayâd) is a noun derived from the root צ־י־ד (ts-y-d), which relates to hunting. It comes from the same source as the noun צַיִד (tsayid, H6718), meaning 'game, hunted meat.' The formation indicates an agent noun—'one who hunts.' Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, with similar meanings of hunting or capturing.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, צַיָּד is theologically significant in its context. In Jeremiah 16:16, it contributes to a powerful metaphor for God's inescapable judgment. Just as a hunter expertly tracks and captures prey from every hiding place, God will sovereignly pursue His rebellious people. This underscores themes of God's omniscience, the futility of hiding from Him (cf. Amos 9:3), and the seriousness of covenant disobedience. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the imagery of God as the divine pursuer, both in judgment and, by contrast, in relentless grace (as seen in other metaphors like the shepherd).
In ancient Israel, hunting was a known but not primary means of subsistence; pastoralism and agriculture were more central. A צַיָּד was a recognized figure, often using nets, snares, bows, or spears. The hunter's skill in tracking and capturing elusive game made the metaphor in Jeremiah particularly vivid for the original audience—they would understand the thoroughness and inevitability implied by being hunted by experts sent by God.
צַיִד (tsayid, H6718) — the game or prey that is hunted, not the hunter. יָגוּר (yagur, H1481) — a more general term for a sojourner or temporary dweller, sometimes in remote areas, but not a hunter.
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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