תְּבוּאָה

תְּבוּאָה

income, i.e. produce (literally or figuratively)

Definition

תְּבוּאָה primarily means 'produce' or 'income,' specifically the yield from the land, such as grain, fruit, and other crops (Leviticus 23:39, 25:3). It extends figuratively to represent the results or 'fruit' of one's actions, including material gain or revenue (Proverbs 3:9-10). In some contexts, it signifies the entire harvest or the act of bringing in the produce, as seen in laws about the sabbatical year where the land's spontaneous growth is also called תְּבוּאָה (Leviticus 25:7, 12).

Biblical Usage

This noun appears 40 times, predominantly in the Pentateuch's legal and agricultural texts (Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy) concerning harvests, tithes, and Sabbath years (Exodus 23:10, Leviticus 19:25). It is also used in wisdom literature for the concept of gain or income (Proverbs 3:9-10, 16:8) and in historical narratives about grain as revenue (Genesis 47:24, 2 Chronicles 31:5). Its usage consistently ties to agricultural yield and its economic or religious implications.

Etymology

Derived from the root בּוֹא (H935), meaning 'to come' or 'to bring in.' תְּבוּאָה literally signifies 'that which comes in'—the incoming harvest or produce. This connection highlights the word's focus on the yield that arrives or is gathered from the land.

Semantic Range

תְּבוּאָה is theologically significant as it embodies God's provision and the covenantal blessings tied to obedience. The laws regulating its use (e.g., Sabbath years, tithes) teach stewardship, trust in God's sustenance (Leviticus 25:20-22), and justice in economic practices. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by revealing how material blessings were seen as direct gifts from God, integral to Israel's worship and social order. In ancient Israel's agrarian society, תְּבוּאָה was central to survival, economy, and religious life. It represented not just food but wealth and divine favor. Unlike modern abstract 'income,' it was tangible, seasonal, and community-oriented, with its distribution governed by religious laws to ensure care for the poor and the land (Leviticus 19:9-10). פְּרִי (periy, H6529) — focuses on fruit or literal produce, often of trees. יְבוּל (yᵉbûwl, H2981) — general term for produce or yield, similar but less common. קָצִיר (qâtsîyr, H7105) — specifically the harvest of grain. תְּנוּבָה (tᵉnûwbâh, H8393) — a rare synonym also meaning produce.

Word Details